ZEN56 RGBW Dimmer FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions About the ZEN56 RGBW Dimmer

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INSTALLATION QUESTIONS

Can device be installed outdoors?

No. The ZEN56 is rated for indoor use only.

What kind of power supply does the ZEN56 need? Can I use this in a 120V installation?

12 / 24 V DC (Do NOT connect to 120 V AC)
The RGBW Dimmer cannot be powered by any type of dimmable transformer.
- Since the ZEN56 is a dimming device, connecting it to another dimmable device could cause one or both devices to be damaged. The ZEN56 needs a constant voltage power supply, that is not dimmable.

What is the operating temperature of the device?

32-104° F (0-40° C)

What is the maximum rating of the ZEN56?

10 A TOTAL between all channels (6 A per channel max); 120 W total at 12 V DC / 240 W total at 24 V DC

What are the dimensions of the device? How big is the device?

1.5" tall, 1.4" wide, 0.7" deep

What kind of LED strips do you recommend using with the ZEN56?

Any 3 or 4 channel LED strip within the electrical specs for the ZEN56 will work great or you can use this dimmer with strips even without the W channel.
We also recommend paying attention to the white channel, since some strips only come with one temperature for white while others offer a wider range. Here's more information about this: Single Color LED Strip.
We would recommend getting a name brand fixture and avoiding the cheaper varieties to get a reliable solution, since there are a lot of options available.

Can I use the ZEN56 with a single color LED Strip?

Yes.

How would I wire a single color strip with only two wires (positive and negative?

If you have a single color power strip with only two wires (positive and negative), the positive wire from the LED strip would be connected to the VDC+ on the ZEN56 and the positive side of the power supply.Your negative wire from the LED strip needs to be connected to pigtail “W” on the ZEN56. This will close the circuit and power up your LED strip.

Can I use tunable or addressable LED strips with the ZEN56?

No. The ZEN56 RGBW Controller doesn't support addressable / tunable LEDs.

What kind of wall switch can I use with the ZEN56?

We recommend using the ZEN56 with standard on/off mechanical switches or with the ZAC99 momentary switch, which is one-paddle only and works in sequence so you don't need to worry about the wall switch going out of sync.

Can I use multiple ZEN56 together on the same power supply?

You can use a single power supply for 2 of the ZEN56 but they would need to be rated for the amount of power the connected LED strips are using +10 or 15% cushion since many LED manufacturers underreport the actual power use in their marketing.

Can I use the ZEN56 to power on and off a 12V DC fan?

NO. The ZEN56 is intended to control lighting only since it's a dimmer and not a 12 V relay.
If you're looking to control a low-voltage DC fan via Z-Wave, we recommend looking into the ZEN16 MultiRelay, ZEN17 Universal Relay, or ZEN53 DC Motor Controller instead.

What is the warranty coverage for the ZEN56?

Zooz 800 series devices are covered by a standard 1-year warranty and by an extended 5-year warranty if registered within 30 days of purchase. Please register your device here and review the full warranty policy here.

Where can I find the device manual for the ZEN56? Where can I find a wiring diagram for the ZEN56?

Zooz Z-Wave Plus S2 RGBW Dimmer ZEN56 Manual (PDF)

PRODUCT FUNCTIONALITY QUESTIONS

Will the ZEN56 act as a signal repeater for other Z-Wave devices in my network?

Yes. The ZEN56 is constantly powered so it will act as a signal repeater for other Z-Wave devices. Your Z-Wave hub decides which devices to use to reach other Z-Wave devices. Any non-battery powered Z-Wave device will act as a signal repeater; it would be up to your hub whether or not it will be used in a communication route.

What security level does the ZEN56 pair to my controller or hub with?

The ZEN56 is an 800 series device, and the highest level of security it supports is S2 Authenticated.

Is the ZEN56 a constant current driver?

Yes, the LED driver in the ZEN56 is a constant voltage driver.

How does the ZEN56 work with my Z-Wave controller / hub?

The ZEN56 gives you Z-Wave control over your LED strips, keeping the control within your existing Z-Wave app / hub instead of a different proprietary app if you chose LED strips that have their own controller which might be Wi-Fi based.
You can create scenes or automations to control the connected LED strip based on time of day, other device status (such as motion detected if you have Z-Wave motion sensors), or device trigger (like using a Z-Wave switch to send a command to the ZEN56).

Can I wire a dimmer switch to the ZEN56 instead of an on/off or momentary switch?

NO. You cannot connect dimmers to the ZEN56 since it's already a dimmer itself.
The only acceptable wall switches for this devices are simple on/off switches or momentary push button switches.
Wall dimmers cannot be used with any types of smart controls, including other smart dimmers, smart bulbs, smart LED strips, etc.

Can I edit the preset programs on the ZEN56?

No, there is no way to edit the effects of the preset programs since they're built in.

Would this work in an RV type setup controlling 12v light bulb fixtures rather than light strips?

Yes. As long as these are DC lights that are dimmable and the Wattage is within the ZEN56 rating, you should have no problems controlling the lights. If the lights aren't dimmable, you can use the ZEN16 MultiRelay to control up to 3 lights (groups of lights) independently. Just check if your Z-Wave hub supports the ZEN56 (or the ZEN16) since it's an advanced multichannel device.

Z-WAVE QUESTIONS

Do I need a Z-Wave hub to buy the ZEN56?

Yes, if you'd like remote control and the ability to customize colors and advanced settings. If you plan on using the optional wall switch control, then you'll be able to turn your connected LED strip load on/off/dim from the wall.
To control any of our Z-Wave devices remotely through your smart phone, you'll need a compatible Z-Wave hub. These devices require a central controller that communicates with them and sends commands. Once you have a controller, you would download that controller's dedicated app on your phone and control your connected devices through that app.

Will the ZEN56 work with my alarm panel?

No. Alarm panels like Alarm.com will typically only support single switches, door locks, select thermostats, and any authorized items on their list. We would recommend reaching out to your alarm panel company to verify compatibility and to get the latest on any device integrations they may be working on.
It would be up to your alarm panel to integrate the ZEN56, as it follows Z-Wave protocol and has been Z-Wave certified. There is nothing we can change on our end to have the RGBW Dimmer be recognized correctly; Alarm.com would have to support the integration. Read more about alarm panel compatibility here.

Where do I find all of my ZEN56's advanced settings?

ZEN56 RGBW Dimmer Advanced Settings

How do I add the ZEN56 to my Z-Wave hub?

How can I tell what firmware my ZEN56 is running on?

The firmware that your device is shipped with should be printed on the back of the device where the model specifications are. If your hub supports and properly integrates the device, you should also see the firmware listed in your Z-Wave interface.

How do I update the firmware of my ZEN56?

How to Perform an OTA Firmware Update on Zooz Devices

How long does the update take? How do I know when it's finished?

Firmware updates should usually take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on connection quality and how much information needs to actually be updated on a given device.
- If it is taking longer than that, please try to bring the hub / controller closer to the device that is being updated.

Where can I find the history of changes and firmware updates for the ZEN56?

ZEN56 RGBW Dimmer Change Log

What series Z-Wave chip does the device use?

The ZEN56 uses an 800 series Z-Wave chip.

Check out the Zooz Knowledge Base for free support articles about the ZEN56 RGBW Dimmer (and all of our devices)! If you can't find your answer there, reach out to us!