Z-Wave is a wireless communications protocol used primarily for home automation. Read more about the technology here.
This article explains the basics of Z-Wave configuration and how to change parameters of a Z-Wave device. Read this as a beginners guide/manual if you have just started using Z-Wave devices. Generally you will always want to use the default settings that have been set by Animus Home, but sometimes that isn't enough.
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Animus Heart is a Z-Wave Plus device with support for S2 security. Animus Heart can be operated in any Z-Wave network with other Z-Wave certified devices from other manufacturers. All non-battery operated nodes within the network will act as repeaters regardless of vendor to increase reliability of the network.
Z-Wave Terminology
Z-Wave functionality | Documentation terminology | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusion | Add | The process of adding a node to the Z-Wave network. |
| Exclusion | Remove | The process of removing a node from the Z-Wave network. |
| Replication | Copy | The process of copying network information from one controller to another. |
| Parameters | Configuration settings | Parameters are configuration settings for a Z-Wave device. |
Device security, S0 or S2?
The latest Z-Wave devices are implemented with a new security level, called S2, which Animus Heart supports.
Animus Home has its own icon for S2. This icon appears on places where it is important to explain that the device is a S2 security device. 
First steps and needs
Working with Z-wave devices is easy when you have the Animus Heart Gateway. The Z-wave protocol is fully integrated with Animus Heart and supports the highest security level, S2. The majority of devices, like switches and dimmers majority of devices should work out of the box. Nevertheless, sometimes configuring the parameters of a device might be needed to gain extra functionality, or if you wish to optimise the use of that device. For this, some Z-Wave devices allow you to manually set configuration variables to do things like adjust ramp rate, delays, etc. This is unique for each device, and each manufacturer handles this differently. Read more on how to do this on article; Changing Z-Wave Parameters.
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Any possible configuration parameters are provided by the device creator, always make sure you read the manual of the device you want to use. |
Definitions:
Inclusion mode: You set Animus Heart in inclusion mode when you start the adding-process for a device. It needs to be in inclusion mode to allow including a device. The inclusion of a device is typically confirmed with a triple press of a button of this particular device. However, please refer to the manual of this particular device for details on how to include it into a Z-Wave network. The inclusion mode is set to time out after 60 seconds.
- Exclusion mode: Exclusion mode is the opposite of inclusion mode. Animus Heart is set to exclusion mode when you want to remove a device from the system. To exclude a device is typically done with the same steps as for inclusion. However, please refer to the manual of this particular device for details on how to exclude it from a Z-Wave network.
- Node ID: The node ID is the identification number of a device that Animus Heart assigns in the Z-Wave network.
- Associations: In a Z-Wave network, some of your devices support what are called "Associations", or also the Z-Wave command class association. This is basically how devices that sends messages knows where to send those messages. For example, smoke detectors send messages when the sensor detects smoke, door sensors may send messages when the state changes to open, and so on. Often, these devices have their own proprietary mechanism for setting associations, but this is not to preferred due to it's complexity and since all this is handled in your Animus Heart already, it will not be needed.
- Parameters: Parameters are configuration settings for the Z-Wave device
Changing parameters (configuration settings):
Each manufacturer handles the configuration settings differently. If the manual of your Z-Wave device states that you can change the parameters from the default behaviour, then you can enter the parameter settings for the device by entering the general device settings.
- Click on the device that you want to change parameters on in the Devices-page. Secondly, look for the gear icon
and click on Edit to enter the settings for that device. - Scroll down to the Z-Wave Parameters section and there you can change/add new parameters. See image below.
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Param ID: This is needed to know which setting you wish to change.
Size: Explains how many bytes the value can be. (in Decimal form)
Value: The value you wish to set.
The procedure you should go by is:
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If the thing you expect to happen is not happening and the device is battery driven, then it might be in sleep mode. When the device is in sleep mode it cannot perform any configuration. Awaken the device by clicking its pairing button and redo the steps above. |
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Device -> Edit -> New Parameter
Add the following parameter:
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References
Z-wave Alliance
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