Changing Z-Wave Parameters

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. 

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. 

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:

1. Find which parameter you wish to change and the corresponding ID. For example you might wish to adjust ramp rate of a device.
   Note that some parameters are found by your Animus Heart automatically, which you can change the values on. If you wish to add a completely new parameter, please use the 'New parameter' input area. 
   
   
2. Set the size of how many bytes this parameter can have. It might be tempting to just choose the first option you bump into and move on with it, but a wrong Data Size won’t work at all and in some cases it can prevent the device itself from working properly.  
   Unless stated otherwise, all parameters are 1 byte. However, there are some devices that require other data sizes and for that, it’s extremely important to carefully read the manual for the device before doing any changes. Setting the size to 0 will not trigger any SET PARAMETER, it will only ask the node for the parameter value (useful when you want to know what the parameter is set to without changing it).
3. Enter the value for the parameter and press "Add". This will add the paramter to the list but it will not send it the node yet. You need to press "Save" when you are done changing all the values.
   
   
4. Save. Animus Home will attempt to configure the node after you click the Save button, and if successful, you will get a notification saying the save was successful.