Turn Your Dumb Devices into Smart Devices with the Zooz ZEN51 Relay

[@mostlychris]

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[@chris]

Interesting. How does this work at the switch, when the binary toggles it the opposite direction of the physical switch? IOW, if the switch is toggled down (off) but the light is on via the binary Zooz switch, is it now like a 3-way switch where flipping the physical switch back up/on turns the light off? Or do you need to toggle the physical switch on and then back off to then turn it off?

[@mostlychris]

It is a toggle, but there is a setting to control what it does in situations like that. If I turn the light off remotely and the switch is in the UP (On) position, then I turn it to the off position, nothing happens because it is already off. If I want to turn the light on at the switch, I would turn it off and then back on.

[@truemapleleaf]

​@@mostlychrisI can see why you'd like to have it function like that, but is it possible to set up like a 3 way switch like @chris is asking, or even 4+ way if you have additional physical switches also controlling the load?

[@jeraldgooch6438]

Good video. Thanks. People should check if the box holding the switch will have room! In our house the contractor occasionally put in multiple of the smaller switches. For example in the kitchen there is a double wide box that supports three switches. The Zooz will not fit there. Again, thanks for the informative video.

[@mostlychris]

Good point--and not good for the 3 in 2 box thing. Why did they do that?

[@nathandunn5775]

Can this relay be used on a 3-way configuration and read state changes from both manual switches from a single installation?

[@Notch8]

Yes it can. www.support.getzooz.com/kb/article/857-3-way-wiring-diagrams-for-the-zen51-dry-contact-relay/

[@mostlychris]

I don't think so, but there is a stick on the wall type battery operated switch that can be used to change the state of the relay so you could put that battery switch anywhere and have essentially the action of a 3-way switch.

[@mikeernst3832]

I am wondering how hard it was to fit that device and the switch back into the plastic box? If yours are like mine they are already full and very little room for anything else.

[@mostlychris]

I didn't have an issue using a standard box. Camera angles make it look bigger than it is. I tried to show other shots of the relay not installed for perspective. The box I have it in has some extra wiring in it but this isn't any worse than trying to fit a smart switch in a single box or multiple smart switches in a multi-gang box.

[@joaquinormachea4727]

Great vid! Hey, I was wondering if I can use the relay on a light without connecting a physical switch there. What do you think? Thanks

[@mostlychris]

You can. It's fully controllable via z-wave.

[@miguelavello7493]

Great video and thanks again for finding elements that we (your followers) can take advantage of and see all the opportunities that this present to each one of us. Again thanks to you for allowing that. The only question I have is to have your comments, as you installed this, on the space available in the electrical box to add the relay. I know that in some boxes I will struggle adding the extra wires and the relay itself. Any guidance from your side ????

[@martinbower2915]

Don't suppose this is dimmable? ( are relays just on/off?)

[@Notch8]

Relay would just be on/off. You would need to go with a dimmer switch like ZEN72, ZEN74, or ZEN77. www.support.getzooz.com/kb/article/900-full-guide-to-zooz-smart-switches/

[@mostlychris]

This one is on and off.

[@od1az]

Tjis device is more expensive then a smart switch. Why would somone use tis? Also, this product looks like it would have problems fitting into a standard switch box with all the wires that are typically in a box. how does it do with heat inside the switch box?

[@mostlychris]

Depends on the smart switch. This device has applications other than just controlling a light. I just used that as an example. It fits fine inside my standard box and there isn't a heat issue that I am aware of. Someone else pointed out the size of the relay but what you see is a bad camera angle and makes it look bigger than it is.

[@ZakKohler]

Wife caring about color of wall switch

[@emf9]

Any suggestions for a high current relay that can do an inductive load? Want a way to kill my well pump in an emergency.

[@Ms2Chill]

Try a shelly

[@emf9]

@@Ms2Chill I don't think they have one that can handle that load

[@mostlychris]

Not sure. But you could use the relay to control something that can take the load.

[@misteraon]

Uses a relay like this or a Shelly to control a contactor (basically a larger relay). Contactors come in all shapes a sizes and can control higher amperage single and three phase loads.

[@cemaranetfeedback6295]

how does this fare against shelly? seems to be slightly more expensive

[@mostlychris]

Most of the stuff I've tried works great all the time. I have some Shelly stuff as well. The Shelly stuff, up until recently anyway, had to be added to an app before it became available and paired but that isn't a show stopper.

[@misteraon]

I have about 8+ Shelly devices, both gen 1 and gen 2. I’ve never had to pair it to the app first. I just connect to its adhoc wifi network and have it scan for my IoT wifi network and pair it into that. I typically set my static IPs at the router. But never had to install the Shelly app. I’ve used them with both my MQTT broker as well as the Shelly HA integration. They work flawlessly.

[@supernova8962]

I think this is a nice relay. But it appears to be useless for lights and programming can be a pain in the butt .. 10 Amp ??? a Z wave plug is 15 Amp .. Do you have a better use for this ZEN51 ... I just cant see this to be productive.

[@jmr]

Great tutorial! I'd probably save that key in my password manager. I'm great at losing small pieces of paper.

[@mostlychris]

Yes! I do that with all my keys and one-time codes. Heaven help me if I ever lose my password manager!

[@MaxGoddur]

Wait did you just say the manufacturer has placed in the documentation it actually works with Home Assistant. This has to be a first. Most devices are only known to work with HA through word of mouth. P.S. It would be great if SkillShare offered classes on Home Assistant.

[@mostlychris]

Yes.. QR code and everything. Also, with smart start you can just add the code/scan the qr and it gets added. For skillshare, I agree. Maybe they'll let me teach one or two--or just take my YT videos and use them, lol.

[@patrickburton6130]

Is this only cloud based or can it be flashed?

[@mostlychris]

It's z-wave so local control. Not cloud based. I control it directly from HA using z-wave.

[@karlfife]

That's NOT what z-wave 'plus' means. 'Plus' simply refers to the version of Z-Wave. That said, your Zoos Zen51 relay is NOT a 'Z-Wave Plus' device, it's a 'Z-Wave plus V2' device which is actually much better in terms of range, features, power consumption etc.. If you're offering guidance as a domain expert you mostly need to be correct... mostly.

[@mostlychris]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@myutube6422]

I bought 3 of these relays and none of them would exclude/include or factory reset. Zooz/smarterhouse jerk you around with "testing" and then you can return them at your cost and after they test them will you get a refund. I'd recommend you buy from another source.

[@mostlychris]

Hmmm.. That's not good. I messed up and had to factory reset mine while I was making the video and it all worked as it should have. Sorry you had a poor experience.

[@myutube6422]

@@mostlychris They claimed to have never had an issue with those, but after numerous tests, and I threatened to go to social media, they paid for the return and gave me a refund. The crazy crap was that they wouldn't factory reset. There wasn't anything tricky. Fakespot has a number of negative posts about its service. I have a bunch of their switches and all worked well.

[@CodeReign]

Smart start is the second tab on the left side

[@mostlychris]

Thanks.

[@BeardedTinker]

First? :) Great video!

[@mostlychris]

Thanks! What is First?

[@BeardedTinker]

@@mostlychris first comment, that should count :)

[@asdkjh4370]

Can we start talking about other platforms ? HA becoming politically inclined.

[@bengibson6113]

How is providing civilians an alert to potentially help them not die "politically inclined"

[@asdkjh4370]

@@bengibson6113 Well same time plenty of users who tried to be apolitical banned from official forum?

[@mostlychris]

There are other platforms out there. I haven't seen anything that makes want to switch.