The Z-Wave controller on the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 is in the panel itself, so swapping the panel requires the deletion and addition of existing Z-Wave devices. The local Z-Wave control available by default, so there is no need to enable a specific setting to communicate through Z-Wave.

For a full list of compatible Z-Wave devices, visit alarm.com/hardware. For Qolsys' list of recommended devices, refer to Qolsys' Compatible devices. 

For remote functionality through Alarm.com, the customer account must have the automation device type selected on their service package. For more information about updating the service package, see Update the service package on a customer account. 

Compatible Z-Wave features 

Local Z-Wave device limit 

The Qolsys IQ Panel 2 supports up to 152 Z-Wave devices. This includes:

 Note: The default limits are lower than the maximum, so the setting must be increased in panel programming. 

To adjust the number of Z-Wave devices allowed on the panel: 

1. Flick down to open the menu on the home screen, then tap Settings.
2. Tap Advanced Settings. 
3. Enter the installer code. 
4. Tap Installation. 
5. Tap Devices.
6. Tap Z-Wave Devices. 
7. Tap Z-Wave Settings.  The default number of Z-Wave devices can be edited in this section. 

Enroll Z-Wave devices 

A Z-Wave network is established by putting a Z-Wave controller (such as the panel) into Add Mode and triggering devices (or nodes) to join the network.

While setting up a Z-Wave network: 

• Before adding devices to the network, make sure to put the devices in their final locations if possible. This way, the network can correctly identify the strongest communication pathway for each device. For more information about range, see What is the range of Z-Wave?. 
• Always add devices closest to the panel first, and work outwards from there. Devices that have already been added can relay the panel’s Add Mode signal to add farther devices to the network.
• Verify each device adds successfully before moving on to the next device. The panel, Partner Portal, or MobileTech app indicates when a device has been added to the network.
• After adding all desired Z-Wave devices to the network, it is important to run a Network Rediscovery. For information about running a Network Rediscovery, see Perform a Network Rediscovery. 
• For additional resources for Z-Wave installation, see: 
  • Trigger buttons for common Z-Wave devices
  • Enrolling Z-Wave Garage Controllers - Best Practices
  • Enrolling Z-Wave Locks - Best Practices

To create a Z-Wave network, enable any of the Z-Wave services (e.g., locks. thermostats, lights) on the customer’s service package, put the panel into Add Mode using the panel, Partner Portal, or MobileTech app, and then begin adding devices. 

  Note: Customers can also enroll devices using the Add Device Portal. For more information about using the Add Device Portal, see Add Device Portal. 

To enroll Z-Wave devices using the Partner Portal:

  Note: If the following options do not appear, verify the panel firmware version is 1.6.1+ to support Remote Add/Delete.

1. Log into the Partner Portal.
2. Find the customer account.
3. Click Equipment
4. Click Z-Wave Devices.
5. In Manage Devices, click Add a Z-Wave Device.
6. Wait for the bolded message: Checking for new devices on the network.
7. Trigger a device to add it to the network.
8. When a device is added successfully, it shows up on this screen following a 30-second delay.
9. Continue triggering devices. Several devices may be added to the network without re-entering Add Mode.
10. Once all desired devices are added, click Exit.
11. Devices should show up on the Alarm.com Customer Website and app, Partner Portal, and MobileTech app within five minutes of adding the devices.
    • If the devices do not show up, request an updated Z-wave equipment list from the Partner Portal or MobileTech app. For more information about requesting an updated equipment list, see Request an update on the Z-Wave equipment list. 

To enroll Z-Wave devices using the MobileTech app:

  Note: If the following options do not appear, verify the panel firmware version is 1.6.1+ to support Remote Add/Delete.

1. Log into the MobileTech app.
2. Find the customer account.
3. If possible, move all Z-Wave devices to their final location on the property.
4. Tap Equipment.
5. Tap Z-Wave Devices.
6. Tap to expand Z-Wave Actions.
7. Tap Add Z-Wave Devices.
8. Wait for the bolded message: Checking for new devices on the network.
9. Trigger a device to add it to the network.
10. When a device is added successfully, it shows up on this screen following a 30-second delay.
11. Continue triggering devices. Several devices may be added to the network without re-entering Add Mode.
12. Once all desired devices are added, tap Exit.
13. Devices should show up on the Alarm.com Customer Website and app, Partner Portal, and MobileTech app within five minutes of adding the devices.
    • If the devices do not show up, request an updated Z-wave equipment list from the Partner Portal or MobileTech app. For more information about requesting an updated equipment list, see Request an update on the Z-Wave equipment list. 

To enroll Z-Wave devices using the panel: 

1. Flick down to open the menu on the home screen, then tap Settings.
2. Tap Advanced Settings.
3. Enter the installer code. 
4. Tap Installation.
5. Tap Devices
6. Tap Z-Wave Devices
7. Tap Add Device.
8. Tap Include. This puts the panel into inclusion mode. 
9. Trigger a Z-Wave device to add it to the network.
10. When a device is added successfully, the panel beeps.
11. It is required to re-enter Add Mode before triggering the next device.
12. Devices should show up on the Alarm.com Customer Website and app, Partner Portal, and MobileTech app within 5 minutes of adding the devices.
    • If the devices do not show up, request an updated Z-wave equipment list from the Partner Portal or MobileTech app. For more information about requesting an updated equipment list, see Request an update on the Z-Wave equipment list. 

Troubleshooting

If a device is not adding to the network, it may be required to delete the device’s network data using the device deletion process before you can add it to the new network (some devices come from the factory with network data). For instructions about removing a Z-Wave device from the panel, see Remove Z-Wave devices.

If a Z-Wave device continues to not enroll, see Z-Wave device is not enrolling. 

If a Z-Wave device is not functioning consistently, see Z-Wave device is not functioning consistently. 

Remove Z-Wave devices 

To remove a node from the panel’s Z-Wave network, the device must be deleted. This can also be useful to erase existing Z-Wave network settings from a device that is being added to the new network.

The device deletion process mirrors the device addition. The panel is placed into delete mode, and devices are triggered one by one.

  Note: Customers can also remove devices using the Customer Website or app. For more information, see Remove Z-Wave Devices remotely. 

To remove Z-Wave devices using the Partner Portal: 

  Note: If the following options do not appear, verify the panel firmware version is 1.6.1+ to support Remote Add/Delete.

1. Log into the Partner Portal.
2. Find the customer account.
3. Click Equipment.
4. Click Z-Wave Devices.
5. In Manage Devices, click Delete a Z-Wave Device.
6. Wait for the bolded message: Checking for new devices on the network.
7. Trigger a device to remove it from the network.
   
    Note: For device-specific information, see the guides in Installation and Troubleshooting.
    
8. When a device is deleted successfully and its network data is erased, it will show up on this screen following a 30-second delay. Unknown devices were not part of the Z-Wave network, but have now had their old Z-Wave network information cleared.
9. Continue triggering devices. Several devices may be added to the network without re-entering Delete Mode.
10. Once all desired devices are removed, click Exit.

To remove Z-Wave devices using the MobileTech app: 

  Note: If the following options do not appear, verify the panel firmware version is 1.6.1+ to support Remote Add/Delete.

1. Log into the MobileTech app.
2. Find the customer account.
3. Tap Equipment.
4. Tap Z-Wave Devices.
5. Tap to expand Z-Wave Actions.
6. Tap Delete Z-Wave Devices.
7. Wait for the bolded message: Checking for new devices on the network.
8. Trigger a device to remove it from the network.
   
    Note: For device-specific information, see the guides in Installation and Troubleshooting.
    
9. When a device is deleted successfully and its network data is erased, it will show up on this screen following a 30-second delay. Unknown devices were not part of the Z-Wave network, but have now had their old Z-Wave network information cleared.
10. Continue triggering devices. Several devices may be added to the network without re-entering Delete Mode.
11. Once all desired devices are removed, tap Exit.

To remove Z-Wave devices using the panel: 

1. Flick down to open the menu on the home screen, then tap Settings.
2. Tap Advanced Settings.
3. Enter the installer code. 
4. Tap Installation.
5. Tap Devices.
6. Tap Z-Wave Devices.
7. Tap Clear Device. This puts the panel into exclusion mode. 
8. Trigger a Z-Wave device to clear its network data and remove it from the existing Z-Wave network.
9. The panel beeps when a device has been deleted.
10. It is required to re-enter Delete Mode to delete more devices.

Troubleshooting

Move device closer to the panel

In most cases, the same trigger used to add a device is used to delete the device from the network. Devices should be removed from Alarm.com within 20 seconds after being triggered. If the device is not deleting, the device may need to be moved closer to the panel and try again.

Z-Wave device functions, but is not deleting from the network:

1. Verify the Z-Wave device is fully powered either by a wall outlet or with high quality, sufficiently charged batteries. Refer to the device's manual to determine what is best for its power supply.
2. Verify the Z-Wave device is within range of either the security panel or a Z-Wave device that acts as a repeater. Typically, AC-powered Z-Wave devices such as lights act as repeaters.
3. Power cycle the panel and the device, and then try to delete the Z-Wave device again.
4. If the device is in malfunction or continues to be unable to delete, manually remove the device from the panel using the following section. 

To delete an enrolled Z-Wave device that is inoperable or has been removed from the property:

This can be performed locally at the panel or remotely using the Partner Portal if the panel version is compatible. 

Using the Partner Portal: 

    Note: The Qolsys IQ Panel 2 requires firmware 2.5.0+ to remove failed devices remotely.

1. Log into the Partner Portal.
2. Find the customer account.
3. Click Equipment.
4. Click Z-Wave Devices.
5. In the Z-Wave Devices table, verify the device has a Malfunction status.
6. If it does not yet have a Malfunction status, verify the device is out of range of the network or powered down, then request an update from the device. This should put it into Malfunction.
7. In the Z-Wave Devices table, locate the row with the device, then click  to expand it.
8. Click Device Commands.
9. Click Remove Failed Device.
10. Wait two to three minutes, then refresh the page. The device should be deleted from the network.

Locally at the panel:  

1. Flick down to open the menu on the home screen, then tap Settings.
2. Tap Advanced Settings.
3. Enter the installer code. 
4. Tap Installation.
5. Tap Devices.
6. Tap Z-Wave Devices.
7. Tap Delete Failed Device.
8. Tap to select the Z-Wave devices to delete.
9. Tap Delete. 

If none of the prior steps resolve the behavior, the Z-Wave radio may need to be reset. For more information, see Remove all Z-Wave devices. The Remove All Z-Wave Devices feature is a command that removes all existing Z-Wave devices from the panel and changes the panel's network information.

Perform a Network Rediscovery  

After adding all desired Z-Wave devices to the network, it is important to run a Network Rediscovery. Running a Network Rediscovery allows each device to detect nearby devices and identify the best path of communication to the panel, as well as alternate paths in the case of a node failure.

This process can take up to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the Z-Wave network. Smaller networks take significantly less time. To give the network rediscovery the best chance of completing quickly and successfully, it is recommended not to use any Z-Wave devices while running a rediscovery.

Additional resources 

 Enroll in the Smart Tips - Extend Z-Wave Network training course today! For more information on accessing Academy Training, see How can I access Academy Training?.