What Lighting Fixtures And Electrical Loads Can I Control With Zooz Switches?

Zooz switches and dimmers are designed with smart lighting applications in mind. This means that most models can only be used with appropriate light fixtures. In this article, we'll go over some of the most popular questions around unsupported loads and types of fixtures that are safe to use with our switches. Always check the electrical specifications for your model and follow the correct wiring diagrams before installing your Zooz switch.

BULBS

All Zooz switch models are compatible with both incandescent bulbs and high-quality LED bulbs. Based on our experience with Feit, Luminus, or Lithonia bulbs causing failure in the electronics of smart switches, we do not recommend using these bulbs with our devices.

If you're using a dimmer, ensure that you select dimmable bulbs for your installation. Most dimmable bulbs have a limited dimming range which usually covers 10-100% of the brightness spectrum. Please set your expectations accordingly. Experiencing flickering? Read more here.

Smart Bulbs: You can never control smart bulbs electrically using electronic switches, especially Z-Wave dimmers as this will damage your equipment. However, you can safely use Zooz switches and dimmers with smart bulbs with smart bulb mode enabled in the advanced settings of your switch. This will allow you to control your smart lights from your switches using wireless signal instead.
CFL Tube Lights, Ballasts, and Halogens: Do NOT use Zooz smart switches with CFL tube lights, ballasts, or halogen bulbs. These types of lights produce high inrush current that could damage your smart switch or dimmer. Even if the wattage is rated at or under a given switch/dimmer's maximum rating, halogens can draw over 40 times more than the listed rating. The switches should only be used with LED or incandescent bulbs within their maximum ratings. If you're not able to replace these bulbs for quality LED's, you can use the relay part of the ZEN30 Double Switch to control these bulbs since it's a dry contact relay isolated from the electronics of the switch and is less prone to damage by high inrush current.

MOTION ACTIVATED LIGHTS

Motion-activated lights or lights containing motion sensors are not compatible with Zooz switches and Z-Wave modules from other brands. This is because the load is not connected to the light directly but rather to the motion sensor part of the fixture which then triggers the light to turn on. Our switches need to be connected directly to the light bulb on the load side just like shown in the manual. Otherwise, the electronics may malfunction.

The way electronic switches operate is not a simple mechanical on/off operation like with a regular switch where it will always turn the light on or off when toggled. The reason why you can operate the light via Z-Wave or from the paddles is because the electronic circuit is able to determine whether the load is on or off. It can do that by measuring the current on the installation. And it works well with regular 120 V lighting fixture which are either off (no current) or on (some current). If you add a motion sensor to the mix that has its own electronic components built it, this will create a conflict that may damage the device. Similar to why you're not able to connect a smart bulb to a dimmer (whether it's a smart or dumb dimmer).

DAWN-TO-DUSK LIGHTS

Dawn-to-dusk lights, AKA photocell lights, are not compatible with Zooz switches and Z-Wave modules from other brands. This is because the load is not connected to the light directly but rather to the motion sensor part of the fixture which then triggers the light to turn on. Our switches need to be connected directly to the light bulb on the load side just like shown in the manual. Otherwise, the electronics may malfunction.

The way electronic switches operate is not a simple mechanical on/off operation like with a regular switch where it will always turn the light on or off when toggled. The reason why you can operate the light via Z-Wave or from the paddles is because the electronic circuit is able to determine whether the load is on or off. It can do that by measuring the current on the installation. And it works well with regular 120 V lighting fixture which are either off (no current) or on (some current). If you add a motion sensor to the mix that has its own electronic components built it, this will create a conflict that may damage the device. Similar to why you're not able to connect a smart bulb to a dimmer (whether it's a smart or dumb dimmer).

LED STRIP LIGHTS / TRANSFORMERS

Do NOT connect Zooz switches or dimmers to transformers, such as the DC low Voltage transformers for LED strips, string lights, and similar fixtures. Use a dedicated smart LED strip controller here instead. Transformers produce power spikes that will damage the electronics in your smart switches. Low voltage lighting systems (like 12-24V LED strip lighting) typically use transformers to step down the voltage from the standard household voltage (usually 120V in the US) to a lower voltage suitable for the lighting fixtures (commonly 12V or 24V). These transformers work by inducing a magnetic field in a coil of wire, which then transfers energy to another coil at a different voltage.
Now, when you have smart switches connected to these low voltage lighting systems, the electronics within the smart switch are designed to operate at the standard household voltage. However, the transformer introduces some complexities into the electrical system. One main issue is that transformers can exhibit what's known as "inductive kickback" or "back electromotive force" (EMF). When power to the primary coil of the transformer is suddenly interrupted, such as when a smart switch turns off, the collapsing magnetic field in the transformer can induce a high voltage spike in the circuit. This spike can sometimes reach levels far higher than the normal operating voltage of the circuit, potentially damaging sensitive electronics like those found in smart switches.

Clarification on External Drivers: the issue is with external drivers that are not designed to be used with the connected loads. LED lights that come with a specific external driver that is designed specifically for those lights is fine; LED lights connected to basic drivers that can be used with any/unknown loads are not recommended. This is based on our experience of several years with more failing dimmers noted with external LED drivers/transformers rather than the ones that are built into the LED bulb or recessed LED lights.

FANS

Most Zooz switches or dimmers are not rated for use with fans since inductive motor loads will spike in power at start-up, causing the electronics in the switches to fail. If you have a fan under 3 A which is less than 5 years old, you can connect it to the following models only: ZEN71, ZEN32, relay part of ZEN30. You can read more about using your Zooz lights switches with fans in this article.

RECEPTACLES

Do NOT connect Zooz switches or dimmers to receptacles. According to electrical code, you need a 15 A rated switch to control a receptacle and most Zooz switches have a lower electrical rating. The only model we can recommend to be safely used with switched receptacles is the relay part of the ZEN30 Double Switch which is isolated from the electronics of the device and can take high-inrush current devices being plugged into the receptacle occasionally.

DIM TO WARM or TEMPERATURE CHANGING

While additional data needs to be collected here to confirm, based on our experience comparing damaged dimmers and the connected load, new technologies that LED bulb manufacturers are adding, such as changing the temperature on the LED lights and dim to warm technology, we have seen higher percentages of damaged devices from these new technologies in the bulbs and recommend using our dimmers with lights/bulbs with built-in LED drivers and no additional features like dim-to-warm or color temperature changing from the dimmer.

Looking for the right switch model to use in your next project? Take a look at the Full Guide To Zooz Smart Switches here.

If you're not sure whether you can use a Zooz switch in your installation, please reach out to us and we'll be happy to help!