The ZEN32 Scene Controller is the recommended solution for intuitive smart bulb control on SmartThings. Please note that your smart bulbs need to be integrated to and controllable from the SmartThings app for this scenario to work. Here is a quick guide on how to install and program the device to get the most out of your smart lighting experience. If you'd like to learn more about using this and other Zooz switches with smart bulbs, read this overview article first.
WIRE YOUR SCENE CONTROLLER
Follow the appropriate diagram in the product manual to install your switch. There is no special wiring required when using this device with smart bulb unless you have a 3-way set-up that you would like to turn into a virtual 3-way using multiple Zooz switches. In that case, refer to the wiring diagrams here.
ENABLE SMART BULB MODE
Once the Scene Controller is wired, you'll be able to turn the smart bulbs on and off from the main button but anytime the relay is off, you'll be cutting power to your smart bulbs which is not ideal. Instead we want to leave power to the bulbs on at all time and control them through wireless commands only. Here is how to do that:
- Make sure you've installed the Edge driver for your Scene Controller BEFORE you add the device to your hub.
- Include the ZEN32 Scene Controller to SmartThings and click on it to access all of the control options in the SmartThings app.
- Turn the Scene Controller relay on so that your smart bulbs are powered.
- In the detailed device view, tap the 3 dots in the top right corner of the app, then select Settings. Here is what you need to change there:
- Under Relay Load Control, select the Disable Switch and Z-Wave option to put your relay in smart bulb mode.
- Return to the previous screen to save the new settings. Now when you tap the large relay button on the Scene Controller, nothing will happen, your smart bulbs will remain on.
LINK THE SCENE CONTROLLER TO YOUR SMART BULBS
When the Scene Controller is in smart bulb mode, all 5 buttons can be used for remote control. There are a few different ways to program each button to trigger your smart bulbs.
We recommend using scene control which will allow any trigger from any button on your Scene Controller to be assigned a different action.
Here is how to program your Scene Controller with button events on SmartThings.
A few examples on how you can use the device to activate your favorite settings instantly:
- If the main button is pressed, toggle the state of my smart bulbs (turn them on if they're off or turn them off if they're on).
- If button 1 is pressed, set my smart bulbs to bed time scene (lights dimmed, set to warm yellow).
- If button 2 is pressed, set my smart bulbs to focus mode (full brightness, cool white).
- If button 3 is pressed, set my smart bulbs to chill mode (your favorite animation sequence).
- If button 4 is pressed, set my smart bulbs to party mode (rainbow lights).
Each button can be programmed for double tap, held, released, or multi-tap triggers so you have endless possibilities with creative ways to use this device as a smart bulb remote control.
If you're using the Scene Controller in a 3-way set-up with a mechanical switch on the other side of the installation, you will need to implement a mirroring automation to use the mechanical switch for wireless control of your smart bulbs. Here is how to do that:
- In your SmartThings app, go to Routines > + (the plus icon in he top right corner) > Add Routine > Discover (at the bottom of the screen)
- Scroll down to Smart Lighting
- Click on New Lighting Automation
- Select the smart bulbs when you click on "Which devices our want to control?"
- Select "Mirror Behavior" when you click on "What do you want to do?"
- Select "Switch" when you click on "Select Trigger"
- Select the ZEN32 Scene Controller when you click on "Which switch?"
- Click on Next
- Add custom name if needed
- Click Done.
This will keep the status of the switches and the bulbs in sync so you can still control the smart bulbs when using the mechanical switch without cutting power to them. You can then program the small buttons to trigger more sophisticated smart bulb scenarios as described in the previous section for scene control.
If you happen to be using Z-Wave smart bulbs and they're added to your SmartThings hub with the same level of security, you can use direct association to control them from any of the 5 buttons on the Scene Controller:
- First, note the device ID's of your Z-Wave smart bulbs, you'll need them for the next steps.
- Click on the ZEN32 device in your SmartThings app, then tap the 3 dots in the top right corner of the screen to select Settings.
- Scroll down to Direct Association and type in the device ID's of the smart bulbs under the appropriate association group that corresponds to the button and functionality you want to accomplish:
- Group 2: Main button basic set for on/off control (pressed)
- Group 3: Main button multilevel for dimming control (held) > in sequence > held = increase brightness, release = stop level, held = decrease brightness, release = stop level
- Group 4: Small button #1 basic set (pressed)
- Group 5: Small button #1 multilevel (held) > in sequence > held = increase brightness, release = stop level, held = decrease brightness, release = stop level
- Group 6: Small button #2 basic set (pressed)
- Group 7: Small button #2 multilevel (held) > in sequence > held = increase brightness, release = stop level, held = decrease brightness, release = stop level
- Group 8: Small button #3 basic set (pressed)
- Group 9: Small button #3 multilevel (held) > in sequence > held = increase brightness, release = stop level, held = decrease brightness, release = stop level
- Group 10: Small button #4 basic set (pressed)
- Group 11: Small button #4 multilevel (held) > in sequence > held = increase brightness, release = stop level, held = decrease brightness, release = stop level
- Return to the previous screen to save the new settings.
If you have any questions about using your Scene Controller with smart bulbs on SmartThings, just ask!
