Can I Make a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 a Secondary Z-Wave Controller?

Yes, you can make a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 a secondary Z-Wave controller. However, the system will lose its ability to receive remote Z-Wave commands from Alarm.com. The IQ Panel 2 Security System will only accept Z-Wave commands from Alarm.com if it is set up as the primary Z-Wave controller.

The system includes a built-in Z-Wave Plus controller for operating Z-Wave smart home devices. Any Z-Wave smart home device can be controlled from the panel itself or using the Alarm.com interactive service. However, most users will want to have their IQ Panel 2 System set up as the primary Z-Wave controller so that it will work with Alarm.com. In other words, if the IQ Panel 2 is set up as a secondary Z-Wave controller, then only local Z-Wave operation will be possible with the system.

Z-Wave refers to a wireless communications protocol that allows certain devices to be operated remotely. A Z-Wave device can be enrolled with an IQ Panel 2 Alarm System so that it can be operated directly from the system. An end user can also access the Alarm.com interactive service to control any Z-Wave devices that have been programmed with the IQ Panel 2. The IQ Panel 2 System will need to be linked with the user's Alarm.com account for this to be possible.

Alarm.com can be accessed using a web browser or by using the Alarm.com Mobile App. By using the Alarm.com Mobile App, a user can establish rules and scenes for their Z-Wave devices. This will allow the Z-Wave devices to activate automatically based on a schedule or with certain system events. For example, a user might have their Z-Wave lights turn on and their Z-Wave thermostat activate when they walk into a room and trigger a motion sensor.

Complete the following steps to pair a Z-Wave device with the IQ Panel 2:

1. Clear the device. A Z-Wave device should always be cleared before attempting to add it to the network. This is because the Z-Wave device may have been previously added to a Z-Wave network for factory testing purposes. For best results, it is necessary to bring the Z-Wave device close to the system when doing this.

From the home screen of the IQ Panel 2, click the small grey bar at the top of the screen. Then choose Settings, then Advanced Settings. Then enter in either the Installer Code (default 1111) or the Dealer Code (default 2222). Then choose Installation, then Devices, then Z-Wave Devices, then Clear Device. This will put the system into exclusion mode.

With the Z-Wave device close to the system, activate the device's inclusion function. Some devices have a specific inclusion button, while others access this function using a different method. Refer to the instruction manual for the device for info on how to put it into inclusion mode. The panel should recognize the device and state that it has been cleared from the network. Press the "OK" button to continue.

2. Enroll the device. On the IQ Panel 2, click Add Device. Then press the "Pair" button. This will put the IQ Panel 2 into its inclusion mode. Then activate the inclusion function on the Z-Wave device. This is the same function that was activated when clearing the device in Step 1. Again, the Z-Wave device may need to be close to the IQ Panel 2 in order for the command to go through. The system should recognize the device and include it into the network.

3. Configure the device. Once the device has been enrolled, you can provide a name for the device. This will allow you to easily recognize it on the system. Once you are finished, press the "Add" button to save any changes and add the Z-Wave device to the system. You can then press the picture of the house at the bottom of the IQ Panel 2 screen to return to the home screen.