How Do I Add and Control Z-Wave Lights on the IQ Panel 5?

To add Z-Wave lights on the IQ Panel 5, go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Installation > Devices > Z-Wave Devices, touch Add Device, then Include. Press the pair button on the fixture and name it. Swipe left from the home screen to the Lights page and toggle any fixture on or off.

Before You Begin

The IQ Panel 5 (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) includes a built-in Z-Wave radio that lets you connect up to 80 Z-Wave light modules, dimmers, smart switches, and smart bulbs. Connecting lights to your panel is a major part of building a fully integrated home automation system. Once your lights are paired, you can control them from the panel touchscreen, key fobs, or remotely through the Alarm.com mobile app. You can also create schedules and automations that trigger your lights based on arming state, time of day, or sensor activity.

The IQ Panel 5 supports dimmers with adjustable brightness sliders, on/off switches, smart sockets, and lamp modules. When you pair a dimmer, you get a slider control on the Lights page. When you pair an on/off switch or socket, you get a simple toggle icon. You can also use the Get Status button to check the current state of all your lights without toggling them. The Energy icon appears next to smart outlets and displays real-time power usage data, useful for monitoring energy consumption on always-on devices.

Before adding lights, make sure your Z-Wave light module is within 30 feet (9 meters) of the panel during pairing and is powered on. If the device was previously paired to another Z-Wave controller, perform a factory reset or exclusion on the device first using the Clear Device function in the panel's Z-Wave menu. This prevents enrollment errors caused by the device still being bound to a previous network.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Settings Tray. Touch SETTINGS, then enter the Installer Code (1111 by default). Navigate to Advanced Settings > Installation > Devices > Z-Wave Devices.

IQ Panel 5 settings tray accessed by swiping down from the top

2. Touch Add Device on the Z-Wave Devices screen. The panel prompts you to touch Include. Touch Include to put the panel into Z-Wave inclusion mode. The IQ Panel 5 is now listening for a nearby device to pair.

IQ Panel 5 Z-Wave Add Device inclusion screen

3. Press the pair or learn button on your Z-Wave light module. Refer to the device documentation for the exact button location and press count. The IQ Panel 5 detects the device and displays a configuration screen. For S2 security devices, select the appropriate keys and enter the DSK printed on the device label when prompted.

4. Name the device and assign an optional local automation rule. Enter a label like "Living Room Lamp" or "Front Porch Light." In the Automation dropdown, choose Night (on at 7pm, off at 6am), Evening (on at 7pm, off at 11pm), or Front Door (turns on for 15 minutes when a sensor named Front Door opens). Touch Add to save the device to the panel.

IQ Panel 5 Z-Wave device configuration during enrollment

5. Swipe left from the home screen to reach the Lights page. The Lights page appears automatically once at least one light is enrolled. You will see icons for each paired fixture showing its current status: Light On, Light Off, Smart Socket On, or Smart Socket Off.

IQ Panel 5 Lights page showing all control options

6. Control your lights from the Lights page. Touch a bulb or outlet icon to toggle an individual light on or off. For dimmers, drag the slider left or right to set brightness. Touch the circle next to a light to select it, then use the ON or OFF group buttons to control multiple lights at once. Touch Get Status to refresh the current state of selected lights. Touch the Energy icon on smart outlets to view power consumption.

IQ Panel 5 light control status icons for all fixture types

Remote Control via Alarm.com

You can also control Z-Wave lights remotely through the Alarm.com app on your smartphone. With an Alarm.com monitoring plan that includes home automation, you can turn lights on and off, build schedules, and create scenes that combine lights with locks, thermostats, and arming events. Alarm.com also supports smartwatch control, letting you trigger lights from a wearable device. These scenes and schedules sync to the IQ Panel 5 and run automatically without any manual interaction.

Alarm.com smartphone app showing remote Z-Wave light control

Z-Wave light control is a powerful home automation feature on the IQ Panel 5 that gives you local and remote management of your entire lighting setup on the IQ Panel 5. For help with Z-Wave light control and home automation or other configurations on your IQ Panel 5, contact the Alarm Grid support team. We are here Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Email us at support@alarmgrid.com, call us at 888-818-7728, or visit our website and chat with a live support agent.