How Do I Set a Z-Wave Light on a Schedule on the IQ5 NS?

To set a Z-Wave light on a schedule on the IQ5 NS, you use Alarm.com rather than the panel itself. Because the IQ5 NS has no screen, it does not have the on-panel Automation menu that the touchscreen models use, so the light schedules are created in the Alarm.com app instead of on the panel.

Why Scheduling Happens in Alarm.com

On the touchscreen models, there is a local Automation menu for building simple light schedules right on the panel. The IQ5 NS (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) has no display, so that on-panel menu is not part of how it works. Instead, scheduling and rules for your Z-Wave lights are handled in the cloud through Alarm.com, which the panel connects to for its home automation features.

This actually gives you more flexibility than the local rules do. In Alarm.com you can schedule lights by time of day, sunrise and sunset, or tie them to other events, and the same tools let you schedule other Z-Wave devices like locks and thermostats, which the local panel rules do not cover. The schedules run from the cloud, so they work whether or not you are near the panel.

Before You Begin

The Z-Wave light you want to schedule needs to already be added to the IQ5 NS. Adding Z-Wave devices to the panel is done through the IQ Installer app, so if you have not yet connected the IQ Installer app to your panel, see our guide on setting up the IQ5 NS with the IQ Installer app first. You will also need a monitoring plan that includes Alarm.com interactive and automation services.

How to Set the Schedule

Once the light is added and your system is connected to Alarm.com, sign in to the Alarm.com app or website with your account. From there, open the automation or rules area, create a new rule or schedule, choose the Z-Wave light, and set the times you want it to turn on and off. The exact layout is managed by Alarm.com, so if you are not sure where to find scheduling in your account, your monitoring provider can point you to it.

Tips

Because these schedules live in the cloud, they keep running on time even when no one is home, and you can adjust them from anywhere in the app. If your plan does not currently include Alarm.com automation features, that is usually the reason scheduling options are missing, and upgrading the plan restores them. For simple on and off control without a schedule, you can still operate the light directly through the Alarm.com app any time.

So on the IQ5 NS, Z-Wave light schedules are set through Alarm.com rather than on the panel, which keeps things flexible for a no-screen system. For help with light schedules or your Alarm.com plan on the IQ5 NS, 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.