What Does the Automation Feature Do on the IQ Panel 5 System?

Automation on the IQ Panel 5 lets you add, edit, and manage local lighting rules that run on the panel, such as turning a light on at 7pm and off at 6am. These rules are separate from any rules you set through Alarm.com, and you can open the page from Settings without entering a code.

What Automation Does

The IQ Panel 5 (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) includes an Automation page on the Settings page that lets you add, edit, and manage local lighting automation rules. A lighting rule tells a light to turn on or off at certain times or when something happens, such as a door opening. The rules are created and managed on the panel itself.

These rules are separate from any rules you set through Alarm.com. The manual is clear on that point, so a rule you build on the panel does not appear as a cloud rule, and an Alarm.com rule does not appear on the Automation page. They are two independent sets, and you can use one, the other, or both on the same security system.

How to Open the Automation Page

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen. This opens the Settings Tray with quick controls.

IQ Panel 5 Settings Tray opened by swiping down from the top of the screen

2. Touch Settings. This opens the main Settings page. No code is needed for this page.

3. Touch Automation. This opens the page where you add, edit, and manage local lighting automation rules.

The Four Example Rules

The manual gives four examples of the kinds of rules the Automation page is built for. The Night rule turns a light on at 7pm and off at 6am. The Evening rule turns a light on at 7pm and off at 11pm. The Front Door rule turns a light on for 15 minutes when the front door opens between 5pm and 7am. The Doorbell rule turns a light on for 15 minutes when the doorbell is activated between 5pm and 7am.

The first two are scheduled rules that run by the clock. The second two are triggered rules that react to a sensor. These are examples of what is possible, and you can set up your own times and lights instead of using the exact numbers above.

What the Front Door and Doorbell Rules Need

The two triggered rules depend on a sensor the panel can recognize. The manual states that the Front Door rule requires a sensor with the default quick name Front Door added in the panel, and the Doorbell rule requires a sensor with the default quick name Doorbell. If your door sensor has a different name, such as Entry Door or Back Door, the rule cannot match it, so use the default quick name when you enroll the sensor.

What Automation Does Not Do

Automation rules control lighting. They are not part of how the panel detects or reports alarms, and they do not arm or disarm the system. A light that turns on when the front door opens is a convenience, and it works alongside your security system, not as a replacement for any sensor or alarm function.

Local Rules vs. Alarm.com Rules

Because the Automation page is local to the panel, it is useful when you want simple lighting schedules without setting anything up in Alarm.com. If you also use home automation through an Alarm.com account, you can build more detailed rules there, including rules that involve other devices. Neither set of rules replaces the other, so check both places if a light is behaving in a way you did not expect.

If You Do Not See the Automation Button

The Automation button appears on the Settings page, which you open by swiping down from the top of the screen and touching Settings. If the button is missing, confirm you are on the Settings page and not inside Advanced Settings. The Automation page is also separate from the Status page and from the Automation device lists used to enroll Z-Wave and PowerG devices, which are different screens.

Getting the Most From Local Lighting Rules

Lighting rules work best when they match real habits. A Night or Evening rule suits a porch or entry light that should come on at dusk without anyone touching it. The Front Door and Doorbell rules suit homes where you want a light waiting when someone arrives after dark. Start with one rule, confirm it behaves the way you expect, and add more once you are comfortable.

The Automation page on the IQ Panel 5 lets you manage local lighting rules that run on the panel, separate from any rules in Alarm.com on the IQ Panel 5. For help with lighting automation or other panel features 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.