Using a Z-Wave controller is a great way to automate many of the functions in your home. It is also among the most popular. There are many devices from multiple manufacturers available that allow you to control lighting, temperature, security, IP cameras, door locks and notifications.

As your automation system grows, you may find you have devices or systems existing in your home that offer the ability to be automated but you didn’t know how or maybe didn’t even know it could be done at the time. What about adding your existing doorbell into your Z-Wave network? How about your garage door? Maybe you’d like to get notifications from your existing security system that currently has no Internet connectivity? Maybe you’d like to be notified when your sump pump starts to operate? These are a few of the devices or systems in your home that have the ability to be automated with just a little effort because now you can Z-Wave automate most any home device simply by adding FortrezZ MIMOlite.

Doorbell – Your existing doorbell gets activated by pushing the button at the door, closing the circuit, causing the chime to ring. Maybe you have an older, well-made button and chime unit and you really like the chime sound that it makes. If you want to simply automate the doorbell you already have, you can use a FortrezZ MIMOlite Z-Wave Input-Output Module. This is a very versatile and inexpensive part that allows for a lot of integration options. In this case you wire the unit in parallel with your existing doorbell. Then, when someone rings your doorbell, you still get the same chime and function. Now, you can be out in the backyard, the shed or other outbuilding and take your doorbell with you. You’ll receive the doorbell notification directly to your phone and never miss a visitor or package again!

Garage Door – We’re going to be using the FortrezZ MIMOlite Input-Output Module for this one as well. When you click the “clicker” for your garage door opener, the receiver gets that signal and performs a “momentary contact” to initiate the garage door opener. It works the same whether it’s opening or closing. In this case, we can install the MIMOlite at the garage door and wire from the output to the garage door receiver terminals. Now, through your Z-Wave network, you have the ability to open and close your garage door remotely or as a part of an automation scene that will check your garage door automatically every night. To complete this, you would add a Z-Wave-enabled tilt sensor to your garage door and enroll it into your Z-Wave network. Now, without adding a new garage door controller, you have the ability to check the open/close status of the garage door AND open and close it remotely for any number of purposes.

Sump Pump Notification – A lot of homes have some level of issues with water whether it’s a result of a rising water table or other issues that let water in beneath the home. Most modern sump pumps have a “float” that is mounted on the side of the pump itself which activates the pump when water rises and pushes up on the float, causing a contact to happen which starts the pump. This contact can be captured, again using the MIMOlite unit, to integrate this function into your Z-Wave system. With this method you can now get notifications whenever the pump is activated, allowing you the opportunity to investigate the cause or severity of the issue before it becomes insurmountable. The best part is that you don’t have to go out and buy a new, expensive sump pump!

Add Z-Wave Capabilities to Your Existing Home Devices Today!

If you need help adding Z-Wave functionality to devices/systems you already have in your home, we can help. Just call our toll-free number at at 858-693-8887 (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific, Monday – Friday) for free tech support and product advice.