FortrezZ WV-01 Wireless Z-Wave Water Valve — Owner's Manual / Installation Guide

Owner's manual and installation guide for the FortrezZ WV-01 Wireless Z-Wave Water Valve — an automatic water shut-off system for water level/irrigation control and emergency water damage prevention. Works as an automatic valve on a home's main water supply line, and can be installed by a certified professional plumber.

Overview

The WV-01 is a professional-grade, electrically operated water shut-off valve. Used in a Z-Wave home automation network along with Z-Wave water alarm sensors (WWA-0X), it helps reduce or eliminate water damage caused by leaky pipes or faulty appliances. The WV-01 can also work as a Water Level / Irrigation device on a timed schedule via a Z-Wave smart controller.

System Components

1. A motorized ball valve and housing containing a wireless Z-Wave radio transceiver, which automatically shuts off the water supply when a wireless water alarm sensor detects water or a potentially freezing temperature.
2. A number of wireless water alarm sensors (WWA-0X) that detect leaks, overflow, or freezing temperatures and send a Z-Wave signal to the WV-01.

Package Contents

• 1x Water Valve WV-01
• 1x DC power adapter
• 1x Local monitoring probe
• 1x Owner's Manual / Installation Guide

Optional/additional components: WWA-01 water leak detection sensors, WWA-03/04 water level or soil moisture sensors, 12VDC car battery for power outage backup, and water level/soil moisture probes.

Product Specifications

• Motorized brass ball valve, available in ½", ¾", 1", and 1¼" sizes; full port brass forged body; RTFE seats; Viton seals.
• Maximum working pressure: 125 PSIG. Ambient temperature range: 35° to 105°F. For cold water applications.
• Enclosure: Polycarbonate, NEMA 4x (weather resistant).
• Voltage: 110V AC converted to 12V DC (Class 2 power converter with 20' cord), 1.3A full load. Optional 12V DC battery backup (car or riding mower battery).
• Three indicator lights: Red = valve closed; Green = valve open; Yellow (on or flashing) = error or not programmed into a network.

Flow Rate by Valve Size

⚠ General Safety Information

Adherence to all local and municipal building, plumbing, and electrical codes is of utmost importance. Codes in some areas may require a licensed plumber or proper permits. Even where not required, the installer should have a professional level of plumbing and electrical competence — if in doubt, use a licensed professional.

• Disconnect power before working on or servicing the unit — failure to do so could result in serious personal injury.
• Wear eye protection while servicing the system.
• The valve closes with enough force to cut off a finger — keep fingers and objects out of the valve opening at all times.

Pre-Installation Testing

Although factory pre-tested, test the unit before installation. Operating the valve before connecting the water line will not damage it. Plug the power adapter into a nearby 110V AC outlet; within 10 seconds, the status light will start blinking. Carefully press the button opposite the unlit indicator to change valve position, listening for the motor. Verify the position by looking into the threaded end of the valve (open = you can see through; closed = only the shiny ball surface is visible). If the valve doesn't appear to change position, do NOT insert tools or fingers to try to reposition it — call the installation help line.

Front Panel Operation

• Open / Close Buttons: Control the valve locally; LED indicators show open/closed status.
• Program Button: Include (add) or exclude (remove) the valve from a Z-Wave network, and switch between modes.
• Status Light: Indicates current mode or error conditions — off when normally in a network; fast blinks = mode indications, slow blinks = fault conditions.

At Power-On: The valve needs to be set up with the actual ball valve position: (1) press the Open button, (2) press the Close button, (3) if "closed" is not the desired position, press Open again. Caution: if the ball valve is not yet installed, keep fingers and objects away from the valve while operating it — the first two setup steps were deliberately not automated to avoid injury or damage from foreign objects.

Mode Indications (Status Light Fast Blinks)

Including / Excluding from a Z-Wave Network

NWI mode is active by default at power-on for approximately 30 minutes (if supported by your controller), and stops once the valve is included, times out, or the Program Button is pressed. For manual inclusion: put your Z-Wave controller in Inclusion Mode, verify the status light is flashing 3–4 times, then press the Program Button once. For exclusion: put the controller in Exclusion Mode, then press the Program Button once.

Water Alarm Mode vs. Water Level Mode

Water Alarm Mode (factory default) closes the valve on a Basic Set Command (0xFF) from an associated sensor. It will NOT automatically reopen when the sensor clears (Basic Set 0x00) — you must manually reopen the valve after confirming the leak has stopped, since water may have simply drained away from the sensor.

Water Level Mode is for special applications (e.g., maintaining a water level range): the valve closes on 0xFF and reopens on 0x00 after a pre-configured timeout (default 60 minutes, configurable 1 min to 22+ days via the Configuration Command Class). The local water probe only operates in Water Level Mode when the valve is not in a network.

To switch modes before network inclusion: hold the Program Button for 1+ seconds, then while still holding it, press Open (for Water Level Mode) or Close (for Water Alarm Mode). After inclusion, use the Z-Wave Configuration Command Class instead.

Manual Operation (No AC or Battery)

If no backup battery is connected and AC power is lost, the Water Valve will not operate automatically. Use the manual handle on the side of the valve to shut off water in an emergency. With a charged backup battery, the valve can still operate via associated sensors if a wireless route remains available in the Z-Wave mesh.

Z-Wave Command Classes (Advanced)

• Basic Command Class v1 — fully implemented; Basic Get returns last known valve position (0xFF = closed, 0x00 = open).
• Binary Switch Command Class v1 — fully implemented; Set command opens/closes the valve directly (0xFF = close, 0x00 = open), always operates immediately regardless of mode.
• Manufacturer Specific Command Class v1 — Manufacturer ID 0x0084, Product Type ID 0x0213.
• Configuration Command Class v1 — Parameter 0 (1 byte) switches Water Alarm (0x00, default) vs. Water Level Mode (0xFF). Parameter 1 (2 bytes) sets the Water Level Timeout, 0x0000–0x7FFF minutes (default 60 min).
• Alarm Command Class v2 — Signals main power/battery dropout and restoration. Alarm Type: Power Management (0x08); Events: Voltage Drop/Drift (0x05), Power Reapplied (0x01).
• Application Status Command Class v1 — Signals when the valve is busy or rejects a request due to current state.

Fault Conditions / Troubleshooting (Slow Blinks)

Additional slow-blink fault codes exist for I2C, ADC, Time, State, and unknown errors — cycle power to the valve, and see the FAQ at fortrezz.com if the fault persists.

Installation

The WV-01 must be installed indoors, in the main water line just downstream of the main shut-off valve, in a dry accessible location. Follow local electrical/plumbing codes. Never use the housing for leverage — use a wrench on the valve flats only. Remove the plastic housing before soldering (high heat can damage valve seats or the motor housing).

Compression Fitting Method (recommended for copper lines)

Tools/materials needed: 2 male pipe thread × compression fittings (sized to your tubing), Teflon tape or thread sealant, tubing cutter, ruler, marker, 2 large adjustable wrenches.

1. Attach compression fittings to each end of the valve using Teflon tape/sealant; hold the valve flats with one wrench while tightening with the other.
2. Measure the valve assembly length and subtract ½" (for ½" tube) or ¾" (for ¾" tube) to determine how much pipe to remove.
3. Choose a valve location with front-panel access and a nearby power outlet.
4. Mark cutting points on the tube.
5. Turn off and drain the water system.
6. Cut the copper tube at the marks; remove burrs and clean the tube ends.
7. Install compression nuts/sleeves on the tube ends.
8. Shift the tube ends and fit the WV-01 into place; tighten compression nuts (hold the fitting with one wrench, the nut with the other).
9. Plug in the unit and open the valve (green light).
10. Unplug, restore water flow, and check carefully for leaks.
11. Plug the unit back in — installation complete.

Soldering is an alternative for skilled installers, but a professional plumber is recommended if you're not experienced.

Water Alarm Sensor (WWA-0x) Placement

Each WV-01 can support multiple WWA-0x sensors (Z-Wave networks support up to 232 nodes). Recommended locations: washing machines, toilets, sump pumps, dishwashers, bathroom/kitchen sinks, humidifiers, icemakers/refrigerators, water heaters, and pipes prone to freezing (the WWA-01 also functions as a freeze sensor).

Testing the Sensors

1. Ensure the valve is plugged in and open; keep objects/people away from the valve area.
2. Dip the sensor probe in water for ~5 seconds to simulate a leak and confirm signal transmission.
3. Remove and dry the sensor probe until the alarm stops.
4. Verify the valve has closed (red light lit).
5. Reset the valve by pressing the green Open button.
6. Repeat for each sensor location.

Recommend manually cycling the valve every 3–4 months. During a power outage without backup battery, use the manual side handle for emergency shut-off; after power is restored, cycle Open/Close once to reset position tracking.

Battery Life (WWA-0x Sensors)

Batteries are not covered under warranty and ship separately for freshness. Recommended battery: GMB ER14250H (3.6V Lithium, 1/2AA, 1200mAh). Expected life: 1.5–2 years under normal conditions (4-hour reporting interval) — alarm events drain the battery faster, so replace after each alarm event. Note: lithium batteries can falsely read 3.6V when nearly depleted; test under load (e.g., a 75-ohm resistor) to verify actual charge.

Warranty

1-year limited manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials/workmanship under normal use. Excludes consequential damages, installation costs, and implied warranties of merchantability/fitness. Liability is capped at the purchase price paid. Not intended for life support or safety-critical applications — the system relies on wireless RF transmission, which can be subject to interference. A 30-day return/exchange option is available through your distributor, or via RGA (Returned Goods Authorization) directly from FortrezZ (original packaging and proof of purchase required).

FortrezZ LLC, 1080 Centre Rd. Suite C, Auburn Hills, MI 48326 · Ph: (248) 481-7092 · www.fortrezz.com