Adding a new z-wave device - secure or not? Plus and non-mixed

[user1863]

I just replaced an Z-Wave outdoor outlet that I was using in my gazebo - the old one got a little too wet and stopped working

I have about 20 devices on my C7 Hub - all z-wave -many, but not all, are Z-wave Plus, some are older NON- plus z-wave switches.

When adding the new outlet manually using zwave inclusion, it asked me about secure mode (or security, etc) while setting it up. I said NO, but I don't know if I loose something by doing that.

I am pretty sure that some of my other Z-wave plus switches, I DID say yes to secure - ...

So if I have totally mixed , old, plus and also plus secure - is that a problem? Do I loose anything by NOT having plus set up "secure". I am not really worried about someone breaking in and turning my lights on and off, and my door lock is a Schlage that is not "plus" so it doesn't have "secure"

One difference I noticed on Plus , vs Non-Plus - manually turning on a plus switch updates that status on the dashboard, but on a non-plus it does not? But on the other hand, my Schlage lock does update, because if someone manually turns the latch, then it still triggers my rules (which I want to happen)

[Sebastien]

@user1863

I said NO, but I don't know if I loose something by doing that.

That is typically the preferred approach. Security is useful for devices that can allow entry/access to your house, but otherwise, it will add unnecessary overhead and slow down the data transmission.

@user1863

So if I have totally mixed , old, plus and also plus secure - is that a problem?

It isn’t a problem. this is quite typical.

@user1863

my door lock is a Schlage that is not "plus" so it doesn't have "secure"

It likely has S0 security which is older than S2, but not unusual for locks.

@user1863

One difference I noticed on Plus , vs Non-Plus - manually turning on a plus switch updates that status on the dashboard, but on a non-plus it does not?

That’s correct. There is a built-in polling app that you can install and that will allow the hub to constantly poll those devices. It’s called “Z-Wave Poller”. I would recommend it. There was a patent on devices sending their status to the hub that expired as Z-Wave Plus devices came out, so they didn’t have to pay royalties to use it at that point.