HELTUN Z-Wave Quinto Relay HE-RS01

🛎️ Get Help Devices
6

I discovered the solution, and it is easy. For anyone else stumbling through, here is what I learned through this tiny quest.

  • Some z-wave devices can be configured by end users to communicate on different frequencies.
  • For the Heltun HE-RS01, the desired z-wave frequency can be set using "Parameter 01: Frequency Region"
  • To change this configuration parameter, you must first include the device in a z-wave network communicating at the frequency the device is currently set for.
  • The z-wave radio onboard the Hubitat C-7 can be switched to operate at different frequencies. See Hubitat Documentation > Z-Wave Manual > Z-Wave Region Selection
  • For the Heltun HE-RS01, the change in this parameter only takes effect after the device is excluded.
  • Presently (C-7, 2.3.5), Hubitat does include a system driver for "Heltun Relay Switch Quinto"; however the driver currently does not facilitate changing configuration parameters.
  • Luckily, the Basic ZWave Tool posted by @mike.maxwell facilitates changing configuration parameters.

My biggest oversight in this quest was that I did not realize that the z-wave radio on Hubitat C-7 can be switched to different frequencies. I had read previous posts, such as this one, explaining the need for an external USB z-wave radio outside the US; and I noticed that Hubitat sells Europe Version of both C-7 and C-8. Thus, I mistakenly overlooked this awesome feature.

In this process, I also discovered that one could purchase a z-wave stick with firmware for the EU frequency, then use a tool such as Silicon Labs Simplicity Studio to setup a temporary z-wave network from a computer simply for the purpose of changing configuration parameters or updating device firmware. I will probably do this in the future because, as you may see, it is a little onerous to accomplish this using the radio on-board Hubitat.

So, the step-by-step solution to get the HE-RS01 working on my C-7 was as follows:

  1. Unbox HE-RS01 and power it up (I used 240VAC)
  2. Select Settings>Z-Wave Details and switch Z-Wave Region to "Europe" (ie: 868.4 MHz), and select Save.
  3. Select Settings>Shut Down (you must shutdown the hub for z-wave frequency changes to take effect).
  4. After the LED on the front of the hub turns red, unplug the hub from wall power, wait at least 30 seconds, then reconnect to power and wait for the hub to reboot.
  5. Select Devices > Add device > Z-Wave (add device manually) > Start Z-Wave Exclusion to set the hub in exclusion mode, then follow device-specific sequence to initiate z-wave exclusion (eg: press the button twice quickly).
  6. Select Devices > Add device > Device type > Relay > Heltun > Start Z-Wave Inclusion to add the device using the built in driver "Heltun Relay Switch Quinto". (I also had success with Smart Start, and with manual inclusion, both of which found the right driver).
  7. View the device and test functions.
  8. Install Drivers Code for the Basic ZWave Tool
  9. Change the device driver to the Basic Z-Wave tool. (View the device and under Device Information and change Type to "Basic Z-Wave tool" and select Save Device. User defined drivers installed through Drivers Code are listed toward the end of the drop down under "User")
  10. To change the configuration parameter(s), use the Set Parameter command. (For the Heltun HE-RS01, value=1, size=1, for parameterNumber=1, corresponds to 908.4 MHz).
  11. Change back to the original device driver. (View the device and under Device Information and change Type back to "Heltun Relay Switch Quinto" and select Save Device. (The next step won't work if you don't switch back to the original device driver).
  12. Exclude the device. Select Devices > Add device > Z-Wave (add device manually) > Start Z-Wave Exclusion to set the hub in exclusion mode, then follow device specific sequence to initiate z-wave exclusion (press the button twice quickly).
  13. Select Settings>Z-Wave Details and switch Z-Wave Region to "USA" (ie: 908.4 MHz), and select Save.
  14. Select Settings>Shut Down (you must shutdown the hub for z-wave frequency changes to take effect).
  15. After the LED on the front of the hub turns red, unplug the hub from wall power, wait at least 30 seconds, then reconnect to power and wait for the hub to reboot.
  16. Select Devices > Add device > Device type > Relay > Heltun > Start Z-Wave Inclusion to add the device using the built in driver "Heltun Relay Switch Quinto".
  17. View the device and test functions.
  18. All done!

In hindsight, the process is actually very simple, but it is not obvious if you are fumbling around in the dark. I hope my explanation is helpful for others. In terms of form, function, and flexibility, the Heltun Quinto is really unparalleled, so I'm excited to use it.