Can you add a secondary Z-Wave controller for a connected door lock?

On a recent Internet of Things Podcast episode, we took a question from Dave on our Voicemail hotline. Dave’s landlord uses a SmartRent mobile app and Aeotec hub that connects to a smart Yale Assure door lock with Z-Wave. Dave wants to add a secondary Z-Wave controller to the Aeotec hub so that he can control the door lock remotely and get mobile notifications on the lock’s status.

Aeotec support told Dave that this isn’t possible. But he’s right to question them because with certain devices, adding a secondary Z-Wave controller is possible. Unfortunately, it’s not in this specific case.

Stacey spoke with her contacts at Assa Abloy, which owns the Yale line of products. According to Assa Abloy, the Yale Assure lock can only be enrolled on a single Z-Wave network. That makes sense as the Z-Wave standard specifies this requirement. A secondary Z-Wave controller is allowed and can be added but only if the primary controller allows it. And in Dave’s case, the Aeotec support team is correct: With the connected gear he uses, along with the SmartRent system, the primary controller doesn’t allow a secondary controller.

This makes sense to a degree as having multiple Z-Wave controllers can cause conflicts. Which one is “in charge” of the Z-Wave devices? What happens when one controller sends a command that overrides what another controller is trying to do?

It’s entirely possible that the SmartRent system is configured this way on purpose. That would mitigate any dualling controller issues which could cause problems either for the landlord or the tenant. However, it’s still unfortunate.

For what it’s worth, SmartRent does have a support page for enabling or customizing device notifications. Perhaps Dave’s landlord has disabled these at a system level. If that’s the case, maybe a short chat with the landlord will mitigate this issue without the need for more hardware.

To hear Dave’s question in full, as well as our discussion on the topic, tune in to the Internet of Things Podcast below: