M1XSLZW Instruction Manual
Page 9
How to setup Z-Wave Groups using a terminal emulator such as Hyperterminal
It is not currently possible to set up Z-Wave lighting nodes into Z-Wave lighting groups using the LEVITON Vizia RF Installer Tool and
PC Software. The following is a simple but effective workaround to the missing capability in the Leviton tools. It consists of using
a terminal emulator program such as Hyperterminal to send ASCII strings over RS232 from the PC to the Serial Interface (VRC0P)
Controller. These ASCII strings contain the node ids and group assignments. Although the task is fairly straightforward, it does require
all the Z-Wave nodes to previously been setup and working.
After Z-Wave nodes have been setup into groups the Elk-M1XSLZW Z-Wave Interface can then send Z-Wave Group commands.
NOTE: Setup the Z-Wave network before executing the steps below. The ID numbers of the working Z-Wave Node must be known.
Requirements needed prior to setting up Z-Wave lighting nodes into Z-Wave lighting groups:
1. A PC terminal emulator program such as Hyperterminal. Other comparable programs might also be suitable.
2.
A standard RS232 serial port on the PC. If the PC only has a USB port then a suitable USB to RS232 converter cable is required.
3. A Leviton RS232 Serial Interface (VRC0P) Controller. This is the controller being used with the Elk-M1XSLZW. Temporarily
disconnect it from the Elk-M1XSLZW and connect it directly to the PC serial or USB/serial cable.
4. Make a listing of the Groups to be setup including a number from 1 to 64 and a descriptive name.
5. Make a listing of the existing Z-Wave nodes IDs that are to be setup into the identified groups. The Node ID MUST be known!
Setup
6. Connect the PC to the VRC0P using the serial or usb/serial converter cable.
7. Open the terminal emulator (Hyperterminal) software.
8. Check the serial connection settings and verify they are set as follows:
UART Settings: 9600 Baud rate, 8 Data bits, No Parity, 1 Stop bit, No Flow Control
Properties -> ASCII Setup-> “Send line ends with line feeds=Yes” and “Echo type characters locally=Yes”
9. Locate and click the command or ICON for “Connect” to establish a connection to the VRC0P Controller. If the connection is
successful it will be possible to see feedback coming from the VRC0P whenever a Z-Wave device is manually controlled.
10. Format and entry requirements for the Text Strings:
All typed characters must be UPPERCASE
Each string must start with the characters: >N
Follow the >N with the appropriate Node IDs separated with a comma between each ID.
Do not type a comma after the last Node ID.
Follow the last Node ID with the characters: GS
Follow the GS with a number from 1 to 64 corresponding to the desired Group number.
Click the carriage return key to transmit the string to the VRC0P.
ASCII string example for Group 1:
>N1,2,3,4GS1
{return} will setup Nodes 1, 2, 3, and 5 into lighting group 1.
The group 1 can now be manually testing by typing two more strings into Hyperterminal. Each must be a separate line.
>GR1 {enter}
>ON {enter} Nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 should all turn ON. Substitute >OFF {enter} to turn the group off.
11. The serial interface controller performs a simple error checking and should respond with <E000 = No error. If a response other
than <E000 is received then check the string for compliance with the formatting in step 10. Make sure that all Nodes IDs are
valid.
12. Once all groups have been setup unplug the serial interface from the PC and plug it back into the M1XSLZW Interface. Power
cycle the M1XSLZW and allow it time to autodiscover all the new groups.
13. Program the ElkRP rules to activate the groups that have just been setup.
An example of a rule to control Group 1 from the M1:
WHENEVER FRONT DOOR (ZNxx) BECOMES NOT SECURE
THEN TURN LIGHT 129 ON {Light 129 corresponds to Group 1) Nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 should all turn ON.
WHENEVER FRONT DOOR (ZNxx) BECOMES SECURE
THEN TURN LIGHT 129 OFF {Light 129 corresponds to Group 1) Nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 should all turn OFF.
