Why Can't I Use Z-Wave Security Sensors With My Alarm System?

In this video, Jorge explains why Z-Wave Security Sensors cannot be used with most home security systems. Simply put, most alarm system manufacturers intentionally make their panels incompatible with Z-Wave Security Sensors. This is mostly because Z-Wave Security Sensors just aren't reliable enough.

Many alarm systems can support Z-Wave devices. This may lead a user to believe that their system can support Z-Wave security sensors. However, this is normally not the case. Instead, these systems can only support Z-Wave smart home automation devices. Although Z-Wave technology has become more reliable in recent years, it is still not dependable enough to be used for security purposes. That is why alarm manufacturers restrict the Z-Wave compatibility for their systems to home automation devices only. It's possible that these systems may be able to support Z-Wave security devices sometime in the future, but for now that is usually not the case.

Some examples of home automation devices include smart lights, thermostats and door locks. These devices are commonly controlled remotely using interactive service platforms like Alarm.com and Total Connect 2.0. These Z-Wave devices can be paired with security systems and controlled reliably. However, they should not be confused with security devices. Some of the most popular security devices include door and window contracts, motion detecting sensors and glass break sensors. Most security devices that use Z-Wave communication cannot be paired with a system.

Of course, a user will still want to use security devices with their system. There are many wireless security sensors that are compatible with alarm systems. It's just that they normally don't use Z-Wave communication. Rather, they communicate with alarm systems by sending signals at standardized radio frequencies. This allows for greater reliability and more consistent performance, which is absolutely crucial for security sensors. Some of the most popular wireless frequencies for security sensors include 319.5 MHz, 345 MHz and 433 MHz.

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