I recently encountered an issue with some older GE Z-Wave switches that were no longer functioning properly within my smart home setup. After some research and experimentation, I found a reliable solution that I’d like to share with the community.
Initially, I noticed that these switches were not responding to commands from my Hubitat system. They had been excluded from the network, but I couldn’t re-pair them because they lacked a physical factory reset button. This was frustrating because I wanted to integrate them seamlessly into my existing setup without having to replace them.
After some digging, I discovered that the SmartThings app offers a feature called General Device Exclusion Mode. Here’s how I resolved the issue:
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Enter General Device Exclusion Mode:
- Open the SmartThings app.
- Navigate to the More tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Select your hub from the list.
- Go to Z-Wave Utilities and choose General Device Exclusion.
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Exclude the Device:
- Press the switch once to initiate the exclusion process.
- The app will notify you that an unknown device has been excluded.
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Reinclude the Device:
- Proceed to include the switch as you normally would through the SmartThings app.
- The switch will now be recognized and properly integrated into your system.
This method worked perfectly for me, and I was able to get all my GE Z-Wave switches back up and running without any issues. It’s a great solution for anyone dealing with older devices that lack a physical reset button.
I hope this tip helps others who might be struggling with similar issues. If anyone has further questions or experiences, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to assist!