As someone relatively new to Home Automation, I’ve been diving into the world of Z-Wave devices, particularly with my Schlage Z-Wave lock (BE369). While the setup has been smooth for the most part, I’ve encountered a couple of intriguing challenges that I’d like to discuss and seek advice on.
One of the functionalities I’m keen on replicating from my old Vera2 system is the ability to log which user entered a code or triggered a failed attempt. Additionally, having a user-friendly interface within Home Assistant to manage PIN codes would be invaluable. To address the logging aspect, I’ve modified the ZWaveAlarmSensor component to force updates whenever an alarm message is received. This ensures that every notification is captured, even if the state doesn’t change. However, I’m curious if this adjustment makes sense for any Z-Wave alarm sensor or if it’s specific to my setup.
Another point of consideration is whether the ZWaveAlarmSensor should act purely as a bridge to pass notifications to the Home Assistant bus rather than maintaining state. The challenge here is that OpenZWave splits alarm notifications into separate variables, necessitating state retention to capture both pieces of information effectively.
I’m also exploring the possibility of creating custom Z-Wave components tailored to specific entity IDs, which could offer more flexibility in how devices are integrated. This would be particularly useful for devices with unique requirements or those that don’t fit neatly into existing configurations.
If anyone has insights or recommendations on these modifications, or if there are plans to enhance the Z-Wave component in Home Assistant to better support these use cases, I’d be delighted to hear your thoughts. It’s been a fascinating journey so far, and I’m eager to continue learning and optimizing my setup!