How Do I Add Z-Wave Compatibility To Qolsys IQ Panel 4?

The bad news is, you can't add Z-Wave compatibility to a Qolsys IQ Panel 4. The good news is, that's because you don't need to! Each IQ Panel 4 comes with a built-in Z-Wave Plus 700 Controller capable of supporting all Z-Wave devices, including 800-Series devices. IQ Panel 4 is Z-Wave ready!

Z-Wave is an interesting protocol. All newer and older Z-Wave devices are compatible with one another. But, a newer device with new features used with an older controller will be limited by that older controller. And a newer controller used with an older device can't make that device behave like a new one. For this reason, it's always better to use the newest Z-Wave controller and device that you can in your mesh network. We discuss this more in depth here.

Z-Wave 800-Series is a hardware processor improvement that pertains to Z-Wave devices, rather than controllers. However, the IQ Panel 4 supports Z-Wave 800. This means that all of the improved features with Z-Wave 800 which include better range, 50% better battery life than 700-Series, and ~20% more processing power. Qolsys lists devices that they've tested and confirmed to be 100% compatible here.

One thing about Z-Wave support on the Qolsys IQ Panel 4 is that Z-Wave sensors are not supported. This means any Z-Wave door/window contacts, smoke detectors, heat detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, motion sensors, glass break sensors, or environmental sensors will not work with the IQ Panel 4. Only Z-Wave devices that are used in automation such as light modules, outlets, switches, relays, and other lifestyle enhancement devices are compatible.

Another interesting automation protocol that is compatible with every Qolsys IQ Panel 4 on firmware version 4.40+ is PowerG. DSC and Qolsys, who are both now owned by Johnson Controls, Inc (JCI) are working together to create automation devices that use the long-range PowerG protocol. Currently they have locks, outlets, switches, dimmers, and plug-in modules for both indoors and outdoors. I'm sure there will be additional PowerG automation devices coming soon.

Qolsys IQ Lock-PG shown below:

These PowerG modules program easily into the Qolsys IQ Panel 4 and then show up in Alarm.com, ready for automation via rules and scenes. Using the PowerG protocol means that these devices have much better range than the Z-Wave devices we've seen in the past. However, Z-Wave Long Range is being rolled out now, so that may soon change. These PowerG devices are sleek, have a great feature-set, and excellent battery life expectations.