How Do I Make a Lyric a Secondary Z-Wave Controller?

The Lyric Security and Home Control System is a top of the line alarm system. It has integrated WIFI and Z-Wave modules that make it one of the most advanced alarm systems in the industry right of the box! When it comes to home automation control the Lyric Controller supports peripheral Z-Wave devices like light switches, door locks and thermostats. Before configuring a Z-Wave mesh network it is important to understand the basics of primary and secondary controllers. We already published some FAQs that offer general concepts around shifting primary and secondary controller status and merging two independent primary controllers together. Certainly recommend reading through those over-arching reviews first. Then reviewing this FAQ for a more detailed look at how this works specifically on the Lyric.

Although the Lyric Controller may be a top of a line alarm system it does have its limitations when its comes to its role as an Automation controller. There is unique value in its ability to use zone faults and system operations as triggers for automated rules. However you may find limitations when it comes to the controller's ability to build higher level "if-then" conditions when creating rules. This type of conditional automation control may be found on other third party hubs like the Wink, Samsung Smartthings, Mi Casa Verde, etc. So that leads us to the purpose of this FAQ: Shifting the Lyric to secondary control. But please note that when setting up the Lyric as a secondary Z-Wave controller, you may lose the ability to control Z-Wave locks using programmed system codes.

As explained in further detail in the FAQs linked above the secondary controller cannot include/exclude devices but it can operate its own scenes, rules and scheduling. The best approach to configuring the Lyric as a secondary is first excluding any devices that have been included directly to it. This is further detailed in the general FAQ on merging primaries above. Assuming the Lyric has all Z-Wave devices already removed you can now learn it into the primary controller's network.

Place the primary into inclusion mode. Then go into the Automation section on your Lyric Controller. Press the down key to enter Tools and continue into Advanced Tools. After entering a valid installer or master user code you will see a "Learn" icon. Pressing the learn button will include the Lyric as a device into the primary controller's mesh network. Since the Lyric is a controller it will automatically be seen as a secondary controller and all existing devices on the network should migrate over to the Lyric.

Best practice for testing is to allow this secondary shift to fully process and complete before executing any commands. This allows the secondary to settle into the network as another controller. This can take anywhere from a couple minutes to 15 minutes. Might as well step away for a bit and give the network time to optimize itself. Then you can test individual lock control followed by scene and rule testing. If you ever need to add devices to the network just include them in the primary. Then exclude and reinclude the Lyric as a secondary. This will merge the newly added device(s) to the Lyric.

Update: The Samsung SmartThings hub now integrates more smoothly with the Lyric and breaks many of the rules listed above. Check out our FAQ for details.