How to Install & remove devices on Aeotec Smart Home Hub

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

This solution shows you how to pair, remove, or factory reset your devices using Smart Home Hub. It forms part of a broader guide on managing and using Smart Home Hub which can be found here.   

Moving forward in this guide, all functions and steps are based on generic methods of pairing, removing, automating, which may differ a little bit in some devices. 

2. Installation and Removal

Installing devices

Smart Home Hub supports thousands of wireless devices by communicated to them through technologies such as Z-Wave, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, and indirectly via the cloud. Each wireless communication method will have a different method to connect them into Smart Home Hub, but the interface of Smart Home Hub will provide you those specific instructions.

If you'd like to understand which products are compatible with the SmartThings software that powers Aeotec Smart Home Hub, please follow that link.

This guide will go over their generic methods of pairing them.

1. Z-Wave steps

1. Open SmartThings App
2. Select "+" located at the top right corner (second icon from the right)
3. Select "Add Device" 
4. There are 2 methods you can use to pair devices, either way, would work. 
5. Use "Generic Z-Wave Device"
6. Search "generic" 
7. Select Generic Z-Wave Device
8. Press Start
9. Set the hub that is pairing this
10. Set the Room
11. Tap Next
12. Use "By Brand"
13. Tap "By Brand"
14. Select the brand of your device if available
15. Select the specific device you want to pair.
16. Then the device itself.
17. Tap "Start"
18. This will give you the specific instruction set to pairing your Z-Wave device. 
19. Now tap the button on the device you are pairing/connecting.
20. Some devices may have custom button presses such as double or triple presses. Make sure you look at the instructions of your Z-Wave device to get the correct button press combination. 
21. (If Secure pairing available) Scan the QR code or choose to enter the DSK code (pin code located under the QR barcode)

2. Zigbee or WiFi steps

1. From the front dashboard of SmartThings, tap +.
2. Select Device.
3. Select a brand and the device.
4. Follow the steps displayed on the screen to pair that Zigbee or WiFi device.
5. Plug the Zigbee / WiFi device into power and/or scan the device's QR code. Smart Home Hub should be able to find the device automatically after some time has passed.
6. Some devices may require a special button pressed, make sure to refer to the instruction guide of the Zigbee or WiFi device that you are pairing.

3. Voice Control

To bring your Smart Home Hub to the next level of voice commands, you'll need Amazon Alexa or Google Home which can be easily installed following the steps outlined in this article here: Voice Control with Smart Home Hub.

Removing devices

Z-Wave

Smart Home Hub can factory reset Z-Wave devices called "Z-Wave Exclusion", but serves as the best method for unpairing a connected Z-Wave device.

Exclude/unpair from the device. 

1. Open SmartThings App.
2. Find the device that you want to unpair/disconnect from your hub.
3. Select the 3 dots icon located at the top right corner.
4. Tap Edit
5. Tap Delete.
6. Ensure that the LED on Smart Home Hub is blinking.
7. Tap the button on the Z-Wave device that you want to factory reset.
8. Usually, it is a single tap of the button, but other devices may have special button presses (ie. double, triple press, or press and hold for a certain amount of time).

Zigbee/Wifi Steps

Primarily these devices can just be removed and typically would automatically factory reset your Zigbee/WiFi device. Some devices require a manual factory reset option which may need to be done to connect that device to a new hub.

Steps

1. Open SmartThings app.
2. Find the device that you want to delete from your hub.
3. Select the 3 dots icon located at the top right corner.
4. Tap Edit
5. Tap Delete.
6. After doing so, it is highly recommended to perform a manual factory reset on your Zigbee/Wifi device.

Removing Z-Wave devices that are not connected.

It is possible to tell devices to remove them from a Z-Wave network even if they are not connected to your Aeotec Smart Home Hub. This is most commonly used when you want to connect a Z-Wave device to SmartThings that has already been connected to another gateway hub. It can also be used for troubleshooting when Z-Wave devices won't connect to your hub.

Steps

1. Open the SmartThings app.
2. Tap Menu located at the top left corner of your screen.
3. Tap Devices
4. Find your hub and select it.
5. From the upper right 3 dot menu, tap Z-Wave Utilities.
6. Tap Z-Wave Exclusion.
7. Ensure that the LED on Smart Home Hub is blinking.
8. Tap the button on the Z-Wave device that you want to factory reset.
9. Usually, it is a single tap of the button, but other devices may have special button presses (ie. double, triple press, or press and hold for a certain amount of time).

Force removal of a phantom device in your hub

Any device can be forcibly removed from the SmartThings Connect interface. This method is not preferred but should only be used if you have no other options to removing a failed device that exists in your hub's network, but no longer exists physically.

Steps

1. On the SmartThings dashboard, select the node/device you want to delete to access its more detailed page.
2. Tap the 3 dot icon

1.  located at the top right corner.
   
   
2. Tap Edit.
3. At the bottom of the page, tap on Delete.
4. Wait about 30 seconds.
5. A new option will appear, select Force Delete