Z-Rain user guide. Print

: June 7, 2024
: Aeotec

Table of Contents

Product Usage.
Communication to a Sleeping device (Wakeup).
Firmware-Update over the Air
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

Popp Z-Rain was developed to detect rainfall via Z-Wave. It is powered by Popp Z-Wave technology.

Before purchasing make sure to contact your Z-Wave Gateway/Controller manufacturer to determine if this device is compatible, typically most Z-Wave gateways will be generically compatible to Switch and Sensor type devices. The technical specifications of Z-Rain can be viewed at that link.

Familiarize yourself with your Z-Rain.

Cover and Funnel
Base
Electronic Block
Z-Wave Button

Quick start.

Getting your Z-Rain up and running is as simple as installing it and linking it to your Z-Wave network. The following instructions tell you how to add your Z-Rain to your Z-Wave network using an existing gateway.

Installation of Z-Rain and Pair process :

Remove the Cover and Funnel by turning it clock-wise to remove the hood.
Unlatch the Electronic Block.
Install the Batteries into the Electronic Block
Place your gateway or controller into Z-Wave pair or inclusion mode. (Please refer to your controller/gateway manual on how to do this)
Tap the Z-Wave Button on Z-Rain once.
Your gateway should confirm if Z-Rain is successfully included into your network.
Push the two snap-in noses from the electronics block away to keep the block tight to the base and to avoid any water leakage.

Product Usage.

Wireless Use.

One Z-Rain is paired into your network, Z-Rain will report on the rain level and alert when heavy rain is happening. The maximum precision is 3.5mm of rain per hour. The initial results may be inaccurate as the device counts full buckets of water and filling level prior to the start of rain is undetermined.

Product Maintenance .

Z-Rain will get dirty over time, make sure to check the interior of this device frequently by removing old leafs and dirt. This will help improve accuracy of this sensor.

Advanced functions.

Communication to a Sleeping device (Wakeup).

This device is battery operated and turned into deep sleep state most of the time to save battery life time. Communication with the device is limited. In order to communicate with the device, a Z-Wave controller is needed in the network.

This device will wakeup regularly and report a wakeup state by sending out a Wakeup Report. The controller can then empty the queued commands.

If the device was included by a Z-Wave controller, the controller will usually perform all necessary configurations. The wakeup interval is a trade off between maximal battery life time and the desired responses of the device.

Steps to wakeup Z-Rain:

Remove the cover of Z-Rain
Unlatch the Electronic Block
Tap the Z-Wave Button

Removing your Z-Rain from a Z-Wave network.

Z-Rain can be removed from your Z-Wave network at any time.You’ll need to use a Z-Wave primary controller to do this and the following instructions which will tell you how to do this using your existing Z-Wave Network.

This method can be used with any Primary Z-Wave Controller even if it is not directly paired to Z-Rain.

Using an existing gateway:

1. Place your gateway or controller into Z-Wave unpair or exclusion mode. (Please refer to your controller/gateway manual on how to do this)

2. Tap the Z-Wave Button on Z-Rain.

3. Your gateway should confirm if Z-Rain is successfully excluded from your network.

Manually Factory Z-Rain.

This method is not fully advised unless your gateway has failed, and you do not yet have another gateway to perform a general unpair.

1. Press and hold the Z-Wave Button for 10 seconds.

Firmware-Update over the Air

This device is capable of receiving a new firmware ‘over the air’. The update function needs to be supported by the central controller. Once the controller starts the update process, perform the following action to confirm the firmware update: Push the Z-Wave button twice

Association Groups.

Group Association is a specific function in Z-Wave that allows you to tell Z-Rain who it can speak to. Some devices may only have 1 group association meant for the gateway, or multiple group associations that can be used for specific events. This type of function isn’t used too often, but when it is available, you may be able to use it to directly communicate to Z-Wave devices instead of controlling a scene within a gateway which can have unforeseen delays.

Some gateways have the ability to set Group Associations to devices that have these special events and functions. Typically this is used to allow your gateway to update the status of Z-Rain instantly.

By default, your primary gateway should have been associated to Z-Rain automatically during the pairing of your sensor. For any case you have a Secondary Z-Wave Controller, you’ll need to associate it to your Z-Rain in order for your secondary controller to update its status.

Group Number	Maximum Nodes	Description
1	5	Lifeline
2	5	Switching Command when Rain (> 0 mm/h). Basic Set Command is sent.
3	5	Heavy Rain detected. Basic Set Command is sent.

Configuration Parameters.

**

Parameter 1: Rain Counter

This values shows the total count of rain from the moment of inclusion in mm water level. By writing this value this counter can be reset.
Size: 2 Byte, Default Value: 0

Setting	Description
0 – 32000	in mm

Parameter 2: Rain Start Command

This BASIC Set Command value is sent out into Association Group 2 when the device detects start of rain
Size: 1 Byte, Default Value: 99

Setting	Description
0 – 99	BASIC Set Value

Parameter 3: Rain Stop Command

This BASIC Set Command value is sent out into Association Group 2 when the device detects stop of rain
Size: 1 Byte, Default Value: 0

Setting	Description
0 – 99	BASIC Set Value

Parameter 4: Meter Multiplier

This multiplier allows to adapt the display to certain controllers not being able to handle very low numbers.
Size: 2 Byte, Default Value: 1

Setting	Description
1	1
10	10
100	100
1000	1000

Parameter 5: Heavy Rain

This threshold defines when a heavy rain condition is hit. In most countries this is defined as > 15 mm rain per hour. The default value however is to turn this function off.
Size: 1 Byte, Default Value: 255