Unlock the full potential of your home security and automation with this deep dive into the Aeotec Door Window Sensor 8, a multi-functional Z-Wave Plus v2 device designed to bridge the gap between simple entry monitoring and advanced environmental intelligence.
Deep Dive: Z-Wave Command Classes on the Aeotec Door Window Sensor 8
The Aeotec Door Window Sensor 8 (ZWA055) is a versatile Z-Wave Plus v2 device that supports a wide array of Command Classes to handle everything from security monitoring to environmental sensing. This guide breaks down every supported Command Class and explains how the sensor utilizes them within a Z-Wave network.
Z-Wave Plus Info
This Command Class provides essential information about the device's Z-Wave Plus version, role type, and icon. The Sensor 8 features a unique dual-role capability depending on its power source:
USB Power: The device reports as an Always On Slave (Role Type 5). It acts as a repeater and is always listening.
Battery Power: The device reports as a Reporting Sleeping Slave (Role Type 6). It sleeps to conserve energy and must be woken up to receive commands.
Note: If you change the power supply method (e.g., from Battery to USB), you must re-include the device in the network for the Role Type to update correctly.
Association & Association Group Info
The sensor supports robust direct device-to-device communication through Association and Association Group Info.
It features 11 distinct association groups, allowing it to control other Z-Wave devices directly without a hub.
This does require a Z-Wave Controller capable of programming the Associations.
| Group ID | Name | Function |
| 1 | Lifeline | The primary channel for reporting status to the controller (Battery, Notifications, Sensor Binary, Multilevel Sensor, Device Reset) . |
| 2 | Control | Sends Basic Set commands to control devices (like switches) based on the Magnet's open/close status. |
| 3 | Alarm | Sends Notification Reports (Access Control) when the magnet status changes. |
| 4 | Tamper | Sends Notification Reports (Home Security) when the tamper switch is triggered. |
| 5 | Tilting | Sends Basic Set commands to control devices when the tilt sensor is triggered. |
| 6 | Temp High Trigger | Sends Basic Set when the temperature exceeds the upper watermark (configured via Param 14). |
| 7 | Temp Low Trigger | Sends Basic Set when the temperature drops below the lower watermark (configured via Param 15). |
| 8 | Humidity High Trigger | Sends Basic Set when humidity exceeds the upper watermark (configured via Param 16). |
| 9 | Humidity Low Trigger | Sends Basic Set when humidity drops below the lower watermark (configured via Param 17). |
| 10 | Mold Danger | Sends Notification Reports (Weather Alarm) when mold danger is detected. |
| 11 | Air Temperature | Sends Multilevel Sensor Reports for air temperature updates. |
Multi Channel Association
This class supports the same functionality as the Association Command Class but extends it to support multi-channel devices (nodes with multiple endpoints). This allows the sensor to control a specific output on a multi-relay device via the association groups listed above.
Notification
The Notification Command Class is the primary method the sensor uses to report events to the Z-Wave controller. The sensor supports five specific notification types:
Access Control (0x06): Reports whether the Window/Door is Open (0x16) or Closed (0x17).
Home Security (0x07): Reports Tamper Triggered (0x03) when the cover is removed, and Idle (0x00) when restored.
Power Management (0x08): Reports power status, including "Replace battery now" (0x0B), "AC mains disconnected" (0x02) for battery mode, and "AC mains re-connected" (0x03) for USB mode .
Heat Alarm (0x04): Reports Overheat (0x02) or Underheat (0x06) detection based on configured thresholds .
Weather Alarm (0x10): Reports Moisture Alarm (0x02) when the mold risk algorithm is triggered (based on humidity and dew point).
Sensor Binary
For backward compatibility with older Z-Wave systems, the device supports the Sensor Binary Command Class. It maps specific events to binary states:
Door/Window: Open/Close state maps to 0x00 / 0xFF.
Tilt: Tilt events map to 0x00 / 0xFF.
General: Mold danger maps to 0x00 / 0xFF.
Multilevel Sensor
This class is used to report precise numerical environmental data gathered by the device’s internal sensors:
Temperature: Reports in Celsius or Fahrenheit (-10 to 65°C range).
Relative Humidity: Reports percentage values (0 to 90% RH).
Dew Point Temperature: Calculated based on temperature and humidity.
Acceleration: Reports X, Y, and Z-axis acceleration in meters per square second ($m/s^2$).
Configuration
The Configuration Command Class allows users to customize the device's behavior. The sensor supports extensive parameters (1 through 64) to adjust settings such as:
Reporting Thresholds: Minimum change in temperature (Param 2) or humidity (Param 3) required to trigger a report .
LED Indications: Enable or disable specific LED responses to save battery (Param 4).
Magnet/Tilt Logic: Invert open/closed logic (Param 5) or choose tilt operation modes (Param 27).
Correction Offsets: Manually calibrate temperature (Param 25) and humidity (Param 26) readings .
Battery
This class reports the battery level percentage.
Voltage Mapping: 2.90V+ reports as 100%, while 2.60V or less reports as 0%.
Reporting Logic: The device sends a report automatically if the level drops by more than 10% or if it falls below the "Low battery threshold" defined in Parameter 23 .
Wake Up
This class is critical when the device is running on battery power. It defines how often the sensor wakes up to listen for queued commands from the controller.
Default Interval: 604,800 seconds (1 week).
Min/Max: Minimum 3600s (1 hour) to Maximum 15,724,800s (182 days).
Wake Up Notification: Sent to the controller (Group 1) to signal the device is awake and ready to receive updates.
Indicator
The Indicator Command Class is used primarily for the "Node Identify" function. This allows a controller to flash the device's Green LED to physically identify the sensor installed in a home.
Manufacturer Specific
This class allows the controller to identify the device manufacturer and model details properly.
Manufacturer ID: 0x0371 (Aeotec).
Product Type ID: Varies by region (EU: 0x00, US: 0x01, AU: 0x02).
Product ID: 0x0037 (55).
Version
Reports the firmware and hardware versions of the device.
Z-Wave Protocol: Version 7.16 (SDK 7.23.2).
Hardware Version: 55.
Firmware Support: Supports reporting standard Z-Wave chip firmware versions.
Security 2 (S2)
The device supports the Security 2 (S2) framework for encrypted communication. It supports both S2 Authenticated and S2 Unauthenticated classes, ensuring secure data transmission for door/window status and preventing signal jamming or replay attacks.
Transport Service
This command class handles the transport of Z-Wave commands, specifically managing the fragmentation of large packets and the secure inclusion process utilized by S2 and SmartStart.
Firmware Update Meta Data
The sensor supports Over The Air (OTA) firmware updates. This allows the device manufacturer to release software improvements or bug fixes that can be applied wirelessly without removing the device from the door or window.
Powerlevel
Used mainly during installation and diagnostics, this class allows the user (or installer) to test the RF signal strength between the sensor and the controller. It can temporarily reduce transmit power to verify a reliable connection.
Supervision
Supervision allows the device to confirm the successful receipt and execution of commands. This increases network reliability by ensuring critical commands are not lost without acknowledgement.
Device Reset Locally
If the Action Button is held for more than 12 seconds to perform a factory reset, the device sends a Device Reset Locally Notification via the Lifeline group (Group 1). This informs the controller that the device has been reset to factory defaults and removed from the network.
Basic
While the device sends Basic Set commands to control other devices (via Association Groups 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), the specification notes that the Basic Command Class is not mapped to any supported command classes for incoming control. Sending a Basic Set to this sensor will effectively do nothing.