What is a Device Handler and How Does It Help Me?

Device Handlers allow your SmartThings device to communicate with Inovelli switches across your smart home.

Donovan, Marketing Analyst

Device Handlers enable your device to communicate to the SmartThings platform.

The Smart Home community is home to varying levels of experience, so we’ll be covering what it is and how to install one.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy Device Handler Installation Guide for all of Inovelli’s products, check out our Knowledge Base or scroll to the bottom.

A Device Handler’s benefit is that it can access more advanced automations and effectively run them on your smart device. For example, if you wanted to have your Red Series Dimmer Switches’ LED bar turn from green to blue when your security system is armed, you’ll need to install a device handler. Interested in that automation?Click here.

Your Inovelli Switches still power on and work without a Device Handler but if you want to create advanced scenes or set up LED notifications with SmartThings.

What exactly is a Device Handler?

A Device Handler enables your switch device to communicate witht he SmartThings platform allowing for more advanced automations. Your switch, no matter how unique it is, always has a Device Handler.

Let's break it down further. Every device that's connected to a smart home is considered a device type. Wireless headphones are an example of a device type as it needs to connect to a phone, or other device, in order to playback your desired audio. How these two devices communicate with one another is through a tiny software program inhabiting it called a Device Handler. By allowing commands to be translated seamlessly between separate devices, smart home users can use products that are outside of their hub's brand. It's how Inovelli switches can connect with SmartThings.

All Inovelli devices have device handlers ready for SmartThings users here and at the bottom of this article.

Let's say a user decides to turn their hallway light on at a 10% dim level from their phone. SmartThings would not be able to recognize that type of automation with Inovelli products unless there is a Device Handler Installed

With a Device Handler, SmartThings is now able to:

Identify which device needs to have the dim level set to 10%
Check if there are any errors with the connection
Turn the light on with a 10% dim level

If you're a developer looking to understand a device handler on a much more complex level, we recommend starting with SmartThings's Developer Guide.

Inovelli Device Handlers

To install a Device Handler on your own device, head to our Knowledge Base for detailed instructions. If you're looking to for a specific Inovelli's Device Handler code, look below.

Switches

LZW30 – On/Off (Black Series) – Gen 2

LZW30-SN – On/Off (Red Series) – Gen 2

LZW31 – Dimmer (Black Series) – Gen 2

LZW31-SN – Dimmer (Red Series) – Gen 2

LZW36 – Fan & Light (Red Series)
Fan & Light Users need to install the Switch Level Child Device Handler

NZW30 – On/Off Switch – Gen 1 – Discontinued

NZW30-S – On/Off Switch w/ Scenes – Gen 1 – Discontinued

NZW30-T – On/Off Toggle Switch w/Scenes – Gen 1 – Discontinued

NZW31 – Dimmer Switch – Gen 1 – Discontinued

NZW31-S – Dimmer Switch w/ Scenes – Gen 1 – Discontinued

NZW31-T – Dimmer Toggle Switch w/Scenes – Gen 1 – Discontinued

NZW37 – Indoor 2-Channel On/Off – Discontinued
2-Channel Smart Plug Users will need to install the Switch Child Device Handler

NZW39 – Indoor 1-Channel Dimmer – Discontinued

NZW96 – Outdoor 1-Channel On/Off – Discontinued

NZW97 – Outdoor 2-Channel On/Off – Discontinued
2-Channel Smart Plug Users will need to install the Switch Child Device Handler

by Donovan — Jul 7th 2021

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