Zooz ZEN72 800LR Review: The Z-Wave Paddle Dimmer That Skips the Add-On Switch
The Zooz Dimmer ZEN72 800LR is a Decora paddle dimmer for homes that already run a Z-Wave hub such as Home Assistant, SmartThings, Hubitat or Z-Box. It handles up to 500 W of incandescent or 150 W of dimmable LED, works in a 3-way with an ordinary on/off switch instead of a paid companion, and owners praise how quickly it pairs and how well Zooz documents and supports the wiring. The trade-offs are a neutral wire, a 3-way that needs both boxes rewired and line and load in the same box, and a few owners who saw status reports go astray, so it suits a hub user willing to read the wiring diagram first.
- Z-Wave hub owners
- Home Assistant and SmartThings users
- 3-way circuits with power in the switch box
- Higher-wattage dimmable lighting
Pros
- Quick Z-Wave pairing with SmartStart and S2 security
- 500 W incandescent and 150 W LED load rating
- Direct 3-way with a regular on/off switch, no add-on switch to buy
- Z-Wave Long Range 800 series chip that also repeats the mesh
- Scene control with 1 to 5 taps, hold and release
- Smart Bulb Mode, power-loss memory and an adjustable multicolor LED
- Detailed wiring documentation and responsive support
Cons
- Needs a Z-Wave hub; Alexa and Google Home only through one
- No Matter and no Apple Home support
- Neutral wire required
- 3-way needs both boxes rewired and power in the dimmer's box
- Some owners saw state reports to the hub go wrong
- Not for fans, tube lights or switched outlets
Who is the Zooz ZEN72 800LR for?
It is a dimmer for a home that already has a Z-Wave controller. Zooz verified it with Home Assistant (through Z-Wave JS), SmartThings, Hubitat, Z-Box, HomeSeer, Homey and several alarm panels, and owners describe pairing it with SmartThings and Home Assistant in minutes, SmartStart QR code included. Alexa and Google Home only reach it through a Z-Wave hub that links to them, since neither speaker has a Z-Wave radio, and there is no Wi-Fi, Matter or Apple Home path. Zooz positions it as its dimmer for single pole installs, smart bulbs, no-load scene control and circuits with more than six bulbs.
What buyers love
The most repeated praise is how painless it is to add to a Z-Wave network and how fast and reliable the 800 series chip feels next to older Z-Wave switches. Owners like the tap and hold dimming, the multi-tap scene triggers and the night light press, and several point out that the direct 3-way saves buying an add-on switch. Zooz's documentation and support come up again and again, including custom wiring diagrams for houses whose wiring matched no published diagram. Owners running strings of small LED pot lights report smooth dimming with no hum.
How does the direct 3-way work?
The ZEN72 connects to an existing mechanical on/off switch for two-point control, so no companion switch is needed, but both boxes are rewired and the dimmer has to sit in the box with the direct connection to power. The remote switch only turns the light on and off; dimming happens at the ZEN72. A 4-way set-up works only when line and load are in the same box. Owners who found the power running to the fixture first could not use it in their 3-way, which is the case Zooz points to its ZEN77 for, the model that rewires only one box.
What to know before you buy
A neutral wire is required, though the box includes a short white jumper for a neutral bundle that has no free end. It is a triac (forward-phase) dimmer for dimmable LED and incandescent bulbs only: not fans, tube lights, transformers or switched receptacles. Its body is 1.16 in deep, slimmer than older Zooz switches, although one owner still found it large in the back. A few owners reported the switch misreporting its state to the hub after a manual change or very slow firmware updates, and one had a frustrating warranty claim. There is no energy monitoring.
Is the Zooz ZEN72 800LR worth it?
For a Z-Wave household with power in the switch box, yes. It combines a higher load rating than the ZEN77, Z-Wave Long Range, power-loss memory, an adjustable multicolor LED and Smart Bulb Mode, and it avoids the cost of a companion switch in a 3-way. If your 3-way has power at the fixture or you cannot rewire both boxes, the ZEN77 is the better fit, and without a Z-Wave hub it is not the right dimmer at all.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Zooz ZEN72 800LR need a hub?
Yes. It is a Z-Wave device, so it needs a Z-Wave controller such as Home Assistant with Z-Wave JS, SmartThings, Hubitat or the Zooz Z-Box. Alexa and Google Home can control it only through a hub that links to them.
Does the ZEN72 800LR work with Home Assistant?
Yes. Zooz verified it with Home Assistant through Z-Wave JS, which carries a device file for the ZEN72, including its 800 series firmware.
Can the ZEN72 work in a 3-way without an add-on switch?
Yes. Its direct 3-way pairs it with an existing mechanical on/off switch, but both boxes are rewired, the dimmer goes in the box with power, and the other switch only turns the light on and off. For 4-way, line and load must be in the same box.
Does the Zooz ZEN72 800LR need a neutral wire?
Yes. A neutral is required in the box where the dimmer is installed, and Zooz includes a white jumper to connect it from the neutral bundle.
What is the difference between the ZEN72 and the ZEN77?
The ZEN72 has the higher load rating (500 W incandescent, 150 W LED) and supports smart bulbs in multi-way set-ups, but its 3-way rewires both boxes. The ZEN77 rewires only one box and allows line and load in separate boxes, with a lower load rating.
Can the ZEN72 control a ceiling fan?
No. Zooz says none of its dimmers can be used with fans, tube lights, transformers or switched receptacles.
