How to Set Up Your GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus Smart Outlet

What's in the Box

Your GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus Smart Outlet package includes the in-wall smart outlet receptacle, a matching wall plate, wire connectors, and installation instructions. This outlet replaces a standard duplex receptacle and features one smart-controlled outlet alongside one always-on outlet. It connects to your smart home system using Z-Wave Plus technology, requiring a compatible hub for remote control and automation.

Prerequisites

• A compatible Z-Wave hub such as SmartThings, Hubitat, Home Assistant with a Z-Wave stick, or Wink
• A standard duplex outlet box with line, neutral, and ground wires
• A neutral wire must be present in the outlet box — this device requires one
• Basic electrical tools: screwdriver, wire stripper, non-contact voltage tester, and wire nuts
• If you're uncomfortable with electrical wiring, hire a licensed electrician

Safety First

Turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the outlet you're replacing. Use a non-contact voltage tester to confirm the wires in the outlet box are completely de-energized before touching anything. Plug in a lamp or device to verify the outlet is truly off before starting work.

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Remove the old outlet. Unscrew the wall plate and the mounting screws holding the existing receptacle in the electrical box. Gently pull the outlet out and disconnect all wires. Note the wire positions for reference.
2. Identify the wires. You should have a hot (black) line wire, a white neutral wire, and a green or bare copper ground wire. If the outlet is in the middle of a circuit run, you may have two sets of wires — one incoming from the breaker and one continuing to the next outlet.
3. Connect the Enbrighten outlet. Attach the hot (black) wire to the Line terminal (brass screw). Connect the white neutral wire to the Neutral terminal (silver screw). Fasten the ground wire to the Ground terminal (green screw). If daisy-chaining to another outlet, connect the outgoing wires to the corresponding secondary terminals.
4. Mount the outlet. Carefully fold the wires into the electrical box and screw the smart outlet into place. Attach the wall plate.
5. Restore power. Turn the circuit breaker back on. The smart-controlled outlet (marked on the receptacle) should be ready for pairing, while the always-on outlet functions immediately.

Z-Wave Hub Pairing

Put your Z-Wave hub into inclusion mode. On the GE Enbrighten outlet, press the manual on/off button once. Your hub should detect the outlet within a few seconds and add it as a binary switch or smart plug device. Assign a name like "Living Room Lamp Outlet" and a room in your hub for easy access.

Smart Home Integration Tips

Once paired, use your hub to schedule the smart outlet, create automations, or control it with Alexa or Google Assistant. For example, plug a table lamp into the smart-controlled socket and set it to turn on at sunset and off at bedtime. The always-on outlet is perfect for devices that should never lose power, like a router or alarm clock. As a Z-Wave Plus device, this outlet also acts as a signal repeater, extending your Z-Wave mesh network's range to nearby devices.

Quick Troubleshooting

If the outlet doesn't power on after installation, double-check all wire connections and confirm the breaker is on. If the hub can't find the outlet during pairing, perform a Z-Wave exclusion first to clear old network associations, then try inclusion again. If the smart-controlled outlet turns on but won't respond to hub commands, make sure the outlet is within range of your Z-Wave network. Adding more Z-Wave devices between the hub and this outlet can help improve signal strength.