McGrath Locks Z Chip - Bluetooth App-Controlled 12-24V Relay, IP68 Weather Enclosure
At A Glance
The McGrath Locks Z Chip is a Bluetooth app-controlled relay module that brings McGrath's wireless access control to hardware that isn't a McGrath smart lock in its own right - roller doors, gates, bollards, and (via a buffered relay) electric strikes and magnetic locks. It is supplied ready to install, with the relay module already fitted inside its own IP68 weather-resistant enclosure.
Once wired in, the Z Chip is controlled entirely through the McGrath Locks App over Bluetooth, and can be extended with a wireless keypad for PIN and RFID entry, a wireless remote for one-touch fob release, or a McGrath gateway for remote access from anywhere - making it a practical way to bring an existing gate, roller door or automated entry point into the McGrath Locks ecosystem without replacing the opener itself.
Usually same day when ordered before 11am AEST (excluding weekends and QLD public holidays).
Key Features
- Bluetooth-controlled dry contact relay, expanding the McGrath Locks ecosystem to roller doors, gates, bollards and (via a buffered relay) electric strikes and magnetic locks.
- Controlled entirely through the McGrath Locks App - no separate controller box or wired keypad required to get started.
- Relay open/close timer is programmable from 1 to 900 seconds directly in the app.
- Supports one paired wireless keypad for PIN and RFID entry, plus wireless remotes for one-touch release.
- Add a McGrath gateway for remote access from anywhere - useful for deliveries and visitors behind a gate or roller door.
- Built-in real-time clock and Bluetooth antenna.
- Supplied pre-fitted inside its own IP68 weather-resistant enclosure, ready for external installation.
- Working temperature range of -20C to +70C.
The Z Chip is the decision-making device in this setup - it stores its own users and credentials, and switches its own dry contact relay to release whatever it is wired to. A command can come from the McGrath Locks App directly over Bluetooth, from a paired RBB56 wireless keypad (PIN or RFID), or from a paired wireless remote.
When a valid command is received, the relay switches for a length of time set in the app - anywhere from 1 to 900 seconds - which is what actually triggers the gate motor, roller door control panel, or (via a buffered relay) an electric strike or maglock wired to it. The Z Chip itself has no Wi-Fi; adding a McGrath gateway lets the app reach it over the internet as well as over Bluetooth, for genuinely remote access.
Access Methods
RFID Card / Fob
FingerprintFor background on how Bluetooth, RFID and PIN each work in practice, see the Access Methods chapter of our Smart Lock Buyer's Guide.
McGrath Locks App
Every part of setup and day-to-day use runs through the McGrath Locks App, McGrath's customised build on the TTLock platform (also TTHotel). The relay's open/close timer (1 to 900 seconds), user and credential management, and pairing of a keypad or remote are all handled from within the app - there is no separate programmer or wired keypad needed to get the Z Chip running. The app is available on Apple and Android devices . For day-to-day platform guidance see the TTLock Platform Guide and TTLock Tips and Tricks.
The McGrath Locks App and the underlying TTLock platform are managed, supported and distributed locally in Australia by LSC and Terry's.
The Z Chip has no built-in Wi-Fi, so it is Bluetooth-only out of the box - genuinely useful up to about the distance a phone can hold a Bluetooth connection to it. Adding a McGrath gateway (G3, G4 or G5) bridges it to the internet, so the app can open the gate or roller door - and issue or revoke access - from anywhere, which is useful for deliveries and visitors arriving while you are away. For gateway selection guidance see the Gateway Comparison chapter or the G2 vs G3 vs G4 vs G5 Gateways comparison.
Relay & Wiring
The Z Chip switches a single dry contact (volt-free) relay, rated 1A at 12V DC, from its C (Common), N.O. (Normally Open) and N.C. (Normally Closed) terminals. The relay's open/close time is set in the McGrath Locks App, anywhere from 1 to 900 seconds. A Learn/Enrol/Reset button inside the case is used to pair keypads and remotes.
- Power in: Red = +12-24V DC, Black = Ground.
- Relay out: Blue = Common (C), Grey = Normally Open (N.O.), Yellow = Normally Closed (N.C.).
The wiring diagrams document three common scenarios:
- Request To Exit (REX) button - wired in parallel for a Normally Open REX button, or in series if the REX button is Normally Closed.
- Electric strike (stand-alone) - fail-secure (power-to-open), Normally Open circuit, with a diode across the strike.
- Roller door - via the Auxiliary Push Button input on a roller door control panel.
McGrath's own product guidance is to drive electric strikes and maglocks through a buffered relay rather than off the Z Chip's dry contact directly, since these are higher-current, inductive loads. Confirm the correct wiring for your specific strike or maglock with a licensed locksmith or electrician before installation - this is not a substitute for a site-specific wiring assessment.
Full wiring diagrams for all three scenarios are in the Z Chip Wiring Diagrams PDF below. Installation should be carried out by a licensed locksmith or electrician - see our Advice and Installation page.
Power Supply
- Requires an external 12-24V DC power supply - not battery powered, and no power supply is included.
- Built-in real-time clock and Bluetooth antenna draw from the same supply.
- Size the power supply to also cover the connected relay load (strike, maglock, gate motor auxiliary input, etc.) where the installation calls for it.
Environment & Construction
- Supplied pre-fitted inside its own IP68 weather-resistant enclosure - suited to external, exposed installations.
- Working temperature: -20C to +70C.
For background on IP ratings and what they mean in Australian conditions, see the Australian Standards chapter.
What's in the Box
- McGrath Locks Z Chip relay module, pre-fitted inside its IP68 weather-resistant enclosure
- Wall-mount bracket
- Cable gland for wire entry
A power supply, the wireless keypad, wireless remote and gateway are all sold separately - see Accessories & Companion Devices below.
Suitable Uses
- Adding McGrath Locks App and Bluetooth control to an existing roller door, gate or bollard.
- Adding a wireless keypad or remote to hardware that isn't a McGrath smart lock in its own right.
- Remote access for deliveries and visitors arriving at a gate or roller door while you're away, once paired with a gateway.
- Electric strikes and magnetic locks, when wired through a buffered relay.
The Z Chip is a relay controller, not a lock. It does not include a strike, maglock, gate motor or any locking hardware, and provides no security until wired to compatible equipment by a licensed installer.
Available Finish Options
Black
(This Product)
STK MLZCHIP
Finish selection does not affect functionality, compliance, or performance.
Accessories & Companion Devices
The Z Chip is designed to be extended. These are the confirmed companion devices in its ecosystem:
A buffered relay board is also available for driving electric strikes and magnetic locks off the Z Chip's dry contact - ask us for current options. A compatible 12-24V DC power supply is required and not included.
Full Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Z Chip is a relay controller only. It switches a dry contact wired to your existing gate motor, roller door control panel, or - via a buffered relay - an electric strike or maglock. You supply and wire the locking hardware; the Z Chip supplies the app-controlled trigger.
No. The Z Chip works on its own via the McGrath Locks App over Bluetooth. A wireless keypad or wireless remote is an optional add-on for PIN, RFID or one-touch access, not a requirement.
Out of the box, Bluetooth only - useful within phone range of the unit. Adding a McGrath gateway bridges it to the internet so the app can trigger it, and manage users, from anywhere.
The relay is a dry contact rated 1A at 12V DC. That's enough for a REX button input or a low-current auxiliary trigger, but McGrath's own guidance is to drive electric strikes and magnetic locks through a buffered relay rather than the dry contact directly, since these are higher-current, inductive loads. Confirm the correct wiring with a licensed locksmith or electrician for your specific hardware.
One wireless keypad per Z Chip. Wireless remotes are separate - each remote pairs to one Z Chip, and up to 15 remotes can be paired to the one Z Chip.
Additional Information
- The Z Chip is the "brain" of this ecosystem. A wireless keypad or remote does nothing on its own - it needs a Z Chip to pair with. If you're buying a keypad or remote for the first time, make sure a Z Chip is part of the order (or already installed).
- Strikes and maglocks need a buffered relay. The Z Chip's own wiring diagrams show a stand-alone electric strike wired directly off the dry contact with a diode, while McGrath's product guidance recommends a buffered relay for strikes and maglocks generally. Treat the buffered relay as the safer default for these loads and have a licensed installer confirm the right approach for your specific hardware.
- Mounting and cable entry. The enclosure ships with a wall-mount bracket and a cable gland for wire entry, and is rated IP68 for genuinely external installations - not just splash-resistant.
- Prefer an all-in-one keypad instead of a modular setup? If you don't need the flexibility of a separate relay, keypad and remote, McGrath's standalone access control keypads - TGFP43, TGFP70 and RBH52 - combine the relay and keypad in one hardwired unit, with no Z Chip required.
Warranty
12-month warranty against defects in materials and workmanship (24-month on ALBION, ASCOT, WINDSOR, ULTRA SECUA, HAMILTON, BARDON and STAFFORD models - not applicable to this product). McGrath Locks will repair, replace, or refund at their discretion. Proof of purchase required for all claims.
Download PDF Resources
Wire-colour reference and full diagrams for Request To Exit button, stand-alone electric strike, and roller door wiring.
McGrath Locks Z Chip - FAQ, Setup and Installer's Guide
Everything a buyer or installer needs to know about the Z Chip, in more depth than the main product description. See also our Smart Lock App Platforms chapter and the TTLock Platform Guide for the wider ecosystem this device belongs to.
What The Z Chip Is (And Isn't)
No. It's a Bluetooth app-controlled relay module - it stores users and credentials and switches its own dry contact relay, but it has no latch, deadbolt, strike or motor of its own. It is designed to trigger equipment you already have (a gate motor, roller door control panel) or equipment wired to it (an electric strike or maglock via a buffered relay). Think of it as the McGrath ecosystem's way of bringing app, keypad and remote control to hardware that isn't a McGrath smart lock in its own right.
The standalone keypads combine the relay and the keypad in one hardwired unit - simpler to install, but fixed in what they do. The Z Chip is the modular option: it's the relay/controller on its own, and you choose whether to add a wireless keypad, a wireless remote, both, or neither. That flexibility is the trade-off for an extra device in the install.
Relay & Wiring
Red and Black are the +12-24V DC power input. Blue is the relay's Common (C) terminal, Grey is Normally Open (N.O.) and Yellow is Normally Closed (N.C.) - the three relay output wires you choose between depending on how the connected equipment needs to be triggered.
The wiring diagrams do show a stand-alone electric strike scenario wired directly off the dry contact, with a diode across the strike. That said, McGrath's own product guidance is to use a buffered relay for electric strikes and maglocks generally, since these are higher-current, inductive loads than the dry contact is really meant for. Treat the buffered relay as the safer default and have a licensed locksmith or electrician confirm the right approach for your specific strike or maglock model.
You set it in the McGrath Locks App, anywhere from 1 to 900 seconds. A short pulse (a few seconds) suits an electric strike or REX input; a longer setting suits a roller door or gate motor that needs the contact held while it cycles.
It's the physical button inside the case used to put the Z Chip into pairing mode so a wireless keypad or remote can be enrolled to it, and to reset the unit if needed.
Power & Installation
An external 12-24V DC supply, not included. It isn't battery powered. If the Z Chip is also driving a relay load (a strike, maglock, or a gate motor's auxiliary input), make sure the power supply is rated to cover that as well as the Z Chip itself.
Yes - the relay module ships pre-fitted inside its own IP68 weather-resistant enclosure with a wall-mount bracket and cable gland, and is rated to work from -20C to +70C. That makes it suited to gate posts, roller door motor housings and other genuinely exposed positions.
Basic mounting and low-voltage wiring is straightforward, but connecting to a gate motor, roller door control panel, electric strike or maglock touches equipment that has its own manufacturer wiring requirements. We recommend a licensed locksmith or electrician handle the connection to the driven equipment - see our Advice and Installation page.
App, Keypad & Remote
Wire it in, power it up, then add it to the McGrath Locks App over Bluetooth. From there you can set the relay timer, add users, and pair a wireless keypad or wireless remote if you want one. No separate programmer or wired keypad is needed. For general platform guidance see the TTLock Platform Guide.
Only via a paired RBB56 wireless keypad - the Z Chip itself has no RFID reader. Once a keypad is paired, RFID credentials are added through the app under the Z Chip's own settings, the same way PIN codes are.
Up to 15 wireless remotes can be paired to the one Z Chip - handy for a household or small business where several people need one-touch access without opening the app each time.
Remote Access & Gateway
Not to use the Z Chip locally - Bluetooth handles that on its own. A gateway (G3, G4 or G5) is only needed if you want to trigger the Z Chip, or manage its users, from outside Bluetooth range - for example, letting a delivery driver into a gated property while you're at work. See the Gateway Comparison chapter or the G2 vs G3 vs G4 vs G5 comparison to choose one.
Suitability & Alternatives
Bringing McGrath app, keypad and remote control to a gate, roller door or bollard that isn't itself a McGrath smart lock - typically where the buyer already has a working gate motor or roller door opener and just wants app/wireless control layered on top, rather than replacing the opener.
Related Products, Guides and Chapters
RBB56 Wireless Keypad | McGrath Wireless Remote | TGFP43 Standalone Keypad | TGFP70 Standalone Keypad | RBH52 Standalone Keypad | McGrath G3 Gateway | McGrath G4 Gateway | McGrath G5 Gateway | Ch 03 - Access Methods | Ch 08 - Gateway Comparison | Ch 10 - Brand Profiles (McGrath) | Ch 11 - Australian Standards | Ch 14 - TTLock Platform Guide | Ch 15 - Smart Lock App Platforms | TTLock Tips and Tricks | Terry's, LSC and McGrath - Long-Term Confidence
What's In The Box - McGrath Z Chip
- McGrath Locks Z Chip relay module, pre-fitted inside its IP68 weather-resistant enclosure
- Wall-mount bracket
- Cable gland for wire entry
PDF Files - McGrath Z Chip
Wire-colour reference and full diagrams for Request To Exit button, stand-alone electric strike, and roller door wiring.
McGrath Locks Warranty
Warranty Summary
How to Make a Claim
- Contact Terry's Tradies Pty Ltd and its associated websites, trading names, and subsidiaries (the place of purchase) within the applicable warranty period.
- Supply your proof of original purchase - a receipt or tax invoice is required.
- Provide a clear description of the fault and your contact details.
- You may be asked to return the product for assessment before a remedy is determined.
- McGrath Locks will, at their discretion, repair the product, replace it with the same or an equivalent model, or provide a refund of the purchase price.
Exclusions
This warranty does not cover:
- Normal wear and tear
- Products that have been disassembled
- Damage caused by improper handling, incorrect installation, misuse, abuse, neglect, modification, or accident
- Installation by unlicensed persons (including non-licensed locksmiths or technicians)
- Products not used in accordance with the supplied instructions
- Cosmetic damage that does not affect functionality
- Labour or installation costs related to the removal or reinstallation of products
- Exposure to conditions outside normal environmental use
- Work completed before warranty approval
- Damage caused by battery leakage, battery failure, or force majeure
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if they fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure. This warranty is provided in addition to your rights and remedies under the Australian Consumer Law.
Confused? Overwhelmed? We get it.
Choosing the right smart lock can be genuinely tricky - door types, backsets, app platforms, compatibility with your existing hardware... there is a lot to consider. We have decades of experience fitting locks of all types, including smart locks, and we are happy to help.
Our expert recommendation service is free. Upload a few photos of your door and describe what you need, and one of our qualified locksmiths will give you a personalised recommendation.
Get Your Free Recommendation →How it works - three easy steps:
1. Upload photos
A few clear shots of your door, lock and frame - inside and out.
2. We assess
Our locksmith reviews your setup and requirements - door type, weather exposure, how you want to use it.
3. You get a recommendation
A personalised recommendation tailored to your door, budget and needs. No pressure, no upsell.
Also useful while you are deciding:
