Installing, Setting Up & Linking Z-Wave Devices in House Check

Note: This article assumes you have already designed the smart home, and planned the optimal installation location of the Z-wave devices around the home in optimal locations for Z-Wave communication, as described in Network Planning for Z-Wave Devices.

Z-Wave Basics

We will provide step-by-step instructions for setting up Z-Wave devices in a Devicebook Smart Home, but every home is different, and may require adjustments to the formula to create an optimal network topology. In general, it is important to understand the following when setting up Z-Wave devices.

Z-Wave is a Mesh Network

Z-Wave is a communication protocol that forms a form of mesh network, with predetermined routes between devices and the Devicebook Hub. This means that unlike Wi-Fi devices, which always communicate directly with the Hub, Z-Wave devices may communicate with the Hub by sending messages to neighbors, which forward the message along to the Hub.

Z-Wave devices communicate to the Hub via a predetermined path of Z-Wave Repeaters

When a Z-Wave device is included in the network, the network tries to determine the best communication path from the device to the Devicebook Hub, by jumping along Z-Wave repeaters that are placed along the way.

A Z-Wave repeater is a device in the Z-Wave network that is always-on (not battery powered), and forwards messages from the Devicebook Hub to devices, and vice-versa. In this way, a Z-wave network can reach to a long range, making it suitable for larger homes.

Z-Wave Devices Should Not Be Reset to Factory Defaults

In nearly all cases, resetting a Z-Wave device is not the recommended way of removing a Z-Wave device from the Devicebook Hub's Z-Wave network. Doing so could cause long-term Z-wave network communication issues.

If a Z-wave device must be reset to factory defaults for any reason, it is strongly advised that you first unpair the device from the Devicebook Hub, using the Home Controller.

Once a Z-Wave device has been unpaired from the Devicebook Hub's Z-Wave network, you can safely reset the device to factory defaults.

FAQ

Where should a Z-Wave device be located when I set it up?

You can pair the device next to the Devicebook Hub or at it's intended installation location.

If you choose to setup a device at the installed location but have trouble pairing it, try to pair it next to the Devicebook Hub. After setup, you can install the device at its intended location.

I set up a Z-Wave device by the Devicebook Hub, then installed it. But now, it is disconnected. How do I fix this?

Make sure no metal objects (or other dense barriers) are between the Devicebook Hub (or the nearest Z-Wave repeater) and the device.

Most likely, the installation location of the Z-Wave device is too far from the Devicebook Hub or Z-Wave repeater. Two options to fix this are:

A) Move the Z-Wave repeater so it is closer to the installation location of the device.

B) Add an additional Z-Wave repeater to the network. You'll need to edit the Design to add the repeater, and re-generate the Home Controller before you set up the repeater device.