This article assumes that you already have a Z-Wave network running, understand how mesh networking works in Z-Wave, and you are currently installing a new repeater device to your network.
If you are starting out with a new network and have a bunch of devices, make sure that you pair all plugin or wire-in devices first before you start pairing battery type Z-Wave sensors or devices. This will help ensure that you have a healthy network with a fresh start since powered devices through outlets or wire in will all act as repeaters in your mesh network.
When your Z-Wave network gets larger, sometimes you may find that you need to add more repeaters around your home. Repeater devices in Z-Wave can range from being switches, dimmers, or other permanent powered devices (plugin, wire in), while battery Z-Wave devices cannot repeat.
There are 3 separate cases for optimally installing repeaters:
Case #1: Installed repeater and paired in place of installation.
If you were able to pair the Repeater in the location that you want it to be in, you don't have to do any further steps. This is due to how the pairing process works, the Repeater will find all neighbor nodes nearby and update its information during this process. Typically this is as easy as utilizing repeaters optimally gets.
Case #2: Installed repeater near battery Z-Wave Device.
Typically it is always best to pair a repeater device first before you pair a battery Z-Wave device at a later location. If you do find yourself installing the repeater afterwards, the z-wave battery device or repeater may not get the neighbor information of eachother. For this case, you have 3 options:
- Run a network heal to remesh your network and rebuild neighbor nodes.
- Unpair and pair back the battery Z-Wave device while nearby the repeater that you want it to communicate through.3
- Wait about 24 hours, typically the network will automatically re-heal itself and re-determine the best optimized routing for your devices. This is usually the case, but it is possible it can take a few days.
Case #3: Installed repeater then moved it out to location.
If you've had to pair the repeater near your gateway/hub/controller before moving it out to its installation location, there are 2 possibilities to ensure that it meshes properly.
- Run a network heal to remesh your network and rebuild neighbor nodes.
- Wait about 24 hours, typically the network will automatically re-heal itself and re-determine the best optimized routing for your devices. This is usually the case, but it is possible it can take a few days.
How do I know if a Repeater is repeating?
It ultimately depends on your Z-Wave gateway or Z-Wave device that you are using. Typically "Neighbor" nodes which is a value that stores which device is nearby to the repeater or Z-Wave device in your network. Its really hard to determine if it is working properly apart from actually seeing visible changes in your network (ie. a device that wasn't able to communicate or be controlled starts to communicate properly and allows you to control it).
Some software offer other capabilities, but it really depends on the developers of these software/controller/hub, not all Z-Wave software/controllers/hub are created equal and will have different methods to showing information to you.
For example, using Domoticz software, they provide a visual outlook one which device can communicate to which device (image taken from: https://www.domoticz.com/wiki/Zwave_network_and_group_info)
In the below image, you'll see which nodes can communicate to which, and what devices are lacking any actual routing (ie. node 21 and 23).
But looking at other Z-Wave software/hub/controllers, will not have the same option, sometimes this information is not even viewable.
As an example of how another gateway will show neighbor nodes is the Vera UI7 gateway. Below you'll find that neighbor nodes will appear as specific numbers which shows you which device is a neighbor node of the device that you are checking.
In this case, we know that Node #1, 3, 4, 7, and 8 are neighbor nodes of the device above.
Sometimes you just don't know if a device is working if your Z-Wave system/interface does not show neighbor nodes per device, or routing information, you'll have to give repeaters some trust in this case or try testing your network after a day or 2 to see if your network is operating optimally.
Other resources.
If you are interested in more information that will help you build an optimized network, please see the articles below.
This article is for building healthy Z-Wave network building habits:
Seven Habits of Highly Effective Z-Wave Networks for Consumers by DRZWAVE.
For more understanding of how Z-Wave works and communicates, please see this article:
Understand Z-Wave Networks by Vesternet.