ZEN77 Dimmer showing offline in SmartThings? Give network repair a try!
You can find a neat feature called Repair Z-Wave Network right in your SmartThings app! A network repair will help refresh your mesh network's connections and help the hub find the most efficient communication route to the device. After all, it's the hub that creates the route to each device, and not the other way around.
Here's how you can repair the network in SmartThings:
- Open your SmartThings app and locate your SmartThings hub under Devices. Tap the hub to see the device details.
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Tap the three dots in the upper right hand corner and tap Settings
- Tap Z-Wave Utilities
- Tap Repair Z-Wave Network
- Tap Start Repair
Before sending any commands to your ZEN77, wait until you see the "Z-Wave Network Repair finished" message - this can take up to 15 minutes. Once the repair is done, try sending Z-Wave commands to the dimmer.
If your dimmer is still disconnecting, try removing and re-including the dimmer. It's possible that the communication route between SmartThings and the dimmer wasn't established correctly the first time. Exclusion might help the hub find the best route to the device.
If possible, try installing the dimmer closer to your hub or bringing the hub closer to the dimmer. It may not be easy, but it's a good way to see if the issue really is range related or if there's a better spot for your dimmer. Once you've moved either the dimmer or your SmartThings hub, remember to exclude and re-include the device to give them a chance to connect properly.
Another important set-up detail is the material of your switch box. Metal switch boxes, rather than plastic, can shorten range and interrupt Z-Wave signals - even if the ZEN77 is using the latest 700 series Z-Wave chip. If your device is inside a metal box this may be why it keeps going offline. If possible, try installing the dimmer in a plastic switch box or bringing your hub closer to it to see if it keeps dropping offline.
If you've tried all of the above and are still seeing the same issue, please don't hesitate to reach out! We're always happy to help.
