My ZAC36 Valve Actuator Shows Offline in Ring Alarm

Is your ZAC36 showing as offline in your Ring app? Trouble with responsiveness to Z-Wave commands? Your device could be experiencing a range or connectivity issue if it shows offline, or does not respond to Z-Wave commands.

The Titan Valve Actuator has a range of up to 400 feet line of sight (up to 130 feet indoors) and uses the latest 700 series Z-Wave chip. Even so, the range is determined by the specific structure of your home and the strength of your mesh network. Interferences like large furniture, thick walls, or metal elements can shorten Z-Wave range.

The best way to think of the Z-Wave mesh is as the backbone of your home automations. This mesh network is the way Z-Wave devices communicate with each other and with the hub (in this case, your Ring base station).

A single Z-Wave network (single hub) can support up to 232 devices, with up to 4 hops; therefore, the total home coverage will depend on the amount of mains powered Z-Wave products on the network. The maximum range with 4 hops is roughly 600 feet (or 200 meters), based on the average Z-Wave mains powered device. Having one or more Z-Wave repeating devices will help strengthen the ability of your Z-Wave devices to maintain communication with the hub (Ring base station). Your environment, the distance to the furthest device, obstructions and device performance will determine the number of repeating devices required. A Z-Wave repeating device is one that is plugged into an outlet or powered by mains voltages. Battery powered Z-Wave devices do not repeat signals. Non-repeating devices are known as end devices, whereas Z-Wave repeating devices are routers.

Z-Wave devices build this communication mesh automatically, but it is not instantaneous. When building your mesh, you want to start by including the mains powered devices that will be located closest to the Ring base station first, then building outward as you include devices. This allows the Ring base station to utilize the necessary repeaters to reach the further device. You also want to ensure you give your Z-Wave mesh time to establish itself before automating your Z-Wave devices. It may take several hours for your Z-Wave mesh to automatically find the optimal routing. To maintain successful communication, all Z-Wave devices must be accessible. If you add devices near the Ring base station, then move them to their final location, you may experience routing issues down the road; therefore it is preferable to join your devices in their intended permanent location.

If your ZAC36 shows as offline or is unresponsive to Z-Wave commands, here is what you can try:

Try removing and re-including the ZAC36 again from the installation location. The Ring base station may not have found the best communication route to the device on the first try.
Bring the device closer to the Ring base station. If the device includes successfully and stay connected, the previous spot might have been out of range or there were too many interferences in that location.
Add a Z-Wave signal repeating device in a location between the ZAC36 and Ring base station, if you have one available. A signal repeater can be any Z-Wave device that doesn't rely on battery power - switches, relays, smart plugs, or dedicated repeaters. If the issue is caused by interference or range, a signal repeater can help strengthen and stabilize connectivity. After adding the repeater, it's a good idea to refresh the network once more.