Curious how the ZAC38 Range Extender can benefit your Z-Wave network? Wondering how best to implement it? Read on for some ideas and suggestions!
The most common use for the ZAC38 is to extend your Z-Wave network into hard-to-reach places. We commonly see range or connectivity issues in garages due to the thicker walls, metal elements, and location (usually at the edge of the Z-Wave mesh. Adding a device like the ZAC38 can help strengthen your Z-Wave mesh and bring the signal to places you may have troubles reaching. Attics, utility rooms, outdoor locations, etc. are all common areas impacted by a weak Z-Wave signal which the ZAC38 can help to alleviate. You'll want to ensure you run a Z-Wave repair/heal the Z-Wave network so that the hub can utilize the new repeater to reach your devices.
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.
- 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 (like the ZAC38 Range Extender!). 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. Your environment, the distance to the furthest device, obstructions and device performance will determine the number of repeating devices required.
- When building your mesh, you want to start by including the mains powered devices that will be located closest to the hub first, then building outward as you include devices. This allows the hub 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 hub, 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.
The ZAC38 is also equipped with a back up battery, which can be used to send power outage reports to the hub whenever the receptacle the device is plugged into loses power. You'll want to check if your hub supports this functionality in our compatibility documentation. it will only monitor power in the receptacle it's connected to, so if there's a problem on a different circuit, it will not detect it; however, it is a great option for a general power outage.
