Using Z-Wave home automation to build a smart home

When it comes to consumer-level smart home tech, Z-Wave is a brand we constantly see. What makes a Z-Wave home automation system exciting is three things: the underlying technology, the range of available products, and its compatibility with a range of other smart home protocols.

 

While it works completely differently from Lightwave, the two share many similarities. Since comparing the two is beyond the scope of this piece, we’ll settle that debate later.

 

Plus, with big brands such as Bosch, Honeywell, and Yale on board, Z-Wave home automation is only getting started and will continue to grow.

 

 

A brief history of Z-Wave

With over 18 years of history, Z-Wave has been around for many years! In 2001, a Danish company named Zensys set about to design a new way to control the home. So, the Z-Wave home automation protocol was born.

 

Later that year, Zensys introduced a consumer light-control system. After a short while, this system evolved into Z-Wave as a proprietary system on a chip (SoC) automation protocol, which uses an unlicensed frequency band in the 900 MHz range. As a lower-power alternative to Wi-Fi, the protocol has a much bigger range than Bluetooth.

 

By 2005, our friends in the USA started developing products around the protocol, enabling users to add basic automation to their homes. It was around this time that five companies, including Danfoss, Ingersoll-Rand and Leviton Manufacturing, adopted Z-Wave. Together, they formed the Z-Wave Alliance, whose objective is to promote their unique technology.

 

Since then, the technology has grown from being in six smart home devices in 2005 to over 2,400 smart home devices in 2018. We see hundreds of new Z-wave devices released each year.

 

 

Building a basic home automation system

The typical Z-Wave smart home system home has two components: a hub and devices. At the heart of every system is a Z-Wave hub, which is the brain of the operation. Smart home devices link into this hub and control heating, blinds, power, lighting and other functions.

 

Devices communicate wirelessly with each other. They create a strong mesh that improves connectivity and ensures drop-outs are virtually non-existent. Unlike Zigbee and Wi-Fi, Z-wave uses a low powered, low frequency. So devices don’t experience any interference issues.

 

Plus, as a protocol used by over 700 manufacturers, you’ll be able to find a device that solves your issue while seamlessly integrating with your system.

 

For example, you could use an Aeon Labs hub with Honeywell heating controls or a Z-Wave.me RaZberry 2 PI with some Fibaro smart home devices.

 

Again, this provides the ultimate flexibility compared to other systems like Control4 or Lightwave.

 

 

 

 

Selecting the ideal hub

At the heart of every Z-Wave home automation system is a hub. Unlike other smart home systems, you can choose between a few options.

 

For a long time, the Mi Casa Verde would be the one we’d often see on YouTube reviews and demos. Now discontinued, the VERA Edge replaced it. The Edge can control up to 1,300 compatible devices. You could automate a palace and still have space for more devices!

 

If that’s too much or you’re looking for a sleeker unit, the Aeotec Z-Stick is a superb option. Able to control up to 232 devices, this highly affordable USB stick also works with the updated Z-Wave Plus protocol.

 

The only downside to the Aeotec device is you’ll need to find and install software (such as OpenHAB or HomeAssistant). However, it does work with Raspberry Pi.

 

You could, however, go down the Fibaro route. They offer several different hubs. Their flagship model is the Fibaro Home Center 3, which controls up to 230 devices and allows you to program complex scenes.

 

 

Start simple when building your smart home system

While the three hubs above are fantastic, if you’re slightly intimidated or unsure where to start, the Samsung SmartThings Starter Kit might be your best option.

 

In the Samsung kit is a hub, a plug-in-and-play socket, and three sensors. It’s worth the £165 price tag. In addition to working with other Z-Wave devices and apps, you can also control the system via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

 

Building a home automation system for the first time or exploring a different type of smart home, it’s best to start with one feature in a single room and build from there.

 

For example, you can easily add smart bulbs and more plug-in sockets, giving you near-total control of your living room. From there, you can expand lighting control to the whole house by using either smart bulbs or DIY retrofittable dimmers.

 

It’s a good idea to grow slowly, giving yourself time to test new features and functions. By taking your time, you can easily find and solve any problems and not end up with a mess!

 

 

 

 

Building your Z-Wave home automation system

Let the fun begin! We’re going to build a system around the Vera Edge as it’s affordable and can control a humongous amount of devices.

 

So what will our Vera Edge control? We’ll start with the basics of lights, power and heating.

 

Power

Starting with power, currently, only plug-in-and-play devices are available. Typically, these range from £10 up to £55. While plug-in-and-play devices don’t look as aesthetically pleasing as retrofitted sockets (such as the Lightwave ones), you don’t need to do any DIY or use tools.

 

Our top pick is the NEO Coolcam Power Plug, which is a little pricey at £32. However, it works with both Vera and Fibaro.

 

Lighting

There are plenty of lighting options, including bulbs, dimmer modules, plug-in-and-play lamp holders, and retrofittable light switches. So the choice is yours!

 

Plug-in-and-play lamp holders are your cheapest option at £10. At the other end of the price scale are bulbs, including the £30 Aeotec LED Bulb.

 

You could automate your lighting circuit using a smart dimmer module, such as the one from Fibaro. However, this does involve slightly rewiring the circuit and changing the light switch to a momentary one.

 

Heating

A few different heating options are available depending on the type of control you’re after. Several Z-Wave thermostats are available, and they offer basic control over your boiler and heating system.

 

If you’re looking for control over each room, there are a few smart TRV options available, including the Popp POPE010101 Radiator Thermostat.

 

Basics covered

So with the basics covered, what else can we control?

 

Home security

A wide range of home security products are available, including cameras, motion sensors, doorbells and door locks. So you can leave your home knowing that it’s safe and that you see in real-time what’s happening.

 

You can also automate your blinds and curtains. For example, Fibaro has a module that can control any AC motor. So, you can easily control blinds, garage doors or any device that uses an AC motor with this Fibaro module.

 

Home Cinema and Media

As we have a soft spot for movies, let’s explore what is available in the media category. Currently, no hardware uses Z-Wave. That said, several remotes are available that operate different protocols, including the Zemismart Z1, which works with Wi-Fi, Zigbee, IR, and Bluetooth.

 

If you want to use Sonos smart speakers, you’ll need to invest in a bridge to get the two systems to communicate.

 

Controlling your system

Several apps are available, including ones that enable you to combine different systems into an easy to use layout. The right option for you will depend on the hub you choose.

 

For example, Fibaro has a fantastic app. Another favourite is the openHAB app, which works well with any system and provides effortless control.

 

There are also a few controllers on the market that enable a user to save/recall scenes, including the Heatit Z-Push. These devices are great for controlling lighting or an easy way to turn everything off when leaving your home.

 

 

Common issues with Z-Wave

As an open-source protocol, Z-Wave is fairly easy to hack. And while security patches and updates are becoming available all the time, the wrong hands could cause problems.

 

It’s worth checking that you’re buying the latest version and if any software or firmware updates are available. You’ll want to keep units updated, as this helps to protect your smart home from hackers.

 

As a wireless network, devices pair with each other. Some users have experienced devices randomly unpairing with the system. And while we haven’t seen many of these issues, it’s worth testing every new device you add. Of course, this could be a software issue that an update fixes.

 

Another issue with wireless networks, in general, is wall thickness. If you do live in a 16th-century barn conversion with metre-thick walls, you might face connectivity issues. Luckily, repeaters are available that should solve this issue.

 

 

 

 

Can I use …?

Regardless of how amazing the available product range is, it’s also worth considering how other tech interfaces with Z-Wave.

 

Lightwave

While these two compete with each other, combining Z-Wave and Lightwave is extremely simple through using Athom Homey. The Homey can control Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more, creating a single unified smart home system.

 

Apple HomeKit

Again, as a competing system, combining the HomeKit with a Z-Wave home automation system might be tricky. Apple has released a bridge that enables the two to communicate. However, there are limits and restrictions.

 

The good news is that the Athom Homey can bridge the gap and enable the two to work in harmony.

 

IFTTT

Z-Wave and IFTTT are ideal for each other! If you’re unsure about IFTTT, read our introduction to IFTTT for home automation.

 

Sonos smart speakers

Yes, you can use all of your Sonos smart speakers with Z-Wave. However, it’s easier to combine Sonos with a Fibaro system, for example, than others.

 

The Fibaro system has a Sonos app that is easy to install within the Home Center control app. If you’re using a Vera, you’ll have to invest in a bridge or use an app that controls both.

 

Amazon Alexa / Google Home

You can easily link any Amazon Echo or Google Home devices into any Z-Wave hub and use your voice to control the system using either Alexa or Google Assistant.

 

Apple Siri

For Z-Wave to work with Siri, you’ll need a hub that handles the communication between the two systems. It’s possible to get the two systems talking, but it isn’t as straightforward as using Alexa or Google Assistant.

 

 

How does it compare to other smart home systems?

Z-Wave is just one option for automating a property, so it’s worth considering other systems. By looking at DIY and professional-level systems, you can form a complete picture of what Z-Wave offers.

 

The leading professional-level smart home system includes Crestron, Savant, and Control4. They all require a highly trained engineer to install and configure the system, meaning none of these options are cheap or DIY-friendly.

 

The differences between Crestron vs Z-Wave are stark. Crestron is far more sophisticated and reliable, but these come at a considerable cost. As a dealer will install your Crestron system, you won’t need to solve any compatibility issues you might encounter with Z-Wave.

 

Lightwave is a good Z-Wave alternative that’s highly affordable. However, when comparing Lightwave vs Z-Wave, the latter wins as the former is very limited and is a closed system.

 

Samsung SmartThings uses both Z-Wave and Zigbee protocols, allowing you to integrate thousands of smart home devices into a single system. Another draw of SmartThings is the technology is built into several Samsung products, allowing you to create a fully connected home.

 

 

The future of Z-Wave home automation

The only prediction we can safely make is that Z-Wave home automation will continue to expand with new products, devices, and brands.

 

Hopefully, more Z-Wave hardware get released, such as fridges, kettles (the Smarter iKettle looks cool!), robovacs, robomowers, and media devices.

 

Overall, Z-Wave home automation is the system we’ve been looking for. The entry price is inexpensive enough for anyone to get started. Plus, as it’s DIY-friendly, you don’t have any expensive installation costs.

 

All in all, we recommend starting with an eBay search for Fibaro products. Remember to start with one feature in a single room and build from there.