1038 Z-Wave Network Planning and Design
1038.1 Lab Activity: Planning a Z-Wave Smart Home
Objective: Design a Z-Wave network for a 2-story home
Scenario: 3-bedroom house, 2000 sq ft, 2 stories
Requirements: - 15 light switches (all floors) - 20 door/window sensors (entry points) - 5 motion sensors (hallways, rooms) - 1 smart thermostat (downstairs) - 1 smart lock (front door) - 1 garage door controller - All controlled by 1 primary controller
Tasks:
1038.1.1 Task 1: Device Type Classification
Classify each device as Controller, Routing Slave, or Slave:
| Device | Type | Quantity | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Controller | ? | 1 | ? |
| Light Switches | ? | 15 | ? |
| Door/Window Sensors | ? | 20 | ? |
| Motion Sensors | ? | 5 | ? |
| Thermostat | ? | 1 | ? |
| Smart Lock | ? | 1 | ? |
| Garage Controller | ? | 1 | ? |
Click to see solution
| Device | Type | Quantity | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Controller | Controller | 1 | Manages network, always listening |
| Light Switches | Routing Slave | 15 | Mains powered, can route |
| Door/Window Sensors | Slave | 20 | Battery powered, sleep to conserve |
| Motion Sensors | Slave | 5 | Battery powered, wake on motion |
| Thermostat | Routing Slave | 1 | Mains powered (or long-life battery, can route) |
| Smart Lock | Slave | 1 | Battery powered (critical security, may use S2 Access Control) |
| Garage Controller | Routing Slave | 1 | Mains powered, can route |
1038.1.2 Task 2: Network Range Planning
Given: - Z-Wave range: ~30m indoor (through walls) - House dimensions: 15m × 13m (2 floors) - Routing slaves extend range via mesh
Question: Will the network have adequate coverage?
Draw: 1. Floor plan with approximate routing slave locations 2. Coverage circles (30m radius) around each routing slave 3. Identify any dead zones
Click to see solution
Floor 1 (8 light switches, garage controller):
Kitchen Living Bedroom 1
[SW] [SW] [SW]
| | |
Dining Office Bedroom 2
[SW] [SW] [SW]
| | |
Entry Hallway Garage
[SW] [SW] [GARAGE]Floor 2 (7 light switches, thermostat):
Master BR Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4
[SW] [SW] [SW]
| | |
Master Bath Hallway Bathroom 2
[SW] [SW] [SW]
|
[THERMO]Coverage Analysis: - 17 routing slaves distributed across 2000 sq ft - Density: ~118 sq ft per routing slave - Range: 30m = ~3.14 × 900 = 2,826 sq m coverage per device - Mesh: Multi-hop ensures every slave device reaches controller
Conclusion: Excellent coverage - Every battery device is within 1-2 hops of controller - No dead zones - Redundant paths available (mesh)
Recommendations: 1. Place controller centrally (e.g., living room or hallway) 2. Ensure routing slaves on both floors 3. Consider adding smart plug in dead zone if needed1038.1.3 Task 3: Security Level Assignment
Assign S2 security levels to each device type:
Options: - S2 Access Control: Highest (locks, alarms) - S2 Authenticated: Standard (most devices) - S2 Unauthenticated: Basic (low-value devices) - No Security: Legacy (not recommended)
Click to see solution
| Device | Security Level | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Controller | N/A | Controller |
| Light Switches | S2 Authenticated | Standard security, convenience vs security |
| Door/Window Sensors | S2 Authenticated | Security monitoring, but not entry control |
| Motion Sensors | S2 Authenticated | Security monitoring |
| Thermostat | S2 Authenticated | Control over HVAC, not critical security |
| Smart Lock | S2 Access Control | Physical security, highest level required |
| Garage Controller | S2 Access Control | Physical entry point, high security |
Rationale: - S2 Access Control: Devices controlling physical access (lock, garage) - S2 Authenticated: All other devices (lights, sensors, thermostat) - S2 Unauthenticated: Not used (no low-value devices in this deployment) - No Security: Not used (all new devices support S2)
Best Practice: Use S2 Access Control for any device that controls physical entry, S2 Authenticated for everything else.