How to troubleshoot z-wave "node is dead" issues?

Configuration Z-Wave
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1

Yesterday, for the first time since using HA (started several weeks ago), I experienced a z-wave “node is dead” error with one of my light switches (a Leviton dimmer).

I rebooted HA thinking there may have been a glitch somewhere and had no issues the rest of yesterday (switch worked perfectly).

However, this morning I noticed the following errors in my log with the same switch:

2022-01-01 10:18:41 ERROR (MainThread) [homeassistant.core] Error executing service: <ServiceCall light.turn_on (c:da4718296870890a621d080b37d77156): entity_id=['light.family_room_main_lights_3'], params=brightness=87>
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/core.py", line 1511, in catch_exceptions
await coro_or_task
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/core.py", line 1530, in _execute_service
await handler.job.target(service_call)
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity_component.py", line 209, in handle_service
await self.hass.helpers.service.entity_service_call(
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/service.py", line 663, in entity_service_call
future.result() # pop exception if have
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py", line 896, in async_request_call
await coro
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/service.py", line 700, in _handle_entity_call
await result
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/light/__init__.py", line 494, in async_handle_light_on_service
await light.async_turn_on(**filter_turn_on_params(light, params))
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/zwave_js/light.py", line 283, in async_turn_on
await self._async_set_brightness(kwargs.get(ATTR_BRIGHTNESS), transition)
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/zwave_js/light.py", line 337, in _async_set_brightness
await self.info.node.async_set_value(
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/zwave_js_server/model/node.py", line 449, in async_set_value
result = await self.async_send_command(
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/zwave_js_server/model/node.py", line 406, in async_send_command
result = await self.client.async_send_command(message, **kwargs)
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/zwave_js_server/client.py", line 79, in async_send_command
return await future
zwave_js_server.exceptions.FailedZWaveCommand: Z-Wave error 202: Failed to send the command after 3 attempts (Status Fail) (ZW0202)
2022-01-01 10:18:41 ERROR (MainThread) [homeassistant.core] Error executing service: <ServiceCall light.turn_on (c:73266f16b8037b58a68b2082bbf7c5dc): entity_id=['light.family_room_main_lights_3'], params=brightness=92>
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/core.py", line 1511, in catch_exceptions
await coro_or_task
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/core.py", line 1530, in _execute_service
await handler.job.target(service_call)
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity_component.py", line 209, in handle_service
await self.hass.helpers.service.entity_service_call(
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/service.py", line 663, in entity_service_call
future.result() # pop exception if have
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py", line 896, in async_request_call
await coro
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/service.py", line 700, in _handle_entity_call
await result
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/light/__init__.py", line 494, in async_handle_light_on_service
await light.async_turn_on(**filter_turn_on_params(light, params))
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/zwave_js/light.py", line 283, in async_turn_on
await self._async_set_brightness(kwargs.get(ATTR_BRIGHTNESS), transition)
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/zwave_js/light.py", line 337, in _async_set_brightness
await self.info.node.async_set_value(
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/zwave_js_server/model/node.py", line 449, in async_set_value
result = await self.async_send_command(
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/zwave_js_server/model/node.py", line 406, in async_send_command
result = await self.client.async_send_command(message, **kwargs)
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/zwave_js_server/client.py", line 79, in async_send_command
return await future
zwave_js_server.exceptions.FailedZWaveCommand: Z-Wave error 202: The message cannot be sent because node 19 is dead (ZW0202)
2022-01-01 10:18:41 ERROR (MainThread) [homeassistant.core] Error executing service: <ServiceCall light.turn_on (c:e38fb2e1fab2c18f1fc69c050cdd0e50): entity_id=['light.family_room_main_lights_3'], params=brightness=97>
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/core.py", line 1511, in catch_exceptions
await coro_or_task
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/core.py", line 1530, in _execute_service
await handler.job.target(service_call)
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity_component.py", line 209, in handle_service
await self.hass.helpers.service.entity_service_call(
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/service.py", line 663, in entity_service_call
future.result() # pop exception if have
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py", line 896, in async_request_call
await coro
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/service.py", line 700, in _handle_entity_call
await result
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/light/__init__.py", line 494, in async_handle_light_on_service
await light.async_turn_on(**filter_turn_on_params(light, params))
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/zwave_js/light.py", line 283, in async_turn_on
await self._async_set_brightness(kwargs.get(ATTR_BRIGHTNESS), transition)
File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/zwave_js/light.py", line 337, in _async_set_brightness
await self.info.node.async_set_value(
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/zwave_js_server/model/node.py", line 449, in async_set_value
result = await self.async_send_command(
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/zwave_js_server/model/node.py", line 406, in async_send_command
result = await self.client.async_send_command(message, **kwargs)
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/zwave_js_server/client.py", line 79, in async_send_command
return await future
zwave_js_server.exceptions.FailedZWaveCommand: Z-Wave error 202: The message cannot be sent because node 19 is dead (ZW0202)

The only thing that has changed is I updated the OS software a few days ago. Any tips on how to troubleshoot why I’m having these issues?

2

What version are you running? There was a zwave issue fixed in 2021.12.4 on December 20.

3

I’m using Home Assistant 2021.12.7

4

Sorry I am out of ideas.

5

You can try reinterview and maybe heal node(do not do these back to back, they take a while to complete)

If still no good after maybe try remove and readd device

Where you having communication issues with the node before? Slow reporting and such?

Maybe power cycle switch?
Factory reset and readd?

1 Like
6

Thanks for the suggestions. I did these last night, and no more issues in the logs. Unclear if this solved the problem permanently, but encouraging.

And no - I had zero issues previously with HA and Z-Wave responsiveness. [The only area I had sluggishness was with HomeKit and the Home app on my iPhone: Dimmers would be slow to respond at times, but no issues with the HomeAssistant app]

7

In z2m the Interview column should show as Complete for the device.

8

I forgot but “ping” node may also correct this issue and is better first choice to check dead node

2 Likes
9

Thanks - I read about this after I posted my thread. It seemed like some automated the function?

10

I had a similar issue here. I was adding a new switch (Zooz ZEN11) to my network and it was stuck on interviewing the device. Z-Wave JS kept showing the switch as dead. I did a ping and it came back to life. I noticed with the up/down arrows in the rightmost column that packets were being sent/received, but after a while the switch would go back to dead and would continue to be stuck. I had to ping, wait for dead, then ping again a few times, but the node eventually got fully added and showed up in Home Assistant.

1 Like
11

Thanks - luckily I haven’t had any issues since I reported this. Love this platform (hopefully it stays reliable going forward)…