I am extremely new to HA but I will try and explain my best. I am running HA on a RPI5 in our house with a Zooz 800 installed using the Z Wave JS UI add on. We a couple of other buildings on our property that are all on the same network via wired ethernet. I would like to use Z Wave devices in the other buildings as I have had better luck with them staying connected than wifi however they are just a bit too far to get a wireless signal too. Is there any way to set this up to work inside of my current controller?
You need to look at this. I am in similar position and might need second hub
Option 1 is you can have completely independent zwave installed. This gives added option of independent ha install but is not required
option 2 is the previously recommended method where you connect controller to your HA install over the network and have multiple zwavejsui integrations connected to each
Depending on devices and device types in seperate building I would also consider esphome devices in outer buildings. Long term they could be better.
Instead of ZigBee or WiFi as your transport layer, is optical fiber or LoRa an option if your existing Ethernet isn’t reliable?
After all, you are just shuffling data packets around.
Zigbee LR devices might also be an option.
I would extend the network to the other buildings?
This is highly reliable
Also how far apart are the buildings?
I used a different route…I got a ZNET from HomeSeer and followed the instructions for connecting it as a remote ethernet node to ZUI. It wasn’t easy (for me…not a programmer type!), but managed to get it done.
Thrad here: Can't connect ZWave-JS-UI (remote) on RPi to HA Yellow - #13 by pragdogforshins
How would I go about adding a second zwavejsui? Sorry very new at this.
You did not answer. How far apart are buildings?
Want to know if big is “in range” or “worth meshing to existing”
Zwavejs is driver for controlling and communicating with zwave controller device like nabu’s ZWA-2 or aeotec’s and other controllers
Zwavejsui is zwavejs but also adds a UI
There is also the zwave integration. This is what HA uses to connect to and control zwavejs or zwavejsui.
Zwavejs and ZwaveJSui can run independently on a computer/server. In the case of HAOS, it is installed as an addon. Addon basically being….just remembered addons are now called Apps. Apps are applications (aka software) that runs along side home assistant. The apps may also be installed and run independent of home assistant.
QUESTION
How would I go about adding a second zwavejsui?
ANSWER
depends
OPTION 1
HAOS allows running both zwavejs and zwavejsui.
You cannot connect them to the same controller.
You need to connect each to a separate controller at a separate IP/Host address
In your case this will allow you to connect something like a zwa-2 located at another building over IP to zwavejsui
OPTION 2
install zwavejsui on a RasPi or PC.
Docker is my prefered method.
It is simpler to Install HAOS and run the zwavejsui app(addon)
Docker, HAOS+zwavejsui app or other method will allow you to connect zwavejsui running at the remote location to the HA at your Main location. This method connects using the zwave integration (not to be confused with zwavejs or zwavejsui app / addon)
The buildings are not terribly large all three about 2500sq ft but they are seperated by about 100yds each and all 3 metal buildings.
If I understand option 1 you are saying I can install Zwave JS and use my zooz controller and install Z Wave JSUI and use my ZWA-2 independent of Zwave JS without integrating the two?
I tried to set up a second raspberry pi approximately a year ago and could not figure out setup without a completely seperate HA setup.
install raspbian >> install docker >> install zwavejsui in docker
easy if your familiar with linux installs but difficult if not.
zwavejs + zooz
zwavejsUI + zwa-2
Yes.
Not complicated but for some it can get slightly confusing.
I got the impression you have >2 building?
With HAOS I am not sure but limit may be 2 zwave controller.
With other install method (such as pi and controller) there may be no real limit