Background
I found Z-Wave installation was a nightmare. Here is how I succeeded after “only” 24 system builds. I have an RPi5 and ZWA-2 controlling 3 Shelly relays and 2 Shelly shutter controls.
I used this build sequence, but I avoided the ZWA-2 specific integration which doesn’t work. The default Z-Wave integration worked for me, and I used the Custom setup option to link it to the Z-Wave JS UI.
I factory reset the ZWA-2 before anything else to start with a clean slate, otherwise remembered node details interfere.
Get the device details ready
You need the QR code very long number starting 90; NOT the 8 groups of 5 numbers. I found the number by scanning the QR code and exporting the number directly from my phone.
Adding the device
DO NOT use the JS UI for adding nodes. Use Settings > Devices and services > Z-Wave “Add device”.
The Shelly Wave 1 relays (blue) have to be really close to the antenna to be recognized. I had both on the same desk. They are not recognized at their normal operating distance. This does not apply to the Shelly shutter (black) devices which happily set up at a distance.
Add the name and location into the Z-Wave integration because the JS UI does not pass down its information.
Setup sequence has to be:
- Power off the device
- Add the device details to HA
- Power up the device
- Factory reset the device
- Watch for it to appear on the Z-Wave JS UI Control Panel
Z-Wave JS UI
The JS UI is nice to watch progress adding devices, but use it as a viewer of what is happening in the Z-Wave integration. Using Smart Start from the JS UI almost never works, with spinning stuck states and nodes that think they’re integrated but are not.
Once the node is recognized, you can use the JS UI to interview the node to gather more details (manufacturer, part number etc) to make the screen look tidy. The JS UI is best for amending node settings. Click on the node then use Configuration v4.
To use the shutter devices for curtains I needed:
[4-112-0-16] Swap Outputs = Swapped
[4-112-0-76] Motor Limit Detection = 30
Hope this helps with Z-Wave setup.