Often a ghost device corresponds to a real device. The trick is to figure out which real device and make sure the hub cannot contact it during the removal process. The easiest way is to remove power from the real device, but you have to know WHICH real device corresponds to the ghost. If the ghost was created by a bad inclusion it is common that the very next device in the list is the real device.
Another method is to get the hub out of RF range of your device and try it that way. I have actually read of people take their hub to a friend's house and do it from there, where obviously none of your devices will be within range. You can also try the "tinfoil hat" method but be really careful about not letting the hub get too warm.
The devices tagged with a "discover" button can be a device that partially included but is still out there. In that case you can put the device back into pairing mode and click "discover" to see if it fixes the issue.
To prevent this from happening in the future, always check your zwave details tab after adding a new device. That way if you do get a ghost you know it's the device in your hand.
Thinking about it now, I had a few switches die a few years ago after a power outage. I just yanked them out and replaced them without excluding (I think I just deleted them switch from the app). How can I take these out properly at this point?
You could try the brute force method. Click "repair" on each of those ghosts until a "remove" button comes up then click "remove" a bunch of times and they may go away. At least the ones that you tossed a few years ago. That may get rid of most of them and if there are any left maybe they will be easier to deal with.
Sometimes ghosts don't actually create issues though. Did your zwave network performance and reliability improve after the firmware update?
Ghosts are back. I have one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089GSFKYW?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details, should I follow the guide below to remove the ghosts?
Dropbox - Hubitat UZB Stick How-To.pdf - Simplify your life
If you have one handy sure... but you will encounter the same issue. If the physical device is still online and reachable the zwave stick method won't work either. You've got so many of them I think I might suggest going over to a neighbor's house with your HE and connecting it temporarily to their network while you remove these ghosts. That will ensure they are out of range of the hub. Either that or reset the zwave radio and start from scratch.
If I did this, I wouldn't have to exclude every device to readd them? I might do them and get the C7 hub.
Yes. It's a pretty radical move. What version of the hub are you on? I always forget to ask.
I am already on C7. Thought it was a C5.
I am also thinking about adding a second hub. My hub is in the basement, might grab a second one for the first floor.
Many people do run more than one hub, but you'd have to have a pretty large house to need two just for coverage. I have about 70 ZWave and another 80 or so Zigbee devices and they all run from a single hub in a 4000 sq ft house with lath and plaster. I do run other hubs but not for reasons of coverage.
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