New User - Suggest Zigbee or Z-wave

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Hi all,

I just received my Hubitat and this is my first home automation device. I work in IT so I feel pretty comfortable with using things like the Rules engine. I've also read the documentation on creating Z-Wave and Zigbee networks.

My question for you guys is... Knowing what you know today would you suggest building an all Zigbee network, all Z-wave, or a blend of the two?

I'm in the middle of a remodel on my 2 story house, so I'm looking at getting some of the following:

Switches
In-wall outlets (does not have to be energy monitoring, but not opposed to it)
Lights - I've ordered some LIFX downlights. Could use some bulbs
Door lock
Curtain/blind openers
Motion Sensors

Not planning on using Amazon or Google Hub for Voice control since I want to keep it all on local network.

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For switches, Lutron Caseta. They're tanks and just work

Enerwave for outlets
Light bulbs lifx is great but personally I only use those on individual table lamps. My recessed lighting are normal lights (I like the commercial lighting 5" with selectable kelvin) but they are controlled by switches.

Kwikset or Schlage for locks
Bond for curtains, am43 or iblinds v3 for blinds
I like the nyce motion sensors (also do temp and humidity)

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Zigbee devices tend to be the least expensive, but not all devices are available in Zigbee and I am not so sure I want to use cheap devices for mission critical devices. You could do everything in Z-wave, but that is rather expensive.
I agree with @rithgow1 that Lutron Caseta devices are superb if you live in the States. They are not inexpensive, but they are very stable, something that is a requirement for lighting.

Thus, I suggest Lutron Caseta for lighting. The Pico Remotes make installation of three-way, four-way or even five-way switching easy. I had a three way hard wired setup in my dining room, but there are three entrances, so I wanted a four-way setup. I just added another Pico remote: no wiring needed. Even if your Hubitat and Lutron Pro hub go offline, the lights still work as the Picos can be paired directly with the associated dimmer or switch. The dimmers can be use even when no neutral wire is available, which is a nice feature. I also use Lutron Caseta switches to control my bathroom fans.

If you do not have the funds to install all your dimmers and switches as Caseta devices at one time, pick the most critical location and convert them. Then convert the rest as funds permit. I converted my home over about three years. Now even the walk in closets have Caseta dimmers.

Use Z-wave devices for critical devices. For example, I have a Z-wave actuator on my main water cut-off valve so it can turn off the water supply in the event of a leak. I use Zigbee leak sensors most places, but some locations are better served with a Z-wave device with a remote probe.

Figure out what you want to accomplish and the order in which you need to do it. Then purchase and install the devices required. Just make sure you have well placed mains powered devices with repeating capability for both Zigbee and Z-wave meshes as they should be the first devices installed to insure stability.

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Absolutely do this. Just an FYI you need the PRO version of the Caseta hub for HE integration, not the regular consumer grade version.

Solid advice too. I only use bulbs on devices where a switch is not an option. I personally use Hue bulbs on a separate Hue hub but many people like the Lifx bulbs.

Right! Most folks end up building out both z-wave and zigbee so start with line powered devices and build outward.

Wait, what? You work in IT and you actually read the documentation? How can this be?

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What's documentation? I'm not sure I even know how to say that word whatever it means

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I think it dates to a time before Google. OP must have cut their teeth on a card punch.

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Lol, probably because I'm not a developer

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I think developers read documentation, they just don't leave any!

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Very accurate from the ones I've worked with over the years lol

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Thanks, i didn't realize there were 2 different ones

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My initial thoughts were to use a combination of at least 1 zigbee & 1 zwave outlet and/or switch in each room.

But I'll look into the Lutron Caseta devices

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You will find that a blend is best, because not all devices are equally available in one or the other. I started out all Zwave, with switches and dimmers. Slowly started adding Zigbee due to the lower cost and better selection of plugs, relays and sensors.

Be especially careful with Zigbee devices that they are compatible, search the official list and the forums to see if other people have reporting issues.

For Lights - Personally I use smart switches with regular bulbs. I chose the color temp of bulbs based on the room, not really interested in colors. If you want adaptive color temp lighting or colors then obviously you need the smart bulbs. If you want to control the bulbs with the switch you will then want a smart switch that has a "Smart Bulb" mode, so the power is always flowing to the bulb. If you keep the bulbs on standard switches (or smart switches that cut power) when power is cut you lose all control of the bulb.

For outlets, I use plug in outlets, not built in. Not keen on putting a built in outlet in when you never know what someone might plug in and fry it. At least with the plugs it is obvious and usually a lamp or whatever is already plugged in.

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I'll use normal lighting thru the rest of the house. Just liked the option of being able to play/control the colors in the living room

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Blend of both ZW and ZB -- it's getting easier these days to find "device X" in both ZB and ZW flavors, but still pretty common to have one or the other flavor in many more options, price-points, etc. Bulbs being an extreme example of that -- lots of ZB bulb options, very few (if any these days?) ZW options.

But each requires a healthy robust mesh for best success, and that is a commitment ($ and effort) no doubt... It entails placing repeating devices in strategic places to build/sustain the mesh, and you may not even use those devices (e.g. plugs, as they are a common & relatively cheap repeater) functionally for anything else.

But in the long run, it's worth it IMO -- I can now put a new ZB or ZW device anywhere in my house, yard, or garage and be confident it'll work fine -- I know my meshes are strong and have good reach.

I'm a Hue guy for bulbs -- that's how I got into smart-home stuff many years ago, and Hue just works - always has been a reliable solution for me, and is well worth the premium price for that reason. Like others have mentions, I just use them in plug-in fixtures.

All of my wired lighting is controlled by smart switches - I use a mix of Caseta and Inovelli Blues. Caseta is super reliable, and the Caseta PRO bridge enables the open-ended use of Pico remotes -- huge win! Inovelli Blues give me scene control options, and that's a big win in many areas of the house.

For sensors & locks & blinds, I have a mixed bag of ZW and ZB devices. I just use whatever device best meets my needs (after verifying it's compatible -- I rely on searching the community forms here to do that).

Final thought -- ZB is pretty forgiving (hard to really mess up your ZB mesh badly), but ZW can be frustratingly finicky to build & maintain -- it just requires more careful attention than ZB... Lots of great advice in the community here on how to build a healthy ZW mesh -- definitely read that before you begin, and then be deliberate, slow and patient as you build your mesh. But if you do it properly, it's pretty painless.

Welcome to Hubitat! :slight_smile:

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Truer words were never spoken. However, ZB is much more easily subject to interference, especially from wifi. And ironically I find the tools available for z-wave maintenance to be a bit better,

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I think when you're shopping devices you should check to make sure a good driver is available. I've found that z-wave devices are easier to tweak (parameters) than zigbee which are a black box, to me.

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I didn't realize that there were smart switches that cut power. Which ones do you use that have "smart bulb" mode?

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Not all Zigbee devices are created equal... I usually start with the compatible devices list - these are devices that HE staff has actually tested.

if I find something not on the list I usually search the forum to see if anyone has experience with it or has written a custom driver. That's generally a really good indication that you'll be successful.

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Excellent point!

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i have a blend in my network and prefer z-wave over zigbee as it has its own mesh and doesn't conflict with wifi. zigbee outlet plugs were cheap enough, so that's where my blend comes in. my main switches and contact sensors are z-wave

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