RaZBerry and Raspberry Pi 3 (Z-Way)

RaZBerry and Raspberry Pi 3 (Z-Way)

In this blog we will explain how to connect the Z-Wave RaZBerry adapter to the Raspberry Pi, version 3 mini-computer. The main and significant difference between the new Raspberry Pi third version and the older versions is the more powerful hardware and the integration of the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies. This is connected also with problems occuring while using the Z-Wave RaZBerry adapter on Raspberry Pi, version 3. Therefore it is necessary to have the Bluetooth techology switched off while using the RaZBerry adapter. The manufacturer added a script ensuring that after the installation of the Z-Wave interface the Bluetooth technology is automatically switched off.

Brief instructions

1. Formatting the Micro SD card
2. Downloading the Raspbian operating system (link for downloading) and its writing on the memory card
3. Connecting Raspberry Pi 3 into the interner network. Subsequent installation of the Z-Way interface using the command wget -q -O - razberry.z-wave.me/install | sudo bash (using an SSH client, e.g.. PuTTy, or using a monitor or a VNC client).
4. Setting the login data into the Z-Way interface and the usage of the Z-Wave network.

Instructions for the preparation of Raspberry Pi 3 for using the Z-Wave RaZBerry adapter

After this step download the .zip file, that, after extracting, becomes an image file containing the Raspbian operating system, at the moment in the version Jessie. Link for downloading.

After extracting it is necessary to write this image file on a memory card prepared by us, and you can do it easily by using the Win32DiskImager programme. It is necessary to set the correct path to the image file and the correct unit of the memory card.

After completed writing you can connect Raspberry Pi 3 to a power supply that must fulfil the parameters for the 5V DC output signal and 2A. If you have a monitor you can connect it to Raspberry Pi 3 using a HDMI port and simply run the command line. In these instructions we use secured access to the comman line, i.e. SSH using the PuTTy programme. So it is necessary to find out the IP address of Raspberry Pi 3.

You can find out the IP address of Raspberry Pi 3 in a a number of ways, using the following:

• the command line with the command arp –a (if you know the MAC address of the device)
• the web interface of the router
  
• the dedicated software, e.g. Advanced IP Scanner

PuTTy

After the updates and upgrades are completed you can finally install the Z-Way interface using the command that is mentioned by the manufacturer on their website:

wget -q -O - razberry.z-wave.me/install | sudo bash

After the process has successfully been competed the message "Thank you for using RaZBerry" should be displayed. Then it is necessary to reset the Raspberry Pi software using the command:

sudo reboot

Z-Way interface

You can enter the Z-Way interface in several ways, you can enter the IP address of our Raspberry Pi into the browser and add the port :8083 (e.g. 192.168.0.137:8083 in our case), or use the website https://find.z-wave.me/zboxweb which is also used to get remote access to the unit.

Then you will be asked to change the factory-set password so you must choose your own password. The factory-set login data are login: admin password: admin. Then you finally enter the Z-Way interface and you can fully use the potential of the control unit.

Tips and tricks, troubleshooting

Tip no.1: We recomment to carry out the adding and removing of devices in the expert mode. You can enter the expert mode for example using 192.168.0.137/expert/, or you can click into the expert mode from the classical mode.

Tip no.2: How to upgrade the firmware of the device. It is very simple, just follow the figures.

Tip no.3: Finding the login data for remote access, remember your the ID of your RaZBerry and set your own password for remote acces. You can enter this screen by using the port :8084 and in our case it is 192.168.0.137:8084, if an error message is displayed you must update the firmware of the device.

Tip no.4: In case of error messages you have to carry out the soft reset of Raspberry Pi, e.g. using PuTTy (enter the IP address of your RaZBerry) and the command sudo reboot.

Note: If you have further technical questions contact us by e-mail or telephone.