I recently embarked on a project to integrate multiple Zigbee devices into my smart home ecosystem using Zigbee2MQTT. The goal was to create a seamless and efficient setup, especially given the large area I wanted to cover. Here’s my journey and some tips for anyone looking to do something similar!
The Setup
I purchased three SLZB-06 coordinators, two Heiman sirens, and one Heiman button. The idea was simple: when I press the button, both sirens should activate for 1 second. Initially, I tested this setup with just one coordinator using ZHA, and it worked perfectly. However, scaling up to multiple coordinators required a switch to Zigbee2MQTT.
Challenges and Solutions
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Multiple Coordinators: Connecting three coordinators was a bit tricky. I had to ensure all were properly networked and recognized by Home Assistant. Thankfully, Zigbee2MQTT made this manageable by allowing me to monitor and control all devices from a single interface.
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Automation Script: I created an automation script to trigger the sirens when the button was pressed. Initially, I wasn’t sure about the correct MQTT topics, but after some trial and error, I got it right. Here’s a snippet of the working code:
yaml
alias: Trigger Sirens with Button
description: Sounds both Siren 3OG and Siren 5OG for 1 second when the button is pressed
trigger:
- platform: mqtt
topic: zigbee2mqtt/Heiman_Button/status
payload: “pressed”
action:
- service: mqtt.publish
data:
topic: zigbee2mqtt/Heiman_Siren_3OG/set
payload: “{‘warning’: {‘mode’: ‘emergency’, ‘duration’: 1, ‘level’: ‘low’}}” - service: mqtt.publish
data:
topic: zigbee2mqtt/Heiman_Siren_5OG/set
payload: “{‘warning’: {‘mode’: ‘emergency’, ‘duration’: 1, ‘level’: ‘low’}}”
- Testing and Fine-Tuning: I tested the setup multiple times, adjusting the automation script until it worked seamlessly. It’s important to note that patience is key when dealing with multiple Zigbee devices and coordinators.
Lessons Learned
- Documentation: Zigbee2MQTT has excellent documentation, which was invaluable during the setup.
- Community Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out to forums or communities if you encounter issues. The smart home community is incredibly helpful!
- Start Small: If you’re new, start with a single coordinator and expand gradually. This helps identify and resolve issues early on.
Conclusion
Setting up multiple Zigbee coordinators and devices was a rewarding experience. It required some trial and error, but the end result—a fully integrated smart home system—is worth it. If you’re considering a similar project, I highly recommend starting with Zigbee2MQTT and taking it step by step!
Happy tinkering! 