Current Z-Wave (Plus) wall outlet receptacles that function as a repeater

Devices & Integrations
1

Can someone recommend current Z-Wave (Plus) wall outlet receptacles that function as a repeater, to strengthen my Z-Wave network? Want one controlled outlet, repeater functionality, strong compatibility with SmartThings, and that’s it. Energy monitoring is optional. I am looking for something currently manufactured and supported.

2

In general, mains powered devices work as repeaters. As @JDRoberts would say “What country are you in”?

1 Like
3

United States.

There’s a product, “Enbrighten Z-Wave In-Wall Tamper-Resistant Smart Outlet, White” 55256, that looks somewhat good however none of the specifications state that it functions as a repeater. Some reviews on Amazon indicate that it (or another product version) does not function as a repeater.

An exhaustive current Google search only yielded:

Leviton ZW15R-1BW: “Tamper-Resistant Outlet with Z-Wave Technology”. One controlled outlet, one always-on outlet. The guide DG-000-ZW15R-02A.pdf says: “Your outlet will act as a repeater in the network to increase the reliability of the network.”

I have found nothing else so far.

4

Any main powered devices except for some light bulbs should be repeaters.

Eaton makes Z-Wave Plus outlets in several colors which are sold by Lowes.

5

Here is a link to the Z-Wave certification for the 55257 which is variant of the same device. It shows it supports “Supports Z-Wave Beaming Technology? Yes” which means it’s a repeater. I own a bunch of the GE/Jasco/Enbrighten outlets and dimmers and they do act as repeaters.

https://products.z-wavealliance.org/products/3978/embedpicsd

6

In the US, all zwave plus or newer in wall outlets will act as repeaters. I can’t speak to current ST compatibility.

7

Being a Z wave repeater and supporting Z wave beaming technology are two different things, although all devices which support beaming will also be zwave repeaters, so that may be what you meant. But not all repeaters support beaming.

Zwave beaming technology is the answering service for battery operated locks. You need one of those pretty close to a Z wave battery powered lock, typically within about 12 feet. It then serves as the answering service for the lock, holding onto its messages until the next time the lock wakes up. Then delivering them. This is to prolong battery life in the lock. :low_battery:

The zwave repeater designation means the device will pass along messages (but not hold them) to the next repeating device on the network until the message gets to the hub. Or its intended recipient.

On the official conformance statement, which will be posted on the Z wave alliance website when the device gets its Z wave certification, look for the “role type.“

If it is an “always on slave“ or AOS, or an “always on end node,” It is a repeater. Whether it supports beaming or not.

https://products.z-wavealliance.org/products/4738/embedpics

1 Like
8

Most, not all.

There are hardwired smoke detectors, for example, which do not act as repeaters because they don’t want to miss giving an alert because they’re busy passing along a message from a lightbulb.

There are also some hardwired locks which are not repeaters because they don’t want to interrupt processing the lock code.

The usual device classes for zwave repeaters are light switches, light bulbs, in wall outlets, and in-line relays. (There are Zigbee lightbulbs which don’t act as Zigbee repeaters, in particular, sengled, but I’m not aware of any Z wave lightbulbs that made that same decision. There might be some. :thinking:)

Some main powered sensors are repeaters, some are not. :man_shrugging:t2:

9

Eaton product:

Lowe’s Item #1614055; Model #RFTR9605-TAW-BX-LW

or just RFTR9605-TAW. 15 amp receptacle. Interesting feature from an Amazon review: “I have a large number of Z-Wave switches and receptacles in my house from GE/Jasco. The problem with their product is that there is no easy way to use a wall switch to control the Z-Wave outlet. this product has a control wire that can be connected (to white/neutral) on a traditional toggle switch and will turn the outlet off and on. this is great when you only have two wires in your switch box.”

1 Like
10

Just wanted to update this thread with negative experience:

Leviton ZW15R-1BW: “Tamper-Resistant Outlet with Z-Wave Technology”. One controlled outlet, one always-on outlet. The guide DG-000-ZW15R-02A.pdf says: “Your outlet will act as a repeater in the network to increase the reliability of the network.”

I installed this product around April 2025. Since that time, it has dropped off the network or stopped updating SmartThings about three times. The latest time, yesterday at 12:48PM, I was able to switch the device on, then off, then on, then off via SmartThings, and now it’s not responding remotely at all (even after a long power cycle). There are also Z-Wave contact sensors (door/window sensors) further away from it, and further away from the hub, that are not acting reliably. It is unclear if the door/window sensors are themselves faulty or unreliable, but the common theme is that this repeater is in between them.

The Eaton RFTR9605-TAW-BX-LW is out of stock at Lowe’s.

I will replace the Leviton ZW15R-1BW with one of the Jasco/GE/Enbrighten ones, and update this thread.

11

Jasco website does not list any (current) Z-Wave receptacle products.

Found these:

I reviewed the manuals for 55256 and 14315. Near the Z-Wave logo, both say: “All non-battery operated nodes within the network will act as repeaters regardless of vendor to increase reliability of the network.“

I will try the Eaton RFTR9605-TAW-BX-LW first. The spec sheets are from ~2018-2019 and therefore suggest Z-Wave 500.

12

Any zwave plus (series 500 or higher) smart plug or wall receptacle will act as a repeater: it’s part of the third-party specification, so they can’t get certified or use the logo if they don’t.

Remember that you can look up any certified Z wave device at the official Z wave association website find out its exact generation and other characteristics. In this case:

2 Likes