SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus is a popular Zigbee coordinator for Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT.
It can be used to connect Zigbee lights, sensors, plugs, switches, buttons, and other devices to Home Assistant.
But the setup can be confusing because there are different SONOFF dongle versions.
The ZBDongle-P and ZBDongle-E are not the same, and they may use different Zigbee2MQTT adapter settings.
Fortunately, you can set it up by checking the dongle version, installing Zigbee2MQTT, and adding the correct serial settings.
In this guide, you will learn how to use SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT.
How To Use Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus With Home Assistant Zigbee2MQTT
1. Check Which SONOFF Dongle You Have
Before starting, check if you have the P version or E version.
Look at the product name or label.
Check if it says ZBDongle-P.
Check if it says ZBDongle-E.
Check your order page if you are not sure.
Do not guess, because the adapter setting may be different.
2. Plug In The SONOFF Dongle
Connect the dongle to your Home Assistant device.
Plug the dongle into a USB extension cable.
Plug the cable into your Home Assistant device.
Keep it away from USB 3.0 ports.
Keep it away from your Wi-Fi router.
Restart Home Assistant if it is not detected.
3. Install Mosquitto Broker
Zigbee2MQTT needs MQTT to work.
Open Home Assistant.
Go to Settings.
Select Add-ons.
Open the Add-on Store.
Install Mosquitto broker.
Start the add-on.
Check the logs for errors.
4. Install Zigbee2MQTT
After MQTT is ready, install Zigbee2MQTT.
Open Home Assistant.
Go to Settings > Add-ons.
Open the Add-on Store.
Add the Zigbee2MQTT repository if needed.
Install Zigbee2MQTT.
Wait for it to finish.
Do not start it until the adapter is configured.
5. Find The SONOFF Dongle Path
Zigbee2MQTT needs the correct serial path.
Open Home Assistant.
Go to Settings > System.
Open Hardware.
Click All Hardware.
Find the SONOFF dongle.
Copy the /dev/serial/by-id path.
Use this path in Zigbee2MQTT.
6. Configure ZBDongle-P
If you have SONOFF ZBDongle-P, use the zstack adapter.
Open Zigbee2MQTT configuration.
Add your serial port.
Example:
serial:
port: /dev/serial/by-id/YOUR_SONOFF_DONGLE_PATH
adapter: zstackSet adapter to zstack.
Save the file.
Restart Zigbee2MQTT.
7. Configure ZBDongle-E
If you have SONOFF ZBDongle-E, use the ember adapter.
Open Zigbee2MQTT configuration.
Add your serial port.
Example:
serial:
port: /dev/serial/by-id/YOUR_SONOFF_DONGLE_PATH
adapter: emberSet adapter to ember.
Save the file.
Restart Zigbee2MQTT.
8. Start Zigbee2MQTT And Pair Devices
Once the settings are correct, start Zigbee2MQTT.
Open the Zigbee2MQTT add-on.
Click Start.
Open Logs.
Check if the dongle starts without errors.
Open Zigbee2MQTT Web UI.
Click Permit Join.
Put your Zigbee device into pairing mode.
Wait for the device to appear.
Conclusion
SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus works well with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT, but you need to check which version you have.
Use zstack for ZBDongle-P and ember for ZBDongle-E.
If Zigbee2MQTT does not start, check the adapter path, disable ZHA, restart MQTT, and check the logs.
These steps should help you use the SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT.
Additional Reading
How To Add Zigbee2MQTT To Home Assistant
Zigbee2MQTT Not Starting In Home Assistant: How To Fix It
Use Home Assistant SkyConnect Or ZBT-1 With Zigbee2MQTT
Brianna is based in Minnesota in the US at the moment, and has been writing since 2017. She is currently a 3rd Year med student at the time of writing this.
