what door/window sensors?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › what door/window sensors?

redfiat

57 posts

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#253016 21-Jul-2019 20:19

I use home assistant/hass.io to control various things around the house and am now thinking about adding some physical security.

What is the recommended window/door sensor?

I've looked at a few websites (like fusionautomation) and am shocked at the price for just one sensor, north of $80 - seems very high.

is that normal pricing for these kind of sensors?

timmmay

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#2280959 21-Jul-2019 20:34

Why do you want door / window sensors? PIR sensors cover houses well, and how many break ins pick a lock vs just breaking a window?

When we got our home alarm almost 10 years ago it cost $125 per PIR sensor, $175 for a keypad, all up about $1900. There are a lot more options now, lower priced.

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chevrolux

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#2280960 21-Jul-2019 20:41

Wemos D1 Mini and a reed switch for under $5 will do the job.

sonyxperiageek

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#2280964 21-Jul-2019 20:51

Have you looked at the Xiaomi range of smart home automation products? Something like this?

I believe it needs the XiaoMi multifunction gateway hub to connect to.

Sony

davidcole

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#2281036 22-Jul-2019 04:58

All depends if you want wired (house alarm or we is d1) or battery style (xiaomi and zwave options)

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redfiat

57 posts

Master Geek

#2281106 22-Jul-2019 09:25

timmmay:

Why do you want door / window sensors? PIR sensors cover houses well, and how many break ins pick a lock vs just breaking a window?

When we got our home alarm almost 10 years ago it cost $125 per PIR sensor, $175 for a keypad, all up about $1900. There are a lot more options now, lower priced.

Good point, apart from my cats and dog inside would set off the motion sensors.

redfiat

57 posts

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#2281107 22-Jul-2019 09:26

sonyxperiageek: Have you looked at the Xiaomi range of smart home automation products? Something like this?

I believe it needs the XiaoMi multifunction gateway hub to connect to.

thanks, much better prices too

joemate

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#2281680 22-Jul-2019 19:21

I'm using Xiaomi window and door sensors, combined with Xiaomi motion sensor.

As software, I'm using hass.io as well, but I don't want the Xiaomi phone home, so instead of their gateway I'm using a Conbee II USB stick.

redfiat

57 posts

Master Geek

#2281690 22-Jul-2019 19:33

joemate:

I'm using Xiaomi window and door sensors, combined with Xiaomi motion sensor.

As software, I'm using hass.io as well, but I don't want the Xiaomi phone home, so instead of their gateway I'm using a Conbee II USB stick.

cool. so only xiaomi sensors. are you running hass.io on a PI?

did you need to do anything special for the usb stick to work?

joemate

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#2281744 22-Jul-2019 19:43

I have hass.io on a 5 year old HP laptop, running Ubuntu.

The stick is basically plug and play. DrZss set up his Conbee II earlier today, you can watch his stream (replay) on youtube, but I'm sure that he'll create a shorter how to video as well.

sonyxperiageek

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#2281826 22-Jul-2019 21:37

Quite a few people also didn't want their XiaoMi gateway to phone home, so I think they simply disabled internet access for the gateway in their firewall rules. Googling this may yield better examples and results.

Sony

sonyxperiageek

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#2281831 22-Jul-2019 21:44

joemate:
I'm using Xiaomi window and door sensors, combined with Xiaomi motion sensor.

As software, I'm using hass.io as well, but I don't want the Xiaomi phone home, so instead of their gateway I'm using a Conbee II USB stick.

Where did you buy your Conbee II from?

Sony

joemate

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#2281833 22-Jul-2019 21:50

I've got it from Europe 3 months ago.

You can order it from amazon.com, they started selling it a few days ago.