The door opening sensor is one of the first devices that appeared in my smart home. I would like to create several actions for opening the front door to automate the routine.
Then such sensors appeared on all doors and windows in the apartment. Friends with the help of a sensor also look after the child, know when the son turned off on the balcony or forgot to close the refrigerator.
In the article we will talk about using such devices in the house, how to connect them correctly and how to set up the necessary automation.
What are the benefits in Russia
💜 Automates actions when entering the house. You can set the lights to turn on in the hallway, music to turn on, or the security system to turn off.
💜 Monitors other rooms. If you install such a sensor on the toilet door, it will turn the ventilation on and off.
💜 Makes any window smart. If you attach a sensor to a window, you can set up automation to open or close it.
Which door opening sensors are best to buy?
Most of these sensors are similar in filling, differing only in appearance. Here are our most common options:
Door and window opening sensor Yandex with Zigbee 3.0
1. Door and window opening sensor from Yandex. A device from the Yandex ecosystem connects to any hub without problems ZigBi or directly to a smart speaker with a lowered hub. In this case, connection, configuration and software updates will be carried out in one application.
Such a sensor costs 1911 rubles.
Door and window opening sensor Aqara MCCGQ11LM
2. Aqara door and window opening sensor. A similar model, but made by a different brand. The dimensions of the sensors and response parts are very similar.
You can choose this if you have many Aqara devices and you anyway use such an application to control your home. The sensor can connect to the Yandex column with ZigBi directly, costs 1271 rubles per piece.
Door/window opening sensor SONOFF SNZB-04
3. Sonoff opening sensor. For fans of the popular brand of Chinese electronics. A common budget model that is used by some brands. This costs only 638 rubles.
How to install sensors correctly
Such sensors consist of two parts: main and response.
Part Noticeably larger, it houses all kinds of electronics, a wireless module and a replaceable battery.
Mate – a compact unit with a magnet that allows the main unit to produce when approaching or moving away.
Most often, the main part is attached to the door hatch, opening or any other fixed surface. The counter part is attached to the fabric door. It is lighter and smaller, the chance of getting caught and knocked down is much lower.
Both parts of the sensor have an adhesive surface, and the package most often includes a couple of additional pieces of double-sided tape in case you missed the installation or want to move the sensor to another location.
The sensor is usually placed at the top of the curtain, on the door hinge side. This way the sensor is almost invisible and does not interfere with passage. If the design does not allow it, you can send it to another convenient place.
The main thing is that in the closed position both parts are docked together, and the risks on them coincide.
How to connect to a smart home
To connect the Yandex door sensor to the House with Alice, you will need any Yandex Station with ZigBee. Next we proceed like this:
1. Remove the protective film that opens the battery contacts.
2. Press the button on the sensor body for 5 seconds so that it enters connection mode.
3. Open the Home with Alice application (App Store or Google Play)
4. If you don’t see add a new device there, click the plus offer in the upper right corner of the panel and select Smart home device and specify the door opening sensor in the menu.
5. Then exit to the screen.
That’s it, you can use and configure automation.
What commands and scripts are recommended?
There cannot be any command for the sensor, because it itself does not turn anything on or off. You can only view the sensor status in the application or ask Alice for it.
Commands for the window or door opening sensor:
Alice, is the door in the house open now?
Alice, is the window in the nursery closed?
Scenarios:
🤖 Turning on the lights when you get home. You need a smart switch, bulb or relay to control the lights in the hallway. A very convenient option to always have light in the room when the door is open. In the section Scenarios applications Home with Alice We create a connection between the door opening sensor and the switch or light bulb:
◆ if the sensor detects the door opening, switch the light in the hallway to the opposite value.
So, when you enter the room, the light will turn on, and when you leave, it will turn off.
🤖 Turning on ventilation in the toilet or kitchen. A relay or smart switch is required to control the fan hoods. In the section Scenarios applications Home with Alice You can check if the fan is currently on.
◆ if the hood is turned off, turn it on when the door is opened. And if it’s already turned on, you can turn it on according to a timer, for example, after 10-15 minutes.
🤖 Turning off the air conditioner when opening the window. An IR remote control is required to control an air conditioner or condo with support for a Yandex smart home. In the section Scenarios applications Home with Alice custom condition:
◆ if the window in a room with an air conditioner is open, turn off the cooling of the room.
So you won’t be running the air conditioner idle and the atmosphere will be cool.
🤖 Turning on the air conditioner when the room is hot and the window is closed. You need a temperature and humidity sensor and an IR remote control to control the air conditioner. Set up routine automation to turn on the air conditioning when the temperature rises above 24 degrees, for example. But there is one more point that is decisive:
◆ if the window is closed. This automation does not work when the window in the room is open.
🤖 Turning off the heating to ventilate the rooms. We need smart thermostats for a heating radiator that connect to a smart home with Alice. In the section Scenarios applications Home with Alice custom condition:
◆ if the window in the room is open, it blocks the thermal head.
And immediately create reverse automation:
◆ when the window is closed, turn on the heating radiator.
This way, warm air will not stand like a wall in front of the window, and the room will be ventilated faster.
🤖 Reminder to close the refrigerator door. We need any column with Alice that will remind us of an open door. The sensor itself, instead of the window and door, clings to the refrigerator.
◆ if the refrigerator door is open, a voice notification on the speaker is activated.
The scenario can only be activated in the evening to drive away late-night snackers. You can also add reduced speakers to a lower level in the scenario so as not to wake up sleeping relatives.
Even more consequences can be found in the application itself. Home with Alice. Everything is limited only by your imagination.
Is it worth buying
Definitely! An opening sensor is one of the most versatile devices in a smart home. This is not just a multi-colored light bulb that changes color and turns on in the evening. The sensor can automate some important processes, improve home safety, and help keep an eye on children or elderly users.
When a device stops performing one function, it can be easily reconfigured to another. It is enough to enable new automation or re-stick the sensor to another location.
How do you use the door sensor? Write recommendations in the comments.
Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
