#sensors

Outdoor watering automation — the LoRa-and-rain story

“The sprinkler runs only when soil is dry AND no rain is expected in the next 6 hours. Sounds simple. Took three iterations and two soaked planters before the algorithm was actually right.”

Glass-break and vibration sensors — the second-layer security

“Door sensors catch the opening. Glass-break sensors catch the breaking. The second one matters because the first one assumes the intruder walks in like a guest.”

Aqara Zigbee door/window sensors at scale

“Aqara door sensors are a third the size of a SmartThings Multipurpose, run two years on a single CR1632 button cell, and cost nine dollars each. The catch: they speak a slightly-off interpretation of the Zigbee HA spec, so the consumer hubs choke on them.”

Aeotec Multisensor 6 — six sensors in one Z-Wave device

“Six sensors in one device on one Z-Wave node means six new automations are one device install away. Cost per sensor reading drops by a factor of six.”