As the title states, I am looking for outdoor contact sensors and I live in Canada. It usually doesn’t get that cold for very long, maybe a week or two in January/February, -45C is probably the worst case scenario.
I know batteries will be my biggest issue, but I can figure something out or just take them out for the coldest weeks. I have a Weber gas grill that uses a single AA alkaline battery for lighting the grill and it lasts through the winter.
I tried a ring outdoor sensor, but the way they designed mounting it leaves a lot to be desired. False tamper alerts and maybe .5mm tang that slots into a 1mm groove in plastic. The moment that gets cold and the gate swings shut, no more mount.
Anyone have first hand experience with a decent sensor? Can be wifi, zigbee or zwave.
I’m not sure that there is one that is specced for past -10°C, there is a Yale one that is listed as Outdoor specifically but I can’t find the ranges listed anywhere and if it can be use stand alone.
A battery will not as such lose the charge. It will lose the ability to provide the power in the cold, but regain it again when heating up.
If you are not using the grill in the cold, then you might not see the issue with it.
Your sensor will be in the cold, so it will be having to fight these issues.
A larger battery, like maybe a large USB powerbank, will give you a surplus of power availability, so the cold will not force it below the limit required.
A insulation will help the battery stay warm in the winter. The battery heat up when used. It is not much, but an insulation can make it keep that warmth a bit longer. Also keep the battery (and insulation) out of the wind, because that will also remove heat. It is small things, but it all helps.
Thanks! These are good points. I have seen the aqara sensors being talked about with 3d printed cases. I also see zooz has an 800LR contact sensor and they offer an injection molded case for waterproofing. It doesn’t specify temperatures on the Amazon listing, will have to look into it.
Has anyone had first hand experience with Canadian winters and outdoor battery powered sensors? I see that there are “hidden” sensors that can be put in a recess along the jamb and they are water proof, just uncertain on battery size and temp ranges.
What about wired sensors? I’m assuming I would be limited by voltage drop for length of wire.
Seconding Wally’s suggestion to try insulation, especially combined with the Aqara door sensors. They’re extremely hackable and cheap enough that if something goes wrong, it’s not a huge loss.
Not sure of the effect any insulation might have on the zigbee range though.
I’ll give it a go. As the other reply pointed out, they are cheap enough where if it dies quickly, it won’t break the bank.
Thinking I may just build something myself with a quality reed switch or qmc533l or similar for next year. I’d really like an anti tamper sensor like the ring contact sensor has. I’ve heard LiFePo4 batteries are good for colder weather as well and I see they have 18650 and similar sized cells.
It’s crazy that ring charges almost $70 for an outdoor sensor that has so many issues being outside, lol.
As long as the battery powering the device is out of the cold, I’d assume it should be able to run sufficiently. Could you not just run some wires to a battery that’s stored in a warm enclosure? That should let you get the inexpensive sensors and just remotely locate the battery inside, or in an insulated enclosure (if you do happen to do an insulated enclosure, ensure it has some holes for it to breathe).