Recommendations for a carbon monoxide CO detector that integrates well with HA

Configuration
1

Woke up this morning to my CO2 detector beeping to tell me that it had reached it’s end of life and needs to be replaced. Wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a replacement that works well inside the HASS ecosystem?

Thanks

2

I bought a MH-Z19 from China and hooked it up to a Wemos D1 running Espeasy which is talking to Hass via MQTT. It’s stable and the measurements seems to be fairly sensible. For a price of appx. USD 25 it can’t be beat.

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3

This solution sounds like fun - thanks for the reply. Any suggested resources for putting it all together and integrating with HASS?

Thanks again!

4

Most of what you need is documented here:

https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/index.php/"CO2_Sensor_MH-Z19"

For a ESP8266 device you can typically use a Wemos D1 mini or a NodeMCU. You just flash it with the ESPEasy software. Then you configure as described in the link above.

Integration with Hass is done using MQTT.

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5

to be clear, are you looking for a carbon monoxide (CO) detector (to detect gas leaks, exhaust problems, etc.) or a carbon dioxide (CO2) detector (usually measured as a proxy for “air quality”)?

and do you care about the actual level or only if it’s high/dangerous?

6

Oh no - my title is misleading (because it’s wrong :blush: corrected now) - really looking for a CO - carbon monoxide - not dioxide - detector. I need at least High/Dangerous. Something that I can use to replace my First Alert CO detector that just died.

7

I am using a zwave smoke/co detector that works well and reports battery life.

https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-Z-Wave-Detector-Monoxide/dp/B00KMHXFAI

8

Does it have the ability to report beyond just battery life - such as the current level of CO?

9

Not the level but it will differentiate between Smoke and CO so you can automate off that. Here is the template code I am using:

 - platform: template
   sensors:
     den_smoke_status:
       value_template: '{%- if is_state("sensor.den_smoke_alarm_type", "0") %}
                         Idle
                         {%else%}
                           {%- if is_state("sensor.den_smoke_alarm_type", "1") %}
                           Fire
                           {%- elif is_state("sensor.den_smoke_alarm_type", "2") %}
                           CO2
                           {%- elif is_state("sensor.den_smoke_alarm_type", "12") %}
                           Testing
                           {%- elif is_state("sensor.den_smoke_alarm_type", "13") %}
                           Idle
                           {% else %}
                           Unknown
                           {%- endif %}
                         {%endif%}'
       friendly_name: 'Den Smoke'
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10

Thank you - going to order one and give it a go!

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11

@eBoon

Sorry to dig this out of the grave. How did this go?

I’m in the lookout for a CO detector and I don’t have any devices in z-wave yet so I need a reason to buy it along with the dongle. All my stuff is on Zigbee.

Regards

12

Works perfectly - no issues at all.

13

Thanks, what Z-Wave dongle/gateway do you use?

14

I’m using the Aeotec Z-Stick Gen5, Z-Wave Plus USB - works great.

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15

Hi all. I am from UK and cant get FirstAlert zwave sensor here without significant import duties. I just bought nest protects before realising it was a mistake because Google has shut down their open/api access. Does anyone have any recommendations in uk for a smart carbon monoxide and smoke sensor? (pity xiaomi dont make any as my entire home feels like their showroom. Using their smoke sensors happily).

i know fibario zwave is a good option but they are costly so will assume them as a last resort. also they do smoke vs. carbon mono individually not in combo.

also has anyone tried these and more importantly interfacing with HA

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16

Hey! I’m uk too, what did you go for?

17

:slight_smile: dont ask. First Alert zwave. but after receiving them i realised they work on a different frequency. All US zwave devices do. One “option” is to use a US zwave stick. :slight_smile:

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18

Ah! I’m glad you said that, I was going to usa soon and was thinking of buying a few!
What a pain with the channels! No way at all to convert to UK?

19

this topic should give you all info you need. Two Z-Wave sticks: US and Europe

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