Shower humidity sensor

Hardware
1

I’m looking for recommendations for a humidity sensor to automate my shower extractor fan.

I’ve got a good z-wave (Australia) network, but don’t have a zigbee hub. My shower is also at the edge of my wifi network.

Looking at z-wave stuff, the Aeotec aerQ seems the newest, but I’ve read that it only reports every 15 minutes, making it useless for this kind of automation

Lots of people seemed to have used the previous generation Aeotec Multisensor 6, but it’s almost double the price of the aerQ

I’ve read variable things about the Aqara/Xiaomi humidity sensors (in terms of not reporting frequently enough), and the bluetooth LE ones (eg Govee, Mi)

I don’t really have time/interest to solder/DIY, so looking for an off the shelf solution

I don’t mind buying a new zigbee or bluetooth hub, but it would need to have good range (as even my 2.4 wifi is patchy where the shower is)

If I have to start buying a hub + sensor + potentially other zigbee devices to extend the network, I may end up being better off paying more for a z-wave sensor - if there’s one that reports frequently enough !

Thanks in advance

2

The Aeotec multisensor 6 is great because you can also use the motion and lux sensors to automate the light. Worth the extra spend.

1 Like
3

Thanks; do you know how often it reports humidity values ?

4

I just checked one of mine and it’s updating every 15 seconds. It’s user configurable.

5

I think you’ve sold me :slight_smile:
What’s the battery life been like ?

I wish there was one that would plug into a standard GPO (like the smart switches) - would beat having to think about batteries…

6

I don’t use batteries.

It can be powered via USB so I just use a USB power supply (aka phone charger) plugged into an outlet installed in the roof above the sensor.

7

Thanks. Looks like a Multisensor 7 has been released overseas… I might wait for an Aus release

8

Nice… although I just bought more MS6’s :man_facepalming: Oh well.

9

This one also has editable report time for humidity. Just it is not clear to me, what the min/max value is…

http://manuals-backend.z-wave.info/make.php?lang=en&sku=HKZW-MS01&cert=ZC10-17045529

10

Out of curiosity - does anyone know whether an Aeotec aerQ configurable at all in a similar manner?

11

Short answer, yes.

Parameter 4.

12

There is actually newer version - ZW039C, you can go as low as 0,1 degree / 1% in humidity change, however check if this has changed is defined in parameter 3 - and that can be 1 minute lowest. Means every minute, it will check if temperature has changed by that much. If yes, it will report.
You can also set periodic reports regardless of change, lowest is 30 seconds, but that will probably kill your battery very fast.
I also think that maximum humidity is 90%

13

You’re right, thank you ! https://help.aeotec.com/support/solutions/articles/6000227918-aërq-temperature-and-humidity-sensor-user-guide-

My local price for the aerQ is $49; then $8 for a battery when it needs replacing

I’ll need to see the price of the Gen7 Multisensor to see if it’s worth the extra (especially as that can be mains powered)

14

49 is a lot! In EU Aerq is about 35 USD while other multisensors are 80 USD and more. That’s why I ended up with aerq, and they are small and neat compared to multisensors.

15

Although the multisensors have really nice recess mounts which make them super tidy and mean you never see the cable if wired in the ceiling space.

16

True, but also if you want them for measuring temperature, measuring it at the ceiling is not ideal either.

17

It’s actually the same; $49 AUD is $35 USD

The multisensor 6 plus a recessor ends up at over twice the price; I imagine the 7 will be a little more expensive too…