Waterproof / outdoor Contact sensor recommendations

Hardware
#1

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations or personally good experience with contact sensors that work well in a wet environment such as a bathroom or even outdoors. Preferably Zigbee based to save battery life and Zigbee2MQTT compatible.

I currently have Eufy and Aquara Contact sensors on most of my windows and doors (lower floors Eufy due to being part of the alarm system, higher floors Aquara because they just kinda work better in HA). The only window I cannot monitor is the bathroom as it’s very close to the shower and it can just can get very damp and moist in there. Read some experiences about Aquara contact sensors not really being up to the task there.

Any advice is welcome.

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#2

I use an aqara door/window contact sensor in a polycarbonate waterproof box to monitor my gate outside. The magnet has no problem working through the extra plastic.

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#3

We have had several cheap door sensors fitted to outside gates for years and just opened them up before install and sprayed them with the following product:

This mostly worked, the theory being that as they were cheap sensors then even if we had to swap them out every year or so it was no big deal.

For our use we never had a problem with water ingress like this ever, but due to outside temps the battery life wasn’t great as they were using coin cells but that’s a different issue I guess.

Eventually we swapped them out for z-wave recessed door sensors and haven’t had battery issues since :crossed_fingers:t2:

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#4

Did you mask off the battery contacts before spraying?

#5

Did you mask off the battery contacts before spraying?

Removed battery, small amount of contact grease on battery terminals before spraying board normally.

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#6

Thanks for the tips so far. The Aquara ones are not to expensive to try this with. My main concern for in the bathroom is not it getting directly wet, but that with all the steam, heat and dampness electronic’s not suited for a wet environment will simply not last there. This spray does seem interesting to investigate.

#7

I asked a friend to 3D print some cases for Aqura sensors and so far so good…
I found a schematic on Thingiverse for him and the sensors seem to fit perfectly into it:

Disclaimer: they have only been up for 4 days now, in the shower and outside (it has rained already). Not a very long time testing it :slight_smile:

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#8

Brought some of these from Etsy and they have been really reliable.

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#9

any photos of how it looks printer and with the sensors in? :slight_smile:

#10

I’ve installed these in July and it’s almost end December now. Both the one is the bathroom (that can get very wet → teenagers showering) and outside with rains, freezing, etc. have survived perfectly so far.

#11

This looks great.

Question… What is this part? Looks solid.

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#12

That’s a base for the magnet part of the sensor to be placed on if I see it right. Depending a bit on if you need it or not. The one I originally found came in 2 parts: 1 the case for the actual sensor to make it waterproof and 2. a base you can also put the magnet part on if you need to ‘lift it’ to be in contact with the sensor in the case.

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#13

Definitely not the cheapest one, but certified as IP45 + CR123A battery which should last 5 years, small magnet, and spacers included.

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Contact-Efficient-Heating-Compatible-Assistant/dp/B0BBM16FDW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=8750002090&qid=1677528778&sr=8-1

#14