I have a couple of euro-windows for the balcony: they either open fully like doors or can be tilted back and part open. I’d like to install a sensor there, but I need to be to able to differentiate between the two positions.
Basically I need to prevent HA closing blinds if the balcony doors are fully open but not if they are just tilted open.
Any idea for a sensor which would work like this? Zwave Zigbee or RF but prefereably not Wifi please.
Probably need both the vibration sensor and a door sensor.
If door sensor is open and tilt > 0 then it’s tilted.
But if door sensor is open and tilt = 0 then it’s just open.
If you really want to differentiate open and tilted I think the best option is using two contact sensors, one at the top of the door (this will report “open” either when tilted or fully opened) and a second on on the bottom of the door (this one will only report open when fully opened but will stay closed when the door is tilted only).
With the states of the two sensors you can determine which state the door is in.
Yes, agreed it’s bad WAF but it will get the job done…
I did this with two xiaomi door/window sensors. One mounted on top is open when window tilted, another mounted on bottom, opened only when window fully opened. Then I write template sensor which combine those two and show state 0,1 or 2.
I’ve not got the same windows, I have standard side opening uPVC windows (UK) but I’ve managed to fit the Aqara door sensors in the edges of the frame so not visible when closed. I found if you pull off the battery cover, it clicks into the frame and the magnet sits in a recess in the opening part right alongside it
Agree with Igor above - that’s what I would do also.
… using regular door/window sensors, which come with all kinds of shapes and sizes and batteries and wireless protocols
What about the vibration sensor (using the tilt/angle function) on the handle.
It won’t be very attractive but you should be able to sense the position the handle is in and thus what way it’s open
I’m trying to go for the ambient technology aesthetic in our house — cables and switches that go away in lieu of automatic function = no complaints.
But I think hiding a window sensor at the bottom of the balcony door might do the most important job without being visible. All sensors seem white and we have dark brown wooden windows, but if it’s hidden under maybe it won’t be noticed.
Have finally bought a couple of Aqaras and installed one at the bottom of each door – indeed it works exactly as promised, detecting opening by large amounts, but not tilting. Even have painted them brown, and no one has noticed their presence yet. They are a bit too expensive to put one on every window, so for the moment tilting will remain undetected.