I actually think normal batteries are super cheap.
I have a Tuya based weather sensor (do not recall the actual brand) using 1 AAA batteri. Been running for 9mth now, and showing 100%. Lets assume 1year on a battery, leads to less than ½ USD pr year.
Not sure you can run rechargeable batteries for this cost in the long run, with replacement and chargers.
That is pretty useless information actually.
A battery is designed to provide as stable and as high an output for as long as possible and then die quick once it can not be maintained anymore.
That means you can have 100% for 9 months and then it drops 20% each the next 5 days.
Wally, I agree, this is how they are designed, and works. It stays on 100% for a long time, then starts to drop over a period of ½-1md, giving a lot of time to replace.
Does not change my advice.
- In Z2Mqtt, click logs at the top & set to debug.
- Move your device next to your coordinator & heat it up by exhaling on it.
- Check Z2Mqtt logs for messages from your device.
- Check temperature history in HA.
Tell us what you see & remember to switch log levels back to info when done.
Unable to figure out how to debug the logs?
I placed some non-rechargeable batteries in the sensor, repaired, restarted Z2M.
Removed vm usb coordinator passthrough, readded vm usb passthrough, restarted HA, same issue.
Regarding khvej8’s comment, if you actually think ‘normal’ non-rechargeable batteries are cheap, you’ll be off your chair with the affordability of rechargeable, cabled and solar power.
Could be just a defective sensor ?
I partly agree with francisp here.
Either you are not factory resetting it correctly or the sensor is defective.
Factory resetting can be a tricky thing, because each vendor has its own way of doing this and sometimes steps can be overdone or underdone, which active another function in the device.
What do you mean? All you have to do is go to the logs page in Z2Mqtt (top right in the picture you posted). You’ll see a log level drop-down menu there.
Just set that to debug and you’re done.
Edit: looks like francisp answered you an hour ago when you got impatient & posted on a separate thread
Thank you, the screenshot helped me find the Debug in HA after much effort (HA hunting (no search option) and forum searching including another HA post where debug was discussed, but no clear path listed) → Settings → Add-ons → Zigbee2MQTT → Log (not this log in tabs: Info Documentation Configuration Log) → OPEN WEB UI → [email protected] → Logs → Log level → select debug.
No change when heating up the temperature sensor as per HA Overview or debug logs.
Reset is by holding a SIM pin into the sensor for about 10 seconds until the solid red LED blinks (red LED blinking lasts maybe 30 seconds).
Do you know that from the vendors manual or is it just how you guessed it?
I have several devices with multiple features on the same action.
One will blink once after 5 seconds on press and it means that if I release it there, then the network configuration will be deleted and the device will go into fallback mode.
If I keep it pressed 8 seconds, then it will blink once more and if I release it then it will factory reset the device.
If I keep it pressed 12 seconds then it will start to flash and it then means it have gone into firmware flashing mode.
If I had no manual then I would probably not realize the 2 first modes were there and I would assume the last one was for some repairing/reset mode.
Of you could have just read my instructions, which I tried to make as clear as possible:
The option was staring at you this whole time, since you included it in your screenshots, but despite this and clear instructions on how to find it, you still think this was “much effort”.
PS - there is a way to search within HA. You press “c” on your keyboard to find a list of HA commands, but it won’t give you Z2MQTT commands since that is an addon which runs in a separate docker environment.
I give up.
@khvej8 False comparison fallacy.
You are comparing non rechargeable batteries to currency and time.
You appear to not compare to previously mentioned power alternatives, which demonstrate a total cost fractions to your claim.
@ShadowFist:
Your instructions were: 3. Check Z2Mqtt logs for messages from your device.
This is what I see in HA → Settings → Add-ons → Zigbee2MQTT → Log:
I checked HA → Settings → Add-ons → Zigbee2MQTT → Log →
Now, as I mentioned I am a HA noob, the logs debug you were referring to (that I now know with hindsight), were 4 levels lower in HA → Settings → Add-ons → Zigbee2MQTT → OPEN WEB UI → Logs → Log level → select debug.
I appreciate assistance, however ambiguous and ‘just do this’ language may add to consternation.
@WallyR Hello, I’m just guessing, the 1 page 2x2cm manual just had setup from memory.
Here’s the manual, nothing but page 6 about reset process?
It looks like you are doing the right thing, so my bet is that it is defective.
Thanks, can I ask if there are better quality temperature Zigbee sensors? This is outside its 1 month eBay returns window.
I’m comparing over half a century 
Rechargeables and solar FTW!
Stay away from the Sonoff Zigbee sensors, these are absolutly cr**. The Aqara’s are good, but they have their own issues. The WSD500A work for me (have several of them), but as it seems not for you. The BW-IS4 is solid, but does not report often. I also have some Xiaomi LYWSD03MMC, these are good too.
Thank you.
FYI, I bought a 2nd Tuya WSD500A to test if it lasts longer than 2 months or if I’m the problem.
The shape is minimal with no screen, just what’s needed that the others don’t offer.