If you mean the Zooz ZSE-41, I have one of those, and was happily surprised by it's small size when I received it, as the online pics just seemed to make it look bigger than it actually was. 
I'm using it on my back yard rear gate and it's been excellent, reporting promptly and reliably at distance. LR is a nice thing. I have a ton of the Visonic I got cheap when they were being discontinued years ago, so they are all over my house and will be replaced at some point when they start having issues.
1 Like
I'll keep that in mind. I really hate having to play these games with these sensors 
@DGBQ I had come across those and didn't know if they'd help. I'll give those a try first to see.
@calinatl I'll give the zooz a look if the drivers fail.
Here are a few tips I’ve learned when using these devices:
- Keep a Zigbee repeater nearby. For example, I use a Zigbee plug in the same room to control a lamp, which also helps strengthen the network. My hub is way in the back of the house.
- Pair the device twice to ensure all current states appear quickly.
I'm not sure how much this helps as I'm literally 15 ft from the hub on the same floor
But so far, it's still online from the driver swap.
1 Like
@velvetfoot or @danabw
Since you have one of these Zen contact sensors, would it be possible for you to test it with a magnet to see if the magnet needs to be on the SIDE of the main unit, or if it will also register closed if the magnet is placed on the FRONT of the unit (near the edge)?
Since this one is so thin, my idea is to slide the main unit under the latch, embed magnets in the latch, and when the latch is closed it would slide over the top of this main unit...
I'll give it a look/test!
As you saw above in my pic this approach works w/my Visonic sensors, and I suspect the proximity will work w/the Zooz as well. Back w/details in a bit.
Test results: If top of the magnet is at least as high as in the pic (and actually even if the top edge of the magnet is just at the bottom edge of the two grey bars) the sensor works w/out issue. The magnet I used is one from an Aqara contact sensor. In the pic the magnet is touching the contact sensor, but in my tests I was holding it just above the sensor.
So I don't think you'll have any issues.
@danabw : THANK YOU!!!
NP
Good luck w/your project.
SUCCESS!!!
The Zooz ZSE-41 works great as a locked/unlocked indicator for a 2017 Pella sliding door latch. I have a slim strip from my security system installed on the door/frame to alarm if the door is opened when it should not be, and ensure the door is slid fully closed. However, the concern was leaving the latch in the unlocked position overnight. I cannot find a smart lock that would fit and/or pass HAF. I decided to try to fit an open/close sensor to indicate the latch locking status. If the latch is not locked at the "goodnight" routine, a light in the bedroom blinks on and off until the latch is locked.
Per @Rxich 's post here: Sliding Door - miniscule position sensor or tilt sensor?
I bought some small magnets off Amazon:
Niuknow 30 Pack Strong Heavy Duty Magnets Bar, 20x5x2mm Small Rare Earth Magnets, Mini Neodymium Magnets Strip, for Craft, Fridge, Science, DIY and Tool Storage: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
The latch is molded, so the back side is hollow. I stuck three of the magnets into the hollow portion of the latch.
Per @LosinIt 's post here: Wall control panel for hubitat - #3 by rvmeush
I learned about LocTite Fun Tak, which I used to seat and retain the magnets into that hollow section.
I tried multiple sensors.
- Slim Strip: Although it was thin enough to mount behind the latch, it was too long, so it had to be at an odd angle, which made it look odd and made it difficult to align with the magnet in the latch.
- Xfinity XHS2-TY sensor. This was not thin enough to fit behind the latch, and barely small enough to fit between the latch and the frame, which is not the ideal location as it got knocked off a few times by being pushed sideways while the latch was locked/unlocked.
- Aqara door & window sensor. This is thicker than the Xfinity, but narrower, so I though it might work, and it does, sort of. But it still must be installed between the latch and frame, and it got knocked off when the latch was locked/unlocked.
- Zooz ZSE-41. At only 0.3" thick, this is the thinnest open/close sensor (other than the slim strip). It has a 0.25" range between the sensor and magnet, and per @danabw 's test posted above, works with the magnet in front of the sensor, which is just right. By putting the sensor between the door and the back of the latch, people can put their fingers against the sensor and push the sensor toward the door while locking/unlocking the latch.
3 Likes
Booyah! I've been there before w/my own projects so I know how good the feeling when you get to victory. 
Really nice that you have a hollow spot for the magnets on the latch, that's an option that my latch style didn't afford.
If you have time be fun to see some pics of the setup.
2 Likes
@calinatl Congratulations on your success! As a fellow Pella sliding door owner, I found your project fascinating. Like @danabw, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share some pictures of your work. This would be especially helpful for me, as I am a visual learner.
4 Likes
I would also like to see pics if you are willing to share.
2 Likes
@PunchCardPgmr @woodsby @DGBQ @danabw
Below are some pics. I have two of these sliders; one is a single door that closes against a frame, the other is a double door that closes against the other door, but only the main section has a lock.
-
2x door slider when closed & locked with the Zooz sensor.
-
Pella lock schematic with the thumbturn circled red. If you take the lock apart, the back side of the thumbturn is hollow:
-
Magnets purchased from the ubiquitos online retailer
Niuknow 30 Pack Strong Heavy Duty Magnets Bar, 20x5x2mm Small Rare Earth Magnets, Mini Neodymium Magnets Strip, for Craft, Fridge, Science, DIY and Tool Storage: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific -
I inserted two magnets into the hollow back side of the thumbturn near the tip of the thumbturn, and secured them with the Loctite Fun Tak putty recommended by @LosinIt in another thread.
-
After reassembling the Pella lock, I attempted a Sensative Slim Strip, but it is too long...the specs state the magnet must be less than 10 mm from the flat end when closed, and more than 30 mm from the flat end when open...
-
Then I tried an Aqara, which is narrow enough to fit between the latch and the door frame, which you see to the right (these photos are from the single slider, which closes against a frame).
Unfortunately, the Aqara results in false negatives, because the door can be latched but the sensor still registers open. The Pella latch is turned clockwise to about the 9 oclock position to unlock. This brings the magnet embedded in the latch far enough from the Aqara to register open. To lock, you move it counterclockwise; the lock engages at about the 7 oclock position, but the latch it still too far away from the Aqara sensor to register closed (latch at red arrow)
It can be further moved to the 6 oclock position, at which point it has a stop and won't move further, and to which it must be moved to trigger the closed signal on the sensor.
-
The Xfinity XHS2-TY was similar to the Aqara, except it is a wider sensor, so it barely fits between the latch and the door frame. Any slight movement of the sensor by someone closing the door would result in it hitting the frame and falling off.
-
The Zooz is so thin it fits BEHIND the latch.
This is absolutely ideal. Solves for the Aqara false negatives issue, because even when the latch is locked but left at the 7 oclock position, it registers closed. If the magets are installed at the far tip off the hollow part of the latch, they are sufficiently far away from the sensor when the latch is open to register open.
Hope this helps.
ETA:
a. I changed the thread title so anyone searching for how to track the lock status of a Pella slider has an easier time finding this thread.
b. I've ordered some brown vinyl to attempt to wrap the sensor, because as it is now, it has a HAF of "annoying." It is appreciated for detecting unlocked sliders (although when the lamp starts to blink at the goodnight routine to alert of an unlocked slider, there is annoyance that the lamp is blinking...which meets my goal to have something annoying enough to cause the slider to be locked), but during the day when the white device is noticed, I'm asked when I'm going to remove it. This device lends itself well to vinyl wrap as the cover goes completely around the base, so I have only a single, removeable piece that has no electronics in it that needs to be wrapped. Decided on wrap vs. painting, because as you can see, the location of this device means people locking /unlocking the latch will brush their knuckles up against the device, and I'm concerned paint, stain or a colored pen color would wear off.
5 Likes
That makes more sense. I like it!!!
Ahhh, i get it now.
Thanks! GREAT write up. Will be using this.
1 Like
