DC Powered Water Leak Sensors - where to buy?

[jvm33]

I believe the Aeotec water sensor 6 can be connected to power using a USB cord (I think you need to get an optional Dock), which you then connect to a USB outlet adapter. You wouldn't want a water sensor to be plugged directly into an outlet other than through a low-voltage (e.g., USB) adapter. The Aeotec sensors are a bit pricey, so unless the location where you want to install the sensor is difficult to reach, its a lot less expensive to use battery powered sensors and they work well too.
https://www.amazon.com/Aeotec-ZW122-Z-Wave-Water-Sensor/dp/B0799KLKVC/ref=pd_lpo_60_t_0/134-6291587-9953352?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0799KLKVC&pd_rd_r=fd426c6b-55fe-4f57-87cf-28f8887adf5b&pd_rd_w=J5FGe&pd_rd_wg=OOiWV&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=KR1N7ZFPQD4M2VCNRXVV&psc=1&refRID=KR1N7ZFPQD4M2VCNRXVV

https://www.amazon.com/Aeotec-ZW160-Z-Wave-Water-Sensor/dp/B01FW2D9MG

[roberto]

@jpoeppelman1

Yes, but are these powered through DC meaning I can plug them directly into an outlet?

Sorry. I red on my phone and I've misunderstood!

[roberto]

You could use the sinope detectors and plug the sensor via minijack plug to any wall power source, if you do not trust the battery life (declared 4-10 years depending on the used gateway). This sensor has a native HE driver

Sedna DS – Smart water leak detector with sensor – 2nd gen – Zigbee — Sinopé

[JBrown]

Here is another sensor.

HS-FS100-W Z-Wave Perimeter Water Sensor – HomeSeer

[djh_wolf]

I feel like this is my standard response to a lot of things since joining here =p....

But have you considered a 12v nodemcu wifi board with konnected firmware, plus a water leak sensor? Total cost - approx £4.50.

I use loads of them. Amazing little devices.

[ritchierich]

@jvm33

I believe the Aeotec water sensor 6 can be connected to power using a USB cord (I think you need to get an optional Dock), which you then connect to a USB outlet adapter.

Correct and yes the additional dock is required. Very expensive in the end though a nice sensor.

@jpoeppelman1 if you are a tinkerer you could make your own using @ogiewon’s Hubduino libraries. I was going down this path but unfortunately there aren’t a ton of water probe sensors available that met my criteria but a 2 conductor wire could work. I started out just buying the Aeotec Water Sensor 6 usb dock as it came with the probes but they wouldn’t work with 3.3VDC voltage reliably from my ESP board. I ended up buying the Aeotec sensor since I needed a very reliable sensor for my sump pump.

As others mentioned there are “battery eliminators” available where you can turn a battery device into DC powered. I’ve made my own using a wooden dowel:

Homemade Battery Eliminators

I wanted to share this project with the community in case you have similar challenges. I do NOT however want to get into a debate on the cost of batteries vs the cost of converting sensors to batteries which has been debated several times on this community; I realize this is more expensive. But I value my personal time and this has and will save me there. Several years ago when still using the ST platform, I explained how I converted a few sensors from batteries to USB power: Make a battery …

[jpoeppelman1]

@djh_wolf

I feel like this is my standard response to a lot of things since joining here =p....

But have you considered a 12v nodemcu wifi board with konnected firmware, plus a water leak sensor? Total cost - approx £4.50.

I use loads of them. Amazing little devices.

Any pictures? How does this work?

[jpoeppelman1]

@JBrown

HomeSeer

HS-FS100-W Z-Wave Perimeter Water Sensor – HomeSeer

Z-Wave Smart Perimeter Water Leak Sensor Need to check for leaks in more than one spot? Our HS-FS100-W Z-Wave perimeter water sensor includes a 4-ft fluid sensing cable that can det

How is stability with this product?

[djh_wolf]

You buy a nodemcu....

NodeMcu ESP8266 V3 Lua CH340G I/O Breakout Expansion/Development Board Module...

And a leak sensor...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XXVFMXW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And follow the instructions here...

Flashing Konnected Firmware & Software

Resulting in this (I have a few at the moment)...

They're amazing.

[JBrown]

I bought one of those for my daughters house about a year ago, she hasn’t reported any problems.

[danabw]

Pretty sure that Dome makes a powered leak sensor as well.

[ritchierich]

@danabw

Pretty sure that Dome makes a powered leak sensor as well.

Hopefully others will have better luck with Dome leak sensors. The round probe that comes with the battery powered one died twice one me. Fortunately one while within warranty but then replacement failed. YMMV but I wouldn’t recommend them for something important. I have a water sensor within my sump bucket and test it every now and them and I became frustrated with it. Replaced it with the Aeotec.

[danabw]

Yeah, I have no experience with them at all.

Good to know, thanks!

[jpoeppelman1]

djwolf - How did you run wires to each of these room locations?

[djh_wolf]

Trunking.

[epj3]

@JBrown

Here is another sensor.

Just FWIW, the HomeSeer sensors may give constant false alarms if you live in an area with high humidity .

I think mine had a bad cable, but HomeSeer said it wasn't malfunctioning - that humidity is just too high where I live (mid-atlantic, which means it supposedly won't work in some of the largest metro areas in the US, but I digress). Ended up returning it.

[Horseflesh]

That is pretty cool. Is there an easy way to make them battery powered?

[jtmpush18]

Did you get both leads on the Aeotec to report separately?

[ritchierich]

There was something weird about the device when I first installed it. Component driver with child devices and I seem to recall maybe children didn’t update but parent did. It’s about time for me to test it again so will let you know in a few days.

[jpoeppelman1]

So, lots of good feedback, however it's still blurry to me when identifying a solid product which is powered via hard line, perhaps with battery backup. Anyone else?