Ecolink Garage Door Tilt Sensor - Incorrect Status

[rakeshg]

Hello - I was having trouble with my GoControl garage door giving me false open/close, so I added the Ecolink Tilt Sensor and moved my notifications/status to that. (This was about 9 months ago).

Today, the Ecolink is stuck on "Open" and I cannot get it to correct by opening/closing the garage door. I am using the Generic Z-Wave Contact Sensor driver and there is no "refresh" command. Battery is showing as 100%. HE hub is C-5, FW 2.2.8.147.

Any thoughts on how I can get this synced up again?

UPDATE: I went and physically knocked on the sensor and that appears to have corrected the status. Not sure if this is a permanent fix, but is there another suggested fix (or replacement)?

[csteele]

The sensor is a ball in a tube. It can get stuck. Some have replaced the tube with a glass containing mercury... that will never wear out.

The problem though is they come in a pack of 20, so you need to find 19 friends that also need an upgrade

20pcs 5MM Mercury Switch Tilt Sensor Angle Sensor Unidirectional: Amazon.com:...

[rakeshg]

@csteele

The problem though is they come in a pack of 20, so you need to find 19 friends that also need an upgrade

Well - for that price, I can just get the pack and then either hang on to them or give them to whoever has a similar problem! Any idea how complicated (aka fiddly) the process is?

[aaiyar]

@rakeshg

Well - for that price, I can just get the pack and then either hang on to them or give them to whoever has a similar problem!

PM me your address, and I'll put a couple in the mail for you.

@rakeshg

Any idea how complicated (aka fiddly) the process is?

Not difficult. I don't have photos, but if I can do it, anyone can ..... (you do need a high temp soldering gun to remove the ball switch cleanly).

[csteele]

Unsolder the two wires, insert new, solder -- done.

You can just pop the lid off as if you were changing the battery and visually confirm you have the metal tube variety:

If so, it's simple if you can solder. Not the ideal way to learn soldering though

Ecolink Garage Door Tilt Sensor (TILT-ZWAVE2.5-ECO) - Opinion

Thanks for the information. Had I known the tilt switches were an issue I would have still purchased this device. I like the hardware quality and it seems there signal and communications are fine. I've already ordered some mercury tilt switches from eBay and I have no issues replacing the device on the board. Cost of 10 switches delivered $2.01 I'll let folks know how I make out as things occur (or don't) And please do not feel bad about supplying the truth. Even if it turned out bad for…

[aaiyar]

Just had a thought. If you don't want to learn to solder, perhaps you can use the external contacts. Don't see why that wouldn't work.

[rakeshg]

@aaiyar

PM me your address,

Thanks - sent

@aaiyar

Not difficult.

@csteele

Unsolder the two wires, insert new, solder -- done.

I haven't touched a soldering iron in YEARS - and those are MANY years Luckily, I have a brother who is a tinkerer and I can ask him to do this for me!

@csteele

You can just pop the lid off as if you were changing the battery and visually confirm you have the metal tube variety:

I'm pretty sure that is what I have - I think I remember that from when I installed it.

[kahn-hubitat]

are you sure it is not a signal issue. the garage is usually a ways from the hub.. i had one that suddenly developed a signal issue.. i replaced it with the newer zwave plus model

[rakeshg]

@kahn-hubitat

are you sure it is not a signal issue. the garage is usually a ways from the hub.

I don't think it's a signal issue - the hub is in the family room next to the garage. Also, when I went and tapped on the sensor, it registered as "closed", so in all likelihood, it's the "ball" getting stuck in the sensor. Also, this is the zwave plus version.

[JohnRob]

I replaced my (still working) tilt contact with a mercury switch (from ebay).

I'll warn you, unsoldering the switch is a little difficult as it is connected to a ground plane (lots of copper) with no thermal reliefs.

One might consider cutting the mechanical sensor leads right at the body and solder the mercury switch to those leads. If you think afterwards the mercury switch is not supported well enough then a little hot melt.

[JasonJoel]

@JohnRob

One might consider cutting the mechanical sensor leads right at the body and solder the mercury switch to those leads. If you think afterwards the mercury switch is not supported well enough then a little hot melt.

Not a bad idea.

[rakeshg]

@JohnRob

I'll warn you, unsoldering the switch is a little difficult as it is connected to a ground plane (lots of copper) with no thermal reliefs.

Ouch - thanks for the heads up.