Per your interest in a DIY solution, here's links on using the contact sensors.
Just bought some of the new SmartThings multi sensors on sale, so I thought I'd share how to open them and hack them to be dry contact sensors.
You can probably use thicker wire than I did, but it might be very difficult to work with and not get any loose strands contacting other points. Plus routing it under the board and out the top would almost be out of the question if you use wire that is too thick. I use wire-wrapping wire that comes in a dispenser with a cutter and insulation stripper bu…
After looking, unsuccessfully, for an off-the-shelf Zigbee device that would sense and report the state of mechanical contacts---relay contacts, simple pushbuttons, etc. I decided to make my own from a Visonic MCT-340 E. It's a "supported,'" relatively low cost magnet sensor used for doors, windows and the like. 'Turns out it is also quite easy to hack. (See photos.)
[sensor%20hack%20small]
[sensor%20hack%20PCB%20Small]
Remove the battery cover.
Pry off the rest of the rear cover. (Use a …
Going on threads showing hacks of other contact sensors such as:
[Updated with a warning] Hack a Samsung SmartThings Multi Sensor V5
I put together the following components in order to get a notification of when my chest freezer has exceeded 15F which is far above the setting range I see of roughly -5F to +5F.
Xfinity XHS2-UE contact & temp sensor (selected for price and battery life from Ebay) Auto paired as a Generic Zigbee Moisture Sensor, had to force it to Generic Zigbee Contact Sensor …
There are other such threads in the Forum. I personally like the option of soldering to the magnetic reed switch ends...easier safer target. (One project I pulled switch out...don't bother.)
1 Like
