[Solved] Aeotec Door/Window Sensor 7 - Dry Contacts

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1

I just installed a Aeotec Door/Window Sensor 7 sensor on a Hubitat C-8 Pro hub. The sensor successfully paired and correctly reports closures & openings using a magnet. However, I wish to instead use its dry contact capability. There are two ways to configure that capability and I've been unsuccessful using either:

a) Tapping the device's tamper button 5x within 2 seconds. I found this surprisingly difficult to do within 2 seconds. But after many trials (hint: use a business card to quickly flick the button/lever) that I was able to successfully perform it, repeatedly. But the device never went into dry contact mode (i.e., still only activates via a magnet).

b) Install & temporarily use the HPM custom user device "Z-Wave Basic Tool" to configure the Z-Wave device's parameter settings (see Basic Z-Wave Tool). I followed this procedure to set device's dry contact parameter 1 to value 1, but the device continues to only use magnet activation. Strangely, if I use the custom device to retrieve a parameter's value, the dry contact relevant parameters 1 & 2 are never reported. Parameter 3's value is always reported instead. BTW I am able to successfully change parameter 3's value, as evidenced by its reported value.

So, I'm at a loss on how to modify parameter 1 to value 1. Any ideas?

2

I forgot to mention that, given the above described parameter reporting strangeness, I thought that maybe parameter 3 was really parameter 1. So, tried changing its value from 0 to 1. No dice -- device's dry contact capability wasn't enabled. :persevere:

3

I'm a bit confused. I looked at the manual for the Aeotec Door/Window Sensor 7, and I don't see anything about using it as a dry contact sensor. They do not point out where the terminals would be to wire it as a dry contact sensor, they do not mention anything about it, but yours has terminals for that?

What do you want to dry contact sense with these? You can just get cheap Zigbee leak sensors that are ready to go as dry contact sensors, unless you really need Zwave for some reason, and that is the whole issue why you need to use this particular sensor.

4

The Aeotec documentation describes screw terminals, but actually there are 3 circuit bosses holes you solder wires into. Here is one link to relevant aerotic documentation: Door / Window Sensor 7 Pro (ZWA012) with dry contact sensors : Aeotec Help Desk

I have only used Z-Wave devices until now (& been very pleased) and was trying to stay on that course. But maybe it is time to go zigbee!

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5

I have used several of these devices for a long time and NEVER knew they could be used as dry contacts. Hmmm....

6

This sensor doesn’t have dry contacts. Only the Aeotec Door/Window Sensor 7 Pro does. And the Pro version of the sensor has screw terminals - no soldering necessary.

The manual you linked to is specific to the Pro version.

Also, it is very simple to manually turn on dry contact mode in the Aeotec Door/Window Sensor 7 Pro. I used this sensor in my previous house.

Which one do you have?

IMG_0427
IMG_04271179Ă—2556 168 KB

or

IMG_0428
IMG_04281179Ă—2556 172 KB

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7

Door Sensor
Door Sensor1565Ă—786 203 KB

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8

Ahh - I don’t know anything about the recessed door sensors.

9

I have several of them and I love them. I mainly use them for automatic lighting, such as in closets. Yes, an expensive option for such a simple task. :slightly_smiling_face:

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10

My bad: I have the non-Pro/basic model, and I just confirmed with Aeotec support that it does not support dry contract usage. I’ll be getting the Pro verson…

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