Zwave rain sensor?

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1

I searched old posts, there doesn't seem to be any good zwave rain sensors.

Most i seen are ones where I have to wire it up to its own hub.

Can these be used for rain detection?

https://www.smarthome.com.au/aeotec-z-wave-water-sensor-6.html
https://www.smarthome.com.au/fibaro-z-wave-flood-sensor.html

It seems to pick up small amounts of water. So should be sensitive enough?

Cheers

2

Rainwater is likely to cause a lot of corrosion to a standard leak sensor. And they aren't really designed to be wet "often".

If I were doing it, I'd use a sprinkler/irrigation system type rain sensor. Note that all the ones I've used in the past suck after a few years (the sun bakes them, they get clogged and start sticking, etc) but if you have relatively easy access to it they're not horrible. Wire it up to a z-wave contact/door sensor with support for dry contacts to interface it to the rest of your HA.

https://www.rainbird.com/products/rsd-series-rain-shut

3

so that rainbird one you've used in past?

would need every 6 months declog etc?

4

We have used the rainbird sensors.

Normally we get 2-3 seasons from one before it gets clogged. It depends on how many trees you have around, etc. They get brittle due to sun too. They're decent sensors for the money.

5

so means have to buy new one after 3 seasons?

or just unclog and it'll work for few years?

The shell getting brittle under sun shouldn't be a problem. I have a area that will catch rain but has no sun.