Update on experiences, research from many forums, and many direct conversations with Aeotec on this Sensor.
Short Version:
Recommended Buy: NO
I cannot recommend this sensor unless you are ready and able to run a USB power cable to the location.
General Issues:
Documentation that is include with the sensor, and the ones downloadable are VERY incorrect and incomplete. They have VERY wrong values for the Parameter settings and you’d not be able to figure it out on your own. And the way the docs explain how things work is also VERY wrong. I explain (the short version) below how it really works.
Problems and Product Shortcomings when on Battery power:
Motion is the only sensor that reports quickly / instantly
All non-motion sensors report only when the unit is Awake. The shorted time you can set Wake Interval to is 240 (seconds). I have done this and killed 4 batteries… batteries only last 2 weeks, per set of 2, when using 240 seconds. They recommend leaving the default Wake to 3600 (12minutes)
UV sensor does not seem to report, ever, no matter what
My last communication with Aeotec was that he’d let me know if he hears back from Engineering to see if they can ‘fix’ this in firmware and allow the non-motion sensors to report based on a Parameter setting even when on Battery.
Unless you are OK with Temperature, Humidity, and LUX reporting only every 12 minutes (and not having UV at all)… which makes the values useless for most automation tasks, then this sensor is mainly just an expensive motion sensor and I recommend buying the Monoprice motion sensor as they are less than half the cost.
Will it work with Vera3? It claims it needs a Hub that supports the Gen5 (Zwave 500 chip) to get access to all features.
“You need a Z-Wave gateway which operates with the 500 series chip products to take full advantage of the device. Please consult the manufacturer of your Z-Wave hub to make sure it supports all MultiSensor 6 features”
[quote=“pascalw, post:8, topic:187238”]Will it work with Vera3? It claims it needs a Hub that supports the Gen5 (Zwave 500 chip) to get access to all features.
“You need a Z-Wave gateway which operates with the 500 series chip products to take full advantage of the device. Please consult the manufacturer of your Z-Wave hub to make sure it supports all MultiSensor 6 features”
Usually they are backwards compatible to a certain extent. Since you are asking about a device that is not even out yet. None of us even know if it will work with vera when it’s released. Recent z-wave plus or gen 5 devices have been having problems and vera has had to release fixes to make them work properly. So you safe bet is to let it get released and have people try it out. At this point no one knows how it works with anything since it doesn’t exist in the wild yet.
Anyone tried one, or know if Vera UI5 will actually support all the functions properly?[/quote]
I received my new MultiSensor 6 today, but it installaed as a GenericIO device. To get it working, I did the following with my VeraLite running UI5 Ver-1.5.672.
[quote=“ZW-Tom”][quote=“Aaron, post:1, topic:187238”]Looks like this thing does all sorts of stuff… http://aeotec.com/z-wave-sensor
Anyone tried one, or know if Vera UI5 will actually support all the functions properly?[/quote]
I received my new MultiSensor 6 today, but it installaed as a GenericIO device. To get it working, I did the following with my VeraLite running UI5 Ver-1.5.672.
[quote=“Aaron, post:12, topic:187238”][quote=“ZW-Tom”][quote=“Aaron, post:1, topic:187238”]Looks like this thing does all sorts of stuff… http://aeotec.com/z-wave-sensor
Anyone tried one, or know if Vera UI5 will actually support all the functions properly?[/quote]
I received my new MultiSensor 6 today, but it installaed as a GenericIO device. To get it working, I did the following with my VeraLite running UI5 Ver-1.5.672.
Functions include Temperature, Humidity, Light, Motion and one called Sensor. The one called Sensor does not display any level. Not sure if it is vibration or UV.
I also installed it on my VeraEdge and it did the same thing, installed as GenericIO device.
Hey Tom, that worked for me following your instructions. Still trying to figure out how to get the UV sensor working, I am thinking the device file is the wrong type but not sure if there is a UV device file.
[quote=“ZW-Tom, post:11, topic:187238”][quote=“Aaron, post:1, topic:187238”]Looks like this thing does all sorts of stuff… http://aeotec.com/z-wave-sensor
Anyone tried one, or know if Vera UI5 will actually support all the functions properly?[/quote]
I received my new MultiSensor 6 today, but it installaed as a GenericIO device. To get it working, I did the following with my VeraLite running UI5 Ver-1.5.672.
[quote=“mvader, post:15, topic:187238”][quote=“ZW-Tom, post:11, topic:187238”][quote=“Aaron, post:1, topic:187238”]Looks like this thing does all sorts of stuff… http://aeotec.com/z-wave-sensor
Anyone tried one, or know if Vera UI5 will actually support all the functions properly?[/quote]
I received my new MultiSensor 6 today, but it installaed as a GenericIO device. To get it working, I did the following with my VeraLite running UI5 Ver-1.5.672.
If Vera decides to support this MultiSensor (Or any new device for that matter), does UI5 get the upgrade or will only newer versions of UI7 be supported?
Haven’t been around long enough to know if UI updates include zwave updates or if its a separate thing.
[quote=“aurora912, post:18, topic:187238”]If Vera decides to support this MultiSensor (Or any new device for that matter), does UI5 get the upgrade or will only newer versions of UI7 be supported?
Haven’t been around long enough to know if UI updates include zwave updates or if its a separate thing.[/quote]
pretty sure they are supporting UI5 anymore… they like to support UI7… the most recent, most buggy (by a mile), worst version.
[quote=“Aaron, post:19, topic:187238”][quote=“aurora912, post:18, topic:187238”]If Vera decides to support this MultiSensor (Or any new device for that matter), does UI5 get the upgrade or will only newer versions of UI7 be supported?
Haven’t been around long enough to know if UI updates include zwave updates or if its a separate thing.[/quote]
pretty sure they are supporting UI5 anymore… they like to support UI7… the most recent, most buggy (by a mile), worst version.[/quote]
Yup, definitely sure it’ll be UI7 and higher only. UI5’s days are numbered. Ultimately we’ll have to decide on upgrading firmware or controller. Not looking forward to that day.