Would like to try to put a zwave sensor in my mailbox to alert when it has been opened/closed. It is just a cheap, standard metal mailbox. Which sensor would work best?
Tilt Sensor
Motion Sensor (Mounted at the back of the box facing the door opening)
Door/Window Sensor
I’m leaning towards a motion sensor - as it should stay dry at the back of the box, versus a door/window sensor by the opening. Also guessing the mailman would not appreciate the ‘blockage’ of a door/window sensor getting in the way.
I use a door sensor on my package drop because I wanted the best battery life, my door sensors seem to last 6-12 months longer than my motions. It has been working fine and doesn’t cause significant blockage. Just remember that you will have to change the battery eventually so make sure you mount it in a way that you can get at the battery without a hassle. I mounted mine almost too snugg to the point it was a bit of a pain to get the cover off.
Keep in mind the mailbox may block the signal. You could get a door sensor that supports an external contact, like monoprice, put a small switch in the mailbox and mount the sensor in a plastic electrical box on the post. A small contact switch won’t occlude the mailbox access, you will get a better signal and battery access should be easy.
This is right on most sensors will not work very well in a metal box, use a plastic type box mounted on the underside of the mail box, you will save yourself a lot of head aches
Yes, I failed to mention that the Door sensor I am using, is for a large square package drop type of mailbox, so I mounted the sensor on the outside tucked tight in under the slight eve on the top of the box, not on the inside (which made it hard to replace the battery I later discovered).
while not a zwave solution, i wanted to share what i did.
i have a dsc 1832 alarm system (connected to vera)
i placed a vanishing (flat) sensor on the inside of the door and the magnet on the inside of the box.
so when the door is opened, it trips the sensor and because the door is open (metal mailbox) it allows the signal out.
because it’s flat, it’s not in the way. https://www.amazon.com/SECURITY-CONTROLS-EV-DW4975-EVDW4975-Vanishing/dp/B01AQ3OC5Y
[quote=“mvader, post:6, topic:195271”]while not a zwave solution, i wanted to share what i did.
i have a dsc 1832 alarm system (connected to vera)
i placed a vanishing (flat) sensor on the inside of the door and the magnet on the inside of the box.
so when the door is opened, it trips the sensor and because the door is open (metal mailbox) it allows the signal out.
because it’s flat, it’s not in the way.
[url=https://www.amazon.com/SECURITY-CONTROLS-EV-DW4975-EVDW4975-Vanishing/dp/B01AQ3OC5Y]https://www.amazon.com/SECURITY-CONTROLS-EV-DW4975-EVDW4975-Vanishing/dp/B01AQ3OC5Y[/url][/quote]
Hi, I too have a DSC 1616 and it is included in Vera through an EVL3, which allows me to use various sensors as triggers in Vera. I have a question regarding your solution. What happens when the mailbox is opened by the mailman while Alarm is on? Wouldn’t that trigger the alarm?
/Mike
[quote=“mickesanda, post:9, topic:195271”][quote=“mvader, post:6, topic:195271”]while not a zwave solution, i wanted to share what i did.
i have a dsc 1832 alarm system (connected to vera)
i placed a vanishing (flat) sensor on the inside of the door and the magnet on the inside of the box.
so when the door is opened, it trips the sensor and because the door is open (metal mailbox) it allows the signal out.
because it’s flat, it’s not in the way.
[url=https://www.amazon.com/SECURITY-CONTROLS-EV-DW4975-EVDW4975-Vanishing/dp/B01AQ3OC5Y]https://www.amazon.com/SECURITY-CONTROLS-EV-DW4975-EVDW4975-Vanishing/dp/B01AQ3OC5Y[/url][/quote]
Hi, I too have a DSC 1616 and it is included in Vera through an EVL3, which allows me to use various sensors as triggers in Vera. I have a question regarding your solution. What happens when the mailbox is opened by the mailman while Alarm is on? Wouldn’t that trigger the alarm?
/Mike[/quote]
nope… i have that sensor “bypassed” in the DSC. so it still triggers an opening, but doesn’t set the alarm off
I have a concord 4 and at first I had my mailbox door sensor set to “chime” mode which doesn’t invoke any alarm monitoring, but I found the beep was loud enough that it could be heard by the mailman and was clearly making them concerned (my package drop is on the front porch). So I changed the sensor to a “Automation” type which means it is only used for automation in the Concord 4 system, so makes no noise and doesn’t trigger any alarms either, so doesn’t need to be bypassed or anything. Perfect!
[quote=“mickesanda, post:9, topic:195271”][quote=“mvader, post:6, topic:195271”]while not a zwave solution, i wanted to share what i did.
i have a dsc 1832 alarm system (connected to vera)
i placed a vanishing (flat) sensor on the inside of the door and the magnet on the inside of the box.
so when the door is opened, it trips the sensor and because the door is open (metal mailbox) it allows the signal out.
because it’s flat, it’s not in the way.
[url=https://www.amazon.com/SECURITY-CONTROLS-EV-DW4975-EVDW4975-Vanishing/dp/B01AQ3OC5Y]https://www.amazon.com/SECURITY-CONTROLS-EV-DW4975-EVDW4975-Vanishing/dp/B01AQ3OC5Y[/url][/quote]
Hi, I too have a DSC 1616 and it is included in Vera through an EVL3, which allows me to use various sensors as triggers in Vera. I have a question regarding your solution. What happens when the mailbox is opened by the mailman while Alarm is on? Wouldn’t that trigger the alarm?
/Mike[/quote]
Use Zone type #26 as it is there for this reason.
26 24hr Non Alarm (Automation)