Motion Sensor

Other Devices & Integrations Door Locks & Sensors
1

I would like to place a motion sensor on my washing machine so I can get a notification when it is done. I can never hear the bell go off and I would like for it to be able to sit on top the washer or dryer and send me a notice when it stops moving.

Any suggestions for the best option available?

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2

I am just a newbie as well so take this advice with a grain of salt.
So call motion detectors are actually passive infrared sensors so I don’t think that will work.

  1. What I would do is hook up a a door sensor with a aux input to a relay run off the dryer buzzer.

  2. Another option would be hook up a vibration detector like this Fast Vibration Sensor Switch (Easy to trigger) : ID 1766 : $0.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits to a mimolite input and watch for lack of activity. This option seems like it would work but you would end up with a lot of network traffic.

  3. If it is a gas dryer you could put in a Aeon Labs DSC06106-ZWUS and watch for the power drop.

  4. Other power reading modules.

3

Would a vibration sensor like this one work?
Vision Z-Wave Shock, Vibration & Glass Break Sensor ZS5101US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M0C82XI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_KfrYub0E2JWS4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M0C82XI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_KfrYub0E2JWS4

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4

I would be concerned that you’d get false positives.

That sensor is going to be a simple open/close type of sensor where it opens when it detects vibration and closes when there is none.

Think of this scenario:

  • Start washing machine… open
  • Washing machine pauses… close
  • Washing machine washes… open
  • Washing machine pauses… close
  • Washing machine goes to spin cycle… open
  • Washing machine finished… close

You’d have to account for this through timers or some sort of logical counter, etc…

I think watching for load on the circuit would be a good attempt. Either a Zwave switch that monitors load, or using a whole home energy monitor dedicated to that line.

5

use any device capable of energy metering, use pleg to send a push notification, tts, flash a light or whatever when, current watts goes above 2 in my case, then back to 2 for >5 mins.