+11 votes
by (1.2k points)
Recommendations for a basic, SmartThings compatible motion sensor with good battery life? I have this one that has stellar battery life (well over a year) but they are not avail anymore for a reasonable price. I have some older SmartThings branded ones that don’t last a month. Ecolink Z-Wave PIR Motion.  
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FB1TBK...iD0Ho
Recommendations for a basic, SmartThings compatible motion sensor with good battery life?

8 Answers

+1 vote
by (520 points)
 
Best answer
Try looking for PIRZWAVE2. 5-ECO. It is the updated version of the one you linked.  
by (2.7k points)
While this looks expensive compared to the other cheaper models, this was has a claimed 5 year battery life and I can say we’ve had the older model installed for years and haven’t yet replaced the batteries. You can also set recovery times with this which you may find handy as you tune your system. Plus pet detection.  
0 votes
by (4.8k points)
The new/2018 SmartThings motion sensor works well for me, and I only recall replacing the battery in mine once since I got it shortly after its release (though I'd say the same for every generation I've owned--v1, v3, and v5; one gen I don't own had mixed reviews, and maybe you have one of those). Otherwise, since you're using Z-Wave, I assume you don't mind slightly slower motion sensors I wouldn't otherwise recommend. :) There, the Zooz ZSE18 and HomeSeer HS-MS100+ G2 have similarly long battery life for me, and both have the option for USB power if you can and would prefer that (as does the new Inovelli 4-in-1, which I hasn't been out long enough to judge battery life on yet, and the Aeon Multi 6, which is probably the only way I'd use that since mine *does* eat batteries). People also seem to like the newer Ecolink as suggested above.  
+7 votes
by (4.9k points)
What’s a reasonable price? I see the newer version is $38. I have no experience but was looking at the current ST sensor myself.  
by (1.2k points)
@apprehensible I was hoping for around the $25 mark since I only need motion but I’m not stuck on that. Speed doesn’t matter much as its primary use is to turn lights off that are routinely left on such as the master closet and pantry.  
+6 votes
by (680 points)
I have the old and new smartthings motion sensors that last plenty long. A few months + with numerous detects a day. A couple iris gen3 motion sensors as well. Good battery life
+3 votes
by (1.2k points)
The other use is that we have one in the dog food bin so we have a text that they were fed and can get alerted if they haven’t
by (4.4k points)
@stopoff hmm. My dog tells me if he doesn’t get fed. Like a lot. Not automation requires. Perhaps your dog is broken.  
by (1.2k points)
@dandiprat Our dogs tell us they haven't been fed no matter how many times you feed them ;)
by (1.2k points)
Joking aside, I had a spare motion sensor laying around so I did that as an experiment, now I love having the notice that they have ben fed and/or we missed their feeding time. Haven't had to question each other once since installing.  
+3 votes
by (3.9k points)
Cant you use a Xiaomi PIR - about $8 from AliExpress
0 votes
by (590 points)
I’ve had the 2. 5 version since July 2017 with no battery changes. Their window/door sensors needed new batteries only once since then, while my SmartThings multipurpose sensors seem to need a new one about every other day ‍♀️.  
+3 votes
by (5.2k points)
I really like NYCE, SmartThings, and the new Inovelli 4-1 sensors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFr...gvRsA
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