+29 votes
by (1.6k points)
What is the most reliable/cheapest contact sensor you guys have? I’m looking at the Wyze contact sensors. 4 for $20.  
What is the most reliable/cheapest contact sensor you guys have?

15 Answers

+31 votes
by (2.1k points)
 
Best answer
I've been using wyze sense contact and motion sensors. Playing withbthem and iftt right now and it's been working very well so far. Going to use we core to automate lights soon. I think it's my new go to for motion and probably contact sensors.  
by (1.8k points)
@olsen60131 Caffarel we have a surplus store where I live that sells returns and damaged items from Home Depot. I picked up three of the kits, so 3 cameras, 3 motions, and 6contacts for 10 bucks. I think I'm up to like 9 cameras now and everything has worked perfectly.  
by (2.1k points)
@see80 that's a steal! I've got tinycam running 5 cams and action tiles doing pretty well with them too.  
by (1.8k points)
@olsen60131 Caffarel I need to mess around with tiny cam again soon. I currently have two cameras displaying to action tiles but when I tried to add more to tiny cam I started having some strange issues. The cameras would keep disconnecting and I couldn't even see them in the wyze app. I finally deleted them off and just use the app to view them. Did you reflash the cameras by any to work with rtsp
by (2.1k points)
@see80 no I left them stock without rtsp. One tip I learned was that the order you put devices in Wyze app matters. The order in the wyze app becomes the channel on your tinycam integration. You have to have your cameras first before other wyze devices.  
by (1.8k points)
@olsen60131 Caffarel and the issues all started when I added the other devices. So thank you! I will give it another try tomorrow
+21 votes
by (6.4k points)
Ecolink are absolutely the most reliable in my opinion. Batteries seem to last forever as mine have been going years at 100% and never have had any connection issues.  
by (2.1k points)
@subtreasury70 I agree. I just picked a couple of these up and they are awesome. They only do contact (not anything extra like temperature) but they do what they are supposed to really well. I haven't been able to test battery life but from the reviews it's supposed to be amazing. The main reason why I got them
+25 votes
by (21.2k points)
Wyze doesn't work with SmartThings (yet).  
by (1.6k points)
@crabstick4604 Dang! I liked the $5 each price tag
by (290 points)
They work via IFTTT integration and virtual devices in ST. It can be a pain but it works. Online integration so the trigger takes 2-5 seconds to work its way through.  
by (21.2k points)
IFTTT is ridiculously slow. You'd be across the room by the time the lights turned on from a motion event.  
by (2.1k points)
@crabstick4604 agreed. Don't rely on IFTTT. I have never had good luck trying to use it and in all reality it is pretty crappy for anything home automation related, especially if you need quick response and good reliability
+12 votes
by (4.3k points)
Ecolink was very reliable.  
+28 votes
by (14.6k points)
I definitely would not try to use WYZE sensors. You want to stay away from Wi-Fi devices as much as possible. I have several of the SmartThings multi-sensors. There are several good ones. Stay away from the cheap stuff.  
by (6.4k points)
@lixivium3 Wyze are zigbee. But they have a custom profile so not compatible with SmartThings
by (14.6k points)
@raddi Yes I added the Wi-Fi comment but didn’t make it clear it wasn’t related to Wyze. Thx
by (21.2k points)
@raddi Wyze sensors aren’t zigbee. They are 900 MHz with a bridge to the cameras WiFi connection.  
by (720 points)
@lixivium3 why stay away from WiFi?  
by (14.6k points)
@olsen60131 Wi-Fi devices often depend on an internet connection. Many routers limit the number of devices which can be problematic. Zigbee and Zwave are separate networks that run locally. The AC powered ones act as repeaters to build a stronger faster network. Always choose Zwave or Zigbee over Wi-Fi
by (720 points)
@lixivium3 but if they don’t need an internet connection, and your router doesn’t limit them. then are they ok? At the end of the day, they’re just a device reporting to a “hub” just like wave or zigbee no?  
by (14.6k points)
@olsen60131 SmartThings supports very few Wi-Fi devices. No they don’t work the same as Zwave and Zigbee. Most depend on a cloud to cloud connection. Examples of ST Wi-Fi include Ring, Rachio, Alexa, Bond Home , Ecobee, MyQ. You will regret building your home automation with Wi-Fi switches , plugs , bulbs
by (720 points)
@lixivium3 true. I actually had to look up and see what group I was in. my smart home “core” is home assistant, SmartThings is just the legacy part of my smart home. There are plenty of smart wi-fi devices that don’t require cloud connections. but yes, not supported by SmartThings.  
+24 votes
by (6.4k points)
Visonic MCT-340. Can usually get them for $15. Sometimes on sale for $10.  
+25 votes
by (1.8k points)
I am using wyze contacts on a few random doors (theater closet, attic hatches, and dog food container). I am using IFTTT to control some simulated contacts so that I can do automations. It works well for us, but all of our other sensors in the house are actual zigbee contacts and would definitely recommend them over the wyze contacts. I have about a second and a half delay with the wyze contacts going through the cloud.  
+24 votes
by (460 points)
I use wyze sensors , and you could make smart buttons and connect with ifttt
+16 votes
by (490 points)
Very unreliable the wyze sensors are
+31 votes
by (1.6k points)
Looking at reviews on these. It seems like Ecolink is the way to go. But of course you guys had to pick the most expensive one.  
by (3.5k points)
@shrewish4338 my exolinks work awesome. And barely use any batteries. They are reliable as all can be.  
+17 votes
by (1.9k points)
Ive got dome sensors and they work pretty well
+26 votes
by (470 points)
I have gocontrol sensors and love mine
+25 votes
by (2k points)
I use sengled. They aren't perfect but they are good enough for the price!  
+20 votes
by (640 points)
Aqara works and can be bought around 10 bucks
by (120 points)
@route3 do you need the Aqara hub or do they pair directly with ST?  
by (640 points)
@raddi Peden need to add aqara door sensor device handler to ST and afterwards it connects. I have tested it myself this week.  
by (120 points)
@route3 perfect needing you replace a few sensors so looks like I’ll be getting some Aqara ones
by (1.2k points)
Do some reading first. They have their quirks, they work and they are cheap. For the hassle/frustration they can cause over time, sometimes worth spending a little more up front.  
+17 votes
by (7.7k points)
You didn’t specify it had to be wireless. Reed switches and magnets are the cheapest and most reliable. Throw in a Konnected board and away you go!  
by (6.4k points)
@dye it's not the cheapest once you throwing in the cost of wiring (and time to run the wires) and the Connected board
by (7.7k points)
@raddi a Konnected board is about the same price as one wireless sensor! In my case I already had the wiring in place, but even if I didn’t I would run wires if it was feasible. I have about 30 contact sensors here, much more economical and much more reliable than wireless.  
by (6.4k points)
The Konnected board is $89 and only has 6 zones. I've got 18 contact sensors. It would be $270, just for the boards. which is more than I paid for the sensors with no need to bother with pulling wires through my walls.  
by (7.7k points)
@raddi good for you! I just replaced 24 sensors for less than $50. I use 2 Konnected boards.  
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