Good rain sensor solution

[rolandtwilt]

I thought to go for safe; I bought an RFLink especially for the 868MHZ. in the list of the RFLink is the Alecto WS 3900.
This one is compatible according to the list. I tested the RFlink it works. The weather station connects to the corresponding display (base station) but still does not connect from the RFLink in Domoticz help!?

[rolandtwilt]

Has anyone ever been able to link a device to Domoticz? It is special for sunshades and uses the 433.92MHz
It is a rain, wind and light sensor

[manjh]

I just ordered this Zigbee rain sensor from Ali.

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/10050074 ... pt=glo2nld

Any experience with this?

[gizmocuz]

@manjh, this is being added to zigbee2mqtt.
Not sure if it is finished yet, but does it work?

Going to order one as well, seems quite big

https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/issues/23532

https://smarthomescene.com/reviews/tuya ... 01-review/

[manjh]

@manjh, this is being added to zigbee2mqtt.
Not sure if it is finished yet, but does it work?

Going to order one as well, seems quite big

https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/issues/23532

https://smarthomescene.com/reviews/tuya ... 01-review/

The shape might be very good for the WAF factor... she is fed up with the sensors and solar panels I have been adding to the walls of my house, this bright and happy sun might make her happy!

[HvdW]

What about
this simple rain sensor?
Seems like an acceptable solution connected to an ESP8266.
Add some MQTT code and you're there.
I can imagine that this device isn't too accurate maybe because it'll stay in a 'wet' state even if the rain stopped.
One can tilt the device a bit to let it get dry more quickly.

I think this maintaining a 'wet' state after the rain has stopped is not a real problem because the main reason to install such a device is to open the screens as soon as it starts raining.

BTW
Has anyone here on Domoticz developed an ESP8266 driven device that notices sunshine and rain to have the screens open and close automagically?

[gizmocuz]

You can connect a UV sensor to a ESP for the sunshine, use a rain sensor and control your blinds with a script
(You could also do this if you have an accurate remote weather API)

Regarding the zigbee rain detector, I have ordered one too, but I was mentioned that it probably won't last long.
The reason is oxidation or the detector strips. Probably true as everything that is outside in the open will have issues one time...
I have a modified rain gauge that I bought on AliExpress and put a zigbee door opener inside.
With this I can count the rain, but the bucket will only tip when it reaches a certain amount of rain (0.3mm), so with light rain, it will rain quite a while before it detects rain

Well fingers crossed and see how long this sunflower lasts

@manjh, hahaha, yes... I have seen some movies where people where hanging solar panels on their fences
For me this will look quite modern hahaha, but WAF would certainly NOT agree

[HvdW]

You could also do this if you have an accurate remote weather API.

I have a modified rain gauge that I bought on AliExpress and put a zigbee door opener inside.
With this I can count the rain, but the bucket will only tip when it reaches a certain amount of rain (0.3mm), so with light rain, it will rain quite a while before it detects rain

I wonder if any remote weather API is accurate unless one lives next to a weather station.
I wouldn't trust it to open and close the screens.
So in the end I guess your bucket may even be more accurate.

[solarboy]

I originally bought this also https://www.reichelt.de/de/de/regensens ... 6.html?r=1 but I live in an area with very pure rainwater so it sometimes didn't work so I upgraded to the capacative version which has been great for 2 or 3 years so far.
https://www.kemo-electronic.de/en/House ... citive.php

[Kedi]

Do you know if there is room for an esp32 inside the enclosure of the capacitive version?

[manjh]

@manjh, this is being added to zigbee2mqtt.
Not sure if it is finished yet, but does it work?

Going to order one as well, seems quite big

https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/issues/23532

https://smarthomescene.com/reviews/tuya ... 01-review/

I received the unit. Everything looks OK, nothing is damaged. But I have problems getting it to work.
On the back it shows info about how to reset. After some fiddling, I think I found the place to press the reset button. But nothing happens...
So I figured: perhaps it needs a basic level of power in the battery cell. Left the unit out in the sun for a morning, but no change.
Not sure what I will do. I can return it, or dive into the deep and open it...

update: after considering my options, I decided to pack it up and return it for a refund...

[FlyingDomotic]

This is a ZigBee sensor. To get it work, you need to install and configure a ZigBee software (Z2M, Z4D), connect a ZigBee coordinator, and pair device with coordinator. Did you made these steps ?

[solarboy]

Do you know if there is room for an esp32 inside the enclosure of the capacitive version?

Unlikely but I haven't opened it but it is quite dense and has a heating system. I have it connected by cable to a Sonoff Zigbee relay in a seperate waterproof enclosure under my roof tiles for now but I will be moving it over to Dombus as it often gives me an inverse reading with the Sonoff.

[manjh]

This is a ZigBee sensor. To get it work, you need to install and configure a ZigBee software (Z2M, Z4D), connect a ZigBee coordinator, and pair device with coordinator. Did you made these steps ?

I have already paired 34 Zigbee devices, from different sources. A good number is Tuya made.
So I think you could say I am well prepared to take a new sensor into my system.

The problem with the rain detector is the fact that I cannot even get it into pairing mode. The sticker on the back says I need to press the button, which I did (took me some time to figure out where it is). But it gave no reaction at all. I also tried to fully charge the internal battery by leaving the unit in the sun for a number of hours, but it made no difference.

[FlyingDomotic]

This is a ZigBee sensor. To get it work, you need to install and configure a ZigBee software (Z2M, Z4D), connect a ZigBee coordinator, and pair device with coordinator. Did you made these steps ?

I have already paired 34 Zigbee devices, from different sources. A good number is Tuya made.
So I think you could say I am well prepared to take a new sensor into my system.

The problem with the rain detector is the fact that I cannot even get it into pairing mode. The sticker on the back says I need to press the button, which I did (took me some time to figure out where it is). But it gave no reaction at all. I also tried to fully charge the internal battery by leaving the unit in the sun for a number of hours, but it made no difference.

Sorry if it was a stupid question, not knowing level of knowledge of people, I start with basic questions

Did you saw any messages coming from this sensor in herdsman log, if you're using Z2M?

It may perhaps not (still) being supported by Z2M. It may also be supported, but not correctly identified (this may often be the case with Tuya devices, having lot of different device ids for the same sensor)

[manjh]

This is a ZigBee sensor. To get it work, you need to install and configure a ZigBee software (Z2M, Z4D), connect a ZigBee coordinator, and pair device with coordinator. Did you made these steps ?

I have already paired 34 Zigbee devices, from different sources. A good number is Tuya made.
So I think you could say I am well prepared to take a new sensor into my system.

The problem with the rain detector is the fact that I cannot even get it into pairing mode. The sticker on the back says I need to press the button, which I did (took me some time to figure out where it is). But it gave no reaction at all. I also tried to fully charge the internal battery by leaving the unit in the sun for a number of hours, but it made no difference.

Sorry if it was a stupid question, not knowing level of knowledge of people, I start with basic questions

Did you saw any messages coming from this sensor in herdsman log, if you're using Z2M?

It may perhaps not (still) being supported by Z2M. It may also be supported, but not correctly identified (this may often be the case with Tuya devices, having lot of different device ids for the same sensor)

No problem.
As to the rest of your msg: I never got that far. In order to pair any Zigbee device with my Zigbee controller (Conbee), I wanted to reset the device and put it in pairing mode. The instructions on the back say "press the button for 5 seconds". There was no visible button, it was hidden under a protective (waterproof) plasic layer. I did figure out the location of the button, and could feel/hear a click when pressing it. But the device did not respond with a flashing LED, as it should have. I tried charging the device through it's solar panel by leaving it out in the sun for several hours. No result.
So finally I applied for a refund (Ali), got a label to return it, and shipped it. Already have the money back in my acount (kudo's, Ali!).

[FlyingDomotic]

Ok, so if you returned it, debug is closed

[manjh]

Ok, so if you returned it, debug is closed

It certainly is, but I still don't have a working solution...

[FlyingDomotic]

In fact, it depends of your needs.

As possible approach, if you need to measure quantity of water bring by rain, you may use a rain counting device, like those in weather stations. Generally, you have a top each time some water quantity felt (mine is 0,2 mm per square meter).

If you don't care about quantity, but just need to know when it rains or not, you may use a heated device (to recover something quickly when rain stops), and gold detector (to avoid oxidation).

[Cizetta]

Hello,

I have the same Zigbee sensor (a flower shaped one). It is connected to Domoticz via Z4D and it is detected as a leak sensor (basically it is). I have it for two weeks and it seems to be working fine - sets to On if there is a drop(s) on it, when gone - sets to off. The solar charging also seems to be working.