Sensative Z-Wave Plus Ultra Thin Door/Window Contact Sensor Strips Guard, Good for Outdoor Installation

When I first set up my smart home, the only sensors I could find were the clunky white ones that stick out like a sore thumb. This sensor is exactly what I had been wanting! It works great so I wanted to share my experience.The packaging feels significant. It is thicker cardboard and comes with very well written instructions.There were two magnets on the back and no buttons... so I figured I would read the directions before setting it up. To get it in to pairing mode, you just remove the two magnets that are taped to the sensor and it automatically goes in to pairing mode. I have never used another device that worked this way and it worked well! There is a tiny LED light on the front of the sensor, in the middle of the star looking symbol, that is used as an indicator.I ended up installing the sensor bar on the top of my door with the tiny square magnet stuck on the trim. I am so happy I don't have a big white box sticking off the front door and trim anymore and my wife is happy now, so... happy life. The sensor is now invisible to me and my guests and I'm really happy about that!I use this sensor several different ways with my Smartthings hub. This sensor will automatically turn on my lights over my front door when it is opened, I can also arm my Smartthings alarm so if this sensor is opened while I'm gone it activated a siren, turns on every light in my house and alerts my phone.As far as the installation instructions, they were very detailed and encouraged very careful planning because the sensor components are pretty small and require pretty exact placement. I am not a careful planner, so I kind of winged it and tested it and it worked great for me! Line up the star symbol on the metal magnet with the star on the front of the sensor bar so it properly detects open/closed status. The magnet must be within 10mm for this sensor to work. The overall height of the sensor is about two credit cards stacked on top of each other, so check that you have enough clearance on your door! Here are the exact dimension of the product: 7.7"L x 0.6"W x 0.12"H magnet: 1.2"L x 0.43"W x 0.04"HIf you need an invisible sensor on your door or window, this is the one to get! I'm very happy with it! check out the before and after pictures!

Original review (5/2018) This thing is rock solid. Paired very easily to my smartthings hub (others complained about having issues getting it paired but it worked perfectly for me, just as the instructions indicated).My only fear with this is the battery life, but I absolutely love that it is completely hidden. I mounted mine to the top of my door and it's completely invisible but works flawlessly. I will update in the future when my battery reads less than 100%. I really wish they used a small circular, but replaceable battery, as these devices are not cheap.Mine has never had a false "open" reading. I think those that are having those issues didn't mount it properly. The instructions are perfectly clear about how to mount it properly.Edit (1/3/19): battery is still at 100% and still works flawlessly. I’m hoping to purchase a few more when I can save up enough money.Update 10/31/21 - batteries are dead. They fail open. Waste of money as they don’t get anywhere near the 10 years they claim.

It worked while it lasted but battery only lasted 3 years. Nowhere near the 10 years claimed. All my other contact sensors are still at >90% battery life after 3 years and their batteries can be replaced for cheap. This sensor is extremely poor value for the money! Buy something else that has replaceable batteries.

These are great little things for monitoring the open/closing of a door, cabinet, or other swing opening. The only problem I have is that they aren't quite sensitive enough to account for doors warping due to weather. I have this on an interior set of french doors. It's purpose with the smartthings hub is to turn the lights on when the door is open and turn them off when the door is closed. Depending on the temperature and humidity, the doors evidently aren't close enough at times to register that the door is closed so the light won't turn off. Or if I have turned them off via the hub, it may not realize the state change and leave them turned on when I go into the room. Part of that is a smarthings issue. But increasing the sensitivity on the sensor so the magnet registered a little farther away would solve the problem.*** UPDATEI bought this in April of 2019. It's down to 1% battery in November 2021. These really need to have a rechargeable battery. What I would really like to see is a recharge circuit that lets me just set it on the device I use to charge my iphone. That way they don't have to have room to add in a usb jack. Without being able to recharge these and with a battery life no where near what is advertised, These should cost a lot less.