3 in 1 Door/Window sensor

[wobbler 0]

I have two 3 in 1 Window/Door sensors. One of them is wired to a switch rather than using the magnet.

The switch is actually a rain sensor. When it gets wet it closes the circuit, when it dries out it opens the circuit.

The sensor is configured to be 'normally open'. It works fine when the switch closes (it rains), however about half the time it appears to get stuck in the tripped position. If I wave the magnet near it then it will clear, but it gets stuck again at some later point.

Anyone have any ideas what could be causing this? Could it be that the rain sensnor drying out slowly does not cause enough of a step change in the condition to 'untrip' the sensor?

[murnko 0]

wobbler,

Check if magnet doesn't interfere with that DW Sensor. Remember that You can use DW sensor only in one configuration with magnet or switch as they are connected. Watch the output of Your rain sensor with multimeter to check if it works properly.

You can also try changing parameter 3 (Input Type).

If it doesn't work it may be better to use UBS instead, it is more proper solution for such tasks than DW sensor.

Regards

[wobbler 0]

wobbler,

Check if magnet doesn't interfere with that DW Sensor. Remember that You can use DW sensor only in one configuration with magnet or switch as they are connected. Watch the output of Your rain sensor with multimeter to check if it works properly.

You can also try changing parameter 3 (Input Type).

If it doesn't work it may be better to use UBS instead, it is more proper solution for such tasks than DW sensor.

Regards

The magnet is definitely not interfering with the sensor. I keep it completely separate. I understand that you can not use the sensor for both a door sensor and a switch. I only want to use it for a switch.

I will get a multimeter out and check that there is no contamination which could be causing the rain sensor to be closed when it is dry. The rain sensor is not new, it is 2 years old and was previously used with the old window controller. It didn't display this behaviour before installing the Fibaro sensor, however it is possible that it has degraded in some way at the same time as the change over.

I have parameter 3 set to 1, which is normally open. I do not really know what is meant by monostable or bistable. I don't think they apply in this situation, however I am prepared to be wrong if they do!

Thanks

[murnko 0]

wobbler,

Monostable means that once pressed button always comes back to previous position after You unpress it (eg. door bell).

Bistable means that it switches between states after being pressed every time ( eg. light).

In that case you can also try monostable option.

Regards

[wobbler 0]

I guess it would be like a doorbell that is pressed for 4 months solidly during the winter in the UK!

I will try it. It is difficult to replicate. When I use the magnet to simulate the rain sensor closing the circuit and releasing it again it works everytime. It must be something to do with the rain sensor.

The rain sensor is basically a circuit board with two tracks which spiral around the board. When a drop of rain gets on it the tracks are connected together and the circuit is completed. When it dries out the tracks are no longer connected and the circuit is open. The operation is pretty well the same as a door being open sometimes and closed sometimes. which is why I thought the window/door sensor would be suitable for it.