There are so many types of smart home sensors out there, and you’re beginning to feel overwhelmed. I’m sure of it.
As a result of my extensive market research, I’ve compiled a complete list of all of the distinct sorts.
Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.
The following is a list of many types of smart home sensors:
The following is a concise list of the many types of smart home sensors currently available:
Take a big breath before we get into the nitty-gritty of comparing and contrasting these various types of smart home sensors.
Relax.
Before purchasing a smart sensor, there is a lot to think about. But after you’ve learned the basics, I can assure you that it’s not that difficult!
The more you read this, the more questions you’ll have.
OK. You’re doing well? I’m OK, thank you. Good. Let’s go on now.
Multipurpose smart sensors vs stand-alone smart sensors
Stand-alone sensors for smart homes are available in a variety of forms. If a product just performs one of the aforementioned duties, it doesn’t make sense to purchase it.
Early on in my home automation quest, I made this error Finally, the “standalone” goods either had to be returned or I didn’t use them at all.
Most new smart home devices on the market today already have a number of these sensor functions. They may be used in a variety of ways!
The Aeotec Multisensor 6 is one of my favorite multifunctional sensors. You may use it to detect movement, temperature, humidity, light, ultraviolet light, and vibration.
You may purchase the Aeotec Multisensor 6 on Amazon if you’re interested.
However, there is a role for isolated sensors.
Before purchasing smart sensors, there are additional aspects to keep in mind.
Before going into the specific uses of each smart sensor, here are a few more considerations to keep in mind when purchasing one.
- In order to connect all of your gadgets, you’ll need a hub or a bridge. With a WiFi-only sensor and no plans to integrate it with other devices, you don’t need to acquire a Hub. You’ll also want to make sure that you have the right Hub to use with the product in most circumstances. (Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Google Home, are some instances of hubs)
- As a smart device, your gadget must be able to interact and integrate with other devices using a certain “protocol” (also known as interoperability). If you’re going to purchase a smart sensor, be sure it supports this protocol. There are many products that only identify the Hubs they are compatible with, and this information is enough to make a purchase. WiFi, Bluetooth, Z-wave and ZigBee are just a few examples of protocols.
- Range — this is normally measured in feet and is depending on what sort of smart hub/protocol you are using. There are a number of range extenders available if you need to expand the range of your sensor.
- In terms of battery life, how many years will it be before you need to replace the batteries? A WiFi-only gadget is likely to have a substantially lower battery life than a comparable device that uses Z-wave or ZigBee.
- In terms of indoor vs. outdoor usage, this is critical. In most cases, smart sensors on the market today aren’t designed for outdoor usage.. Make sure to keep an eye out for this if you’re applying for a job.
Is everything alright? Good.
There are a lot of smart home sensors on the market, and the industry as a whole is quite fragmented.
This is due to the absence of a single smart home protocol (or “standard”) via which various gadgets may interact.
There are a wide variety of protocols used by various firms, resulting in goods that cannot be used together.
Consider the points I’ve made above, and you should be alright.
Okay, now let’s go into the specifics of each smart home sensor:
1. Contact sensors
An “open” or “closed” contact sensor provides you this information in the most basic terms.
Quotations are used because as you’ll see, there are many more uses for the term “open” beyond just whether or not anything is accessible.
The majority of these sensors are made up of two parts, which are both simple to install.
During the “closed” position, the two sensor parts are close together.
There are more pieces when “opened” than when they are closed.
The sensor’s most apparent use and benefit is for home security.
If you have a door, contact sensors may be installed in two places: on the door itself, and on the door jam. This allows you to be alerted whenever a door is opened or shut.
You may utilize this information to trigger further actions depending on the open and closed state of the door whenever you get more proficient (like turning on the home lights).
Additionally, you can use these sensors to keep track of which windows are closeed and which are open around your home.
Additionally, there are a number of other uses for this technology Homeowners have been known to place a sensor on the mailbox’s door and another inside, according to a few articles I’ve read.
When the mailbox door is opened, the owner is notified that their mail has arrived.
“There’s mail for you!”
Sensors for dial-timed washers and dryers have been used by homeowners.
Instead of having to check on the laundry every 20 minutes, you can get an idea of when it’s done by putting the sensor on the dial!
2. Motion sensor.
A wide range of security applications may be achieved by using smart motion sensors to detect motion and notify homeowners while they are gone.
To activate home automations, such as turning on or off the lights when a person enters a room, sensors may be employed.
Smart home security systems often come with motion sensors, which may be used for various home automations.
Blink has a motion sensor installed inside a security camera I use on my back porch. If motion is detected after 10pm, the camera will start recording and my back deck light will be activated!
First and foremost, the goal here is to make the criminal more visible on camera, and second, to scare them sufficiently to force them to flee.
There are many more outside applications that use motion sensors to activate and deactivate lights based on the movement of people in the vicinity of your house. There are several uses for this, from a security precaution to a simple convenience.
3. Vibration sensors
Vibration sensors are often used to detect knocks on doors.
The idea is that even if a person knocks on the door, but you don’t answer it, you’ll still be notified.
As a result, I’ve seen some people place these sensors near their doorbell chime so that they’ll be alerted anytime someone rings the doorbell, even if they don’t knock.
Sensors installed on windows can inform you in the event of a break-in, as well as on doors and doorbells. This sensor, for example, would send a notification to your phone if an intruder broke a basement window.
The last option is to use them on a washing machine or dryer to signal the start and finish of cycles.
However, it’s important to read the product evaluations since not all vibration sensors are sensitive enough to detect these tiny differences.
4. Sound detectors
A variety of sound sensors are available. Some people “listen” for high-pitched, alarm-like noises when they hear them. Several people spend a significant amount of time listening for noises that fall inside specified parameters. Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about.
“High-pitched sound detection” sensors are something I’m considering purchasing and putting in my home alongside the non-smart smoke and CO detectors.
As a result of this, I won’t have to replace any of my current detectors while still being informed in the event of an emergency.
When you’re on vacation, you can rest easy knowing that your home is still standing.
Other sound sensors, on the other hand, monitor loudness levels over a predetermined length of time.
One of the most apparent uses is to identify a party. With this sensor, homeowners who rent their homes or utilize Airbnb might save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in penalties and repairs.
As a general rule, if your visitors are creating a lot of noise for a long length of time, you’ll be notified.
Before things get out of hand, you may call out to your present tenant and urge them to calm down.
In this manner, your pleasant neighbors will stay just that: friendly.
5. Water/leak sensors
In the case of a water leak, these sensors warn you to the presence of excess moisture.
Talk about saving you a lot of cash.
When it comes to basement water damage, 98 percent of the time, it’s a fact.
That’s a staggering figure.
For you and me as homeowners, this implies that water damage is not a question of if, but when.
Having a water sensor in your home is a good place to start when it comes to making smart purchases.
In addition, you may use other smart devices to “respond” to the water sensor’s alarm.
Using a water sensor, you may control a smart water valve, as well as a water pump that is hooked into a smart socket.
As a result, your water pump is activated and the water supply is switched off. The response time was rather good.
More advanced water sensors can monitor your whole home’s water use, as well as operate your irrigation system.
6. Temperature and humidity sensors
Both inside and outdoors, temperature sensors may be essential tools.
Currently, my house does not support a smart thermometer, thus I have three of them in it.
If, for example, the temperature in my basement drops below a specific level, I’ll get an alert on my phone.
In addition, if the temperature rises over a certain threshold, I get an alert. This is what my wife looks like to me
If you have dehumidifiers and humidifiers in your house, the humidity sensor might be very useful.
Humidity levels tend to be greater in the basements of most houses, where there is more moisture in the air.
As long as you have a smart humidity sensor, you may connect your dehumidifier to a smart socket and switch it on anytime the sensor detects high levels of humidity. (Some dehumidifiers include built-in “sensors,” although they are often incorrect.)”
Temperature and humidity sensors may also be used to acquire outside values.
7. Sensors for light and ultraviolet rays
In my judgment, these sensors aren’t all that helpful – or common (not a coincidence I imagine).
The sun’s UltraViolet rays are detected using UV sensors.
I’ve seen these sensors used in both home and wearable devices.
It’s not very feasible to put a UV sensor on your clothing to monitor sunshine, and how many men and women do you know who want to do this?
In the same way, the home device detects UV radiation in your immediate surroundings (wherever your smart UV sensor is placed).
There are certain advantages to these devices, but unless they’re integrated into smartwatches or other trendy wearables, I don’t expect them to take off.
8. Detectors for smoke and carbon dioxide.
When it comes to installing smart smoke/CO2 detectors, homeowners may find it difficult to justify the cost of replacing all of their current detectors.
I still believe that installing a few smart sound sensors next to your smoke/CO2 detectors would be the most cost-effective solution in this case.
The “really” smart smoke/CO2 detectors, on the other hand, offer some interesting features.
Battery life is one of the first things you’ll notice while using this app. If you’ve owned a smoke detector for any length of time, you’ve undoubtedly heard it beep because the battery was running low.
It’s a tough choice, so best of luck!
Smoke and CO2 detectors may be replaced with ease thanks to an app that lets you know when it’s time for a new one and even alerts you when it’s time to do so.
Other features include built-in speakers. At any given time, one of the devices will sound an alarm, indicating either smoke or CO2 is present, and where the issue area is located. This is a lifesaver.
While the main purpose of these devices is security, many of them can also play music around the home.
I want surround sound!
9. Radon sensors
There’s a good chance that you’ve heard about radon gas, whether you’re a homeowner or not. Radiation-free gas has no discernible odor or color, and no taste or smell.
This is going to be so much fun!
A natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks, and water results in the release of radon gas that may enter your house via foundation cracks/holes over time.
Even if you don’t have a basement, you’re still at danger for radon pollution.
What’s the big deal? There is no doubt that this gas-hole is dangerous.
During a home inspection, you have the option of doing a radon test, but many individuals do not.
Radon levels are continually fluctuating, so even individuals who have had an examination done aren’t out of the woods.
You may use this gadget to monitor radon levels throughout the year, ensuring that your house is safe at all times.
10. Sensors for air quality.
I put smart air quality sensors apart from other gas sensors because of their adaptability. There is some overlap here with several other gas sensors we’ve addressed previously.
They may also monitor a variety of other things, such as dust, poisons and nitrogen dioxide.
If you suffer from allergies or asthma, the air quality in your house may have a significant influence on your quality of life.
It’s conceivable that your house is the source of your illness – and that it will continue to do so.
These gadgets assist to keep an eye on your air quality, alerting you when it’s out of whack. You may begin fixing the problem as soon as you have the specifics of the issue in front of you.
If that wasn’t enough, they’ll work with your other smart gadgets as well.
Your smart air quality sensor has detected that your bedroom has reached a hazardous level of dust.
This alarm automatically activates your smart vacuum cleaner and sends a signal to remind you to recheck the dust levels when the vacuum completes its cleaning cycle.
It’s all right.
11. Sensors for monitoring electricity use.
Those who are fresh to the world of home automation should steer clear of electricity use sensors.
The majority of consumers are happy to go on to the next step after a simple wiring job at their home’s electrical panel.
Because of their usefulness, though,
After the sensors are fitted, you can see how much power you’re using at a very basic level. Duh.
If you want to be more energy-efficient, you may look for trends in your energy use, and then make adjustments to your habits to do so.
Alerts may be set for things like sump pumps, well pumps, flat irons, and other vital household appliances turning on or off.
Homeowners who reside in areas where their power cost is based on hourly use totals are likely to benefit most from these devices.
For example, in Arizona, many homes are charged for each hour of power consumption between 3PM and 8PM.
These households may save money if they know and then adjust their peak consumption hours.
12. Location sensors
Mobile devices are often used as smart location sensors 9 out of 10 times
Smartphones can be used to identify mobile presence in most smart hubs.
Once you have this information, you can then utilize it to activate certain home automations.
When you reach home, for example, the front door may be automatically unlocked or the front lights can be turned on.
The difficulty with this strategy is that your cell phone’s mobile presence isn’t always accurate.
If you’re in an area with poor Wi-Fi, a cloudy sky, or low battery life, you’ll get inaccurate location readings.
Standalone smart location sensors have been developed to address this issue.
Sadly, most need a smart hub for you to carry them about with you at all times.
Inconvenient, to say the least. In other cases, though, it may be worth the trade-off for the automation you’re attempting to implement.
I’ve read on pet community that some people attach these gadgets to their dog’s collar. This enables them to be alerted anytime the dog enters or exits a pre-designated location.
Summary
There are a wide variety of smart home sensors available on the market. A solid comprehension of the automations in question is required prior to making a purchase, as a consequence.
As a rule of thumb, I like to begin by imagining the automation and then move backward to discover what devices I’ll need to achieve it.
When searching for a reason to get started with smart home sensors, think of them as an insurance policy for your property.
You may possibly save hundreds of dollars in damage or theft with a little investment of $20 or less.
The best of luck and have a good time.