Open window/door detection?

[Alan Ambrose]

Anyone found a nice solution to this, preferably hard-wired?

 

By 'nice', I mean not too ugly and a thought out install into the window/door frame...

 

I should say that I'm planning on external blinds and would like them to be smart enough to not come down when outward opening windows/doors are open.

Edited March 23 by Alan Ambrose

[elite]

Recessed magnetic contact sensor / reed switch as used in alarms - depends on your doors / windows, then just need someway to make that info available to your blinds

[-rick-]

When I looked, the window/door companies seemed to offer this as an option on their products. I'm sure vastly overpriced for what is a magnet and a reed switch (cost <50p).

 

With planning I expect you could plan to retrofit something to windows doors just after they are installed but you would be putting holes in the frame and not sure how that affects warranties, etc. (though a common window install method holes in the frame as well so can't see it being a huge deal).

 

Not got far enough to think about this in more detail.

[Spinny]

You could consider using one of these...

 

https://www.vesternet.com/collections/brands-sensative/products/z-wave-plus-sensative-strips-guard-800

 

https://sensative.com/sensors/strips-zwave/strips-guard-800/

 

It is battery powered but supposed to last years and designed to sit unobtrusively in the edge of the door/frame. Uses zwave to communicate with a smart home capable of linking to zwave devices - such as Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant or others. If using Smart Home control for the blinds they could be using the same hub and then could be nicely integrated that way.

 

When you say external blinds, do you mean shutters ?

Edited March 23 by Spinny

[Spinny]

PS There are also numerous other more chunky window/door sensors including zigbee or matter ones around (always battery but life shorter than the sensative in built battery)...

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=door+and+window+sensor&crid=1BCTQXM1HXSS4&sprefix=door+and+window+sensor%2Caps%2C310&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

[Spinny]

PPS Just remembered there is also this type if you can drill into the frame to fit it (a bit like a door latch barrel), such as wooden frames...

 

https://www.vesternet.com/collections/door/products/z-wave-plus-aeotec-recessed-door-sensor-7

[craig]

21 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

Anyone found a nice solution to this, preferably hard-wired?

 

By 'nice', I mean not too ugly and a thought out install into the window/door frame...

 

I should say that I'm planning on external blinds and would like them to be smart enough to not come down when outward opening windows/doors are open.

 

Speak to your window supplier, they should be able to factory install them as most supply reed contacts. You can have this connected to your smart home if required, wireless enabled etc. If they do not know what you are referencing, look elsewhere.

Edited March 24 by craig

[craig]

13 hours ago, -rick- said:

but you would be putting holes in the frame and not sure how that affects warranties, etc.

 

It immediately voids them, as the window has been altered. It does depend on the manufacturer, some won't mind but if it is the root cause, warranty is void.

[Alan Ambrose]

It’s struck me that you could use as IR beam thingy across the outside (or inside for inward opening).

 

Suggest that open/closed sensors (as they’re so simple) should be an option from all suppliers. Will check with the two I’m talking ro.

[-rick-]

4 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

It’s struck me that you could use as IR beam thingy across the outside (or inside for inward opening).

 

Suggest that open/closed sensors (as they’re so simple) should be an option from all suppliers. Will check with the two I’m talking ro.

 

Magnet + reed switch is by far the most reliable method. Anything involving an IR beam requires an IR emitter, which will fail in time. PIR (ie, passive) is more reliable but won't tell you a window is open, only that someone is near a window.

 

I don't know how manufacturers fit the reed switches if you order that option but it would seem feasible for them to install them in such a way that they can sense not whether the window is open or closed, but rather whether the window is closed and secure (ie the latch is engaged) or not.

[craig]

17 hours ago, -rick- said:

they can sense not whether the window is open or closed, but rather whether the window is closed and secure (ie the latch is engaged) or not

They can do both open and closed.

[-rick-]

3 hours ago, craig said:

They can do both open and closed.

 

Not sure you got what I was trying to say? Signalling open or closed would be the default assumption but I'd guess with careful placement of the the sensor you could instead have secure / not-secure. ie. to tell the difference between a window that is closed but with the handle in a position where the window could be pushed open from outside to one where the handle has latched the window securely closed (or in trickle position if it exists).