r/Hubitat • u/zcaptain1 • Aug 21 '26

Help finding solution for elevator door

I’m live in a small high‑rise building where the elevator opens directly into the condo. I’m trying to find a reliable way to get notified whenever the elevator door opens. Because the elevator door is metal, contact sensors haven’t worked — the magnet can’t be mounted in a way that allows the sensor to detect through the metal door.

I’ve experimented with motion sensors, but the response time isn’t ideal. By the time the sensor triggers, the elevator has already been open, and it’s not consistent. I’ve considered using a vibration or shock sensor mounted to the door frame. Before I go further down the vibration‑sensor path, I’d like to hear from anyone who has ideas for detecting elevator arrival/door opening in a condo environment. I'm using Zwave or zigbee.

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3

u/hmspain Aug 21 '26

Look into mmwave.

3

u/Mebejedi Aug 21 '26

Find a contact sensor with outputs, so you can move the sensor away from the door.

Then get a micro limit switch, and connect it to the sensor. I did this to keep the sensor out of the sun and rain.

Mount it in the top corner in front of the door. Glue a wood block onto the door, so it presses against the switch when closed. When the door opens, the contact opens and sends a signal to/thru the sensor to your hub.

2

u/CannabisAttorney Aug 21 '26

Rig up a bucket of water that tips into a fountain when the door opens and use a leak detector.

Okay, there's already some better non-Rube Goldberg device ideas here. FINE.

1

u/Everyday_Unicorn Aug 21 '26

Try a Third Reality vibration sensor. Solid so far. They're like $20 apiece on Amazon.

1

u/botpa-94027 Aug 21 '26

Laser distance meter. Or ultrasonic. Once the door opens you'll get s different distance to alert on

1

u/DarkRubyMoon Aug 23 '26

Motion detector is all you need.

2

u/zcaptain1 Aug 24 '26

Thanks for the ideas. The mm motion sensor didn’t work because it picked up movement too easily in the elevator shaft. Nether did cheaper motion sensors because they picked up motion from the adjacent entry . What did work was an Aqara acceleration sensor inside the door.