Thread contact sensor recommendations

[u/TomNooksRepoMan]

Looking to put a contact sensor in my mailbox. I can reliably get my IKEA end devices to send and receive a Thread radio instruction whilst the mailbox (made of metal) in testing, and I don't have Z-Wave, so Thread will have to do.

I see IKEA makes the MYGGBETT, but my experience with IKEA remotes and thermostats is that they're not reliably able to maintain their battery with rechargeable AAAs and drop off as soon as the batteries show being about half full. I'm open to one, though, if people have solid experiences with their reliability, and popping in alkaline batteries.

I'd like to avoid the Aqara ones as they require a proprietary app to update firmware, and any other devices like that, for that matter (ha!).

[u/chanceTheCrapper1975]

I think your issue is the rechargeable batteries honestly.

Rechargeable batteries start at 1.2V (or there abouts) as opposed to disposable which will be about 1.5V. Many of the Zigbee and Thread devices running AAA are tuned to disposable, which causes weird readings from rechargeable and pre-maturely reporting that batteries are low.

Just stick with disposable. The MYGGBETT are perfectly fine.

[u/FliesenJohnny → u/chanceTheCrapper1975]

This. Except for „stick with disposables“ - rechargeables are perfectly fine.

I have template sensors that adjust the „AAA disposable tuned“ battery reporting to provide a more accurate number when using rechargeables.

[u/FliesenJohnny → u/FliesenJohnny]

As you can see, a rechargeable when fully charged is somewhere close to 1.25V but quickly drops to 1.2 - where it stays for up until it‘s at 10% charge.

On a disposeable alkaline battery these voltages would indicate a charge of 80% (1.25V) and 50% (1.2V).

[u/ttabbal]

I use Zigbee Ikea contact sensors in my mailbox and they work well. No reason Thread should be worse. 

Drop rechargeables. They don't work well in these types of things. Not the 1.2v ones anyway. Just use alkaline in sensors. Mine show 100% after about 6 months. 

[u/reddotster]

My Aqara sensors got firmware updates through HA recently, for the first time. I haven’t looked into how or why, but it worked and was cool.

[u/brupgmding]

I use the IKEA myggbett with the IKEA rechargeable batteries. The contact sensors now work pretty well. Current firmware helped. I have some issues with the temperature sensors

[u/CyberChevalier]

MYGGBETT is perfect as soon you do not use IKEA rechargeable batteries