Alternative use of the Aqara leak detector.
Preface.
I am a fan of using the pure Aqara home system and therefore use all the features of this product. I don’t have any other systems at the entry level yet. I started creating a smart home back in 2019.
Topic.
The Aqara leakage sensor has a nice bonus: you can connect an extension wire to its contacts using a hex screwdriver. I used this feature for my automation.
- Using the Aqara leakage sensor as an informant about the absence (presence) of an industrial network in the house.
There are automations that require a signal when the industrial network is disconnected or restored. Such automations include turning on emergency (battery) lighting in the house. I also use this signal when the industrial power grid appears, I carry out emergency shutdown of lamps, sockets (when the industrial power grid is restored in the middle of the night and turn off the lamps that were on during the outage).
Technical solution.
I have an electric boiler (3 phases) in which a 220 volt relay is used to control the quality of the voltage. I used the unused dry contacts of this relay and connected the contacts of the Aqara leakage detector to it. Now, when the quality voltage disappears, I can receive a signal from the leakage sensor for automation.
The automation example consists of two parts.
A. - the first part
- The leakage signal triggers the unused channel of relay T2. This is done because the leakage sensor has only instantaneous automation (°), and therefore, for further automation of the emergency lighting, I use the signal “Relay channel 1” - On or Off because it has automation (°°).
“Industrial voltage disappeared”
IF
- There is a leak
THEN - Channel 1 (Relay T2) On
“Industrial abuse appeared”
IF
- No leakage
THEN - Off channel 1 (T2 relay)
V. Part 2
To turn on the lights, I use an Aqara T2 relay (24 volts) connected to a battery backup power supply. The LED lamps start up under the following conditions: the light in the yard is less than the set value; there is no industrial voltage; there is movement in the room where the LED lamp is located.
Note: I use the Aqara light sensor for all automations related to the On/Off of light on motion in the room. This sensor is much more accurate in showing the need for lighting automation (placed in the window to the yard). Unfortunately, light sensors placed on motion sensors do not fulfill their function for such automations.
“Turning on the lighting”
IF
- On channel T2 (industrial network control);
- Off channel T2 (LED lamp);
- Movement in the room (motion sensor P2);
- Lighting above the set point (lighting sensor T1);
THEN - On channel 2 T2 (LED lamp);
“Turning off the lighting”
IF
- No movement in the room for 5 minutes (motion sensor P2);
- On channel 2 T2 (LED lamp);
THEN - Off channel 2 T2 (LED lamp);
Conclusion.
Automation data helps me a lot in such a difficult period that Ukraine is going through now. Nowadays, industrial power supply is very unstable and can be turned off at any time. My elderly mother (82 years old) lives with me now and I am now calm that emergency lighting will always be ready for the elderly person, as well as for my whole family. I am grateful to Aqara for this opportunity to improve my life at home.
SECOND AUTOMATION USING A LEAKAGE SENSOR.
I also use a leakage sensor with extended contacts to monitor the water level in the tank.
I placed three pins (pieces of solid wire) in the tank where the drinking water for the house is pumped in, the longest one is the lower level, the middle one is the upper level, the short one is the emergency level and the common wire (which is located at the bottom of the tank).
To these pins I connected three Aqara leakage sensors and one wire from the sensors to the common wire. The signals from the leakage sensors control the Aqara T2 relay, which controls the power part of the water pump located in the yard.
“Turning on the water pump”
IF
- No water leakage (sensor on the longest pin in the tank)
THEN - On 1 channel T2 (pump);
- Delay 15 minutes;
- Off 1 channel T2 (pump);
Note: 20 minutes delay is given to protect the pump from dry running (no water in the well), full water pumping occurs in about 17 minutes)
“Turn off the water pump”
IF
- Water leakage (sensor on the middle pin in the tank)
THEN - Off 1 channel T2 (turn off the pump).
“Emergency shutdown of the pump when the water level is exceeded”
IF
- Water leakage (sensor on the shortest pin in the tank (more water than it should be))
THEN - Off 1 channel T2 (turn off the pump);
- Off automation “Turning on the pump for water injection”
Note: after an emergency, the automation is turned on manually, after the cause of the leakage is identified.
I also use this automation to top up water at night.
“Pumping at night”
IF
- 05.00
THEN - On channel 1 T2 (pump);
Conclusion: Aqara, a chic Lego construction set for adults
