I’ve been diving into the world of smart water sensors lately, and it’s been quite an enlightening journey! For those of you who are also exploring this space, I wanted to share my experiences and some tips I’ve picked up along the way.
Why Water Sensors?
Water sensors are incredibly useful for home automation, especially for tasks like monitoring leaks or ensuring appliances have water before they start. For instance, I’ve been looking into using a water sensor with my smart coffee maker. The idea is simple: ensure the coffee maker doesn’t turn on without water, which could be a waste or even cause damage.
Integration with Hubitat
One of the challenges I faced was finding a water sensor that integrates seamlessly with Hubitat. After some research, I came across the Aqara Water Leak Sensor (SJCGQ11LM). It’s a great device, but integrating it required some extra steps. I stumbled upon a custom driver by @chirpy which made the process much smoother. The key was ensuring the Hubitat Package Manager was enabled before pairing the sensors. Once that was sorted, the sensors worked like a charm!
Rule Creation and Automation
Creating rules for automation was another exciting part of the process. Using Hubitat’s basic rule tool, I set up a rule where the coffee maker only turns on if the water sensor detects water. It’s a small automation, but it adds a layer of convenience and safety to my morning routine.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, I plan to expand my setup by adding repeaters to ensure consistent connectivity, especially after some remodeling. This will help in maintaining reliable communication between all my devices.
If anyone else is exploring similar setups or has questions about integrating sensors, feel free to reach out! I’d love to hear about your experiences and any tips you might have. Happy tinkering! 