Understanding Contact Sensor Status in HE: A Comprehensive Guide

Hello everyone, I’ve been experimenting with creating a device to monitor power outages using the Ecolink Contact Sensor and the Zooz ZAC98 NC/NO Relay. While the setup seems straightforward, I’ve encountered an interesting behavior with the contact sensor status that I wanted to share and get some feedback on.

My Setup

I wired an external 12V plug to the NC terminals on the Zooz Relay and connected the NC contacts to the external terminals on the Ecolink Contact Sensor. The goal was to detect power outages at a single receptacle. According to the specifications, the sensor should remain closed when power is present and send an open alert during an outage. However, in my case, the sensor shows Open when the plug is connected to power and Closed when disconnected. This is the opposite of what the specs describe!

The Question

Does this inversion affect functionality? All I need is a trigger to alert me when power goes out or returns. But I’m curious if there’s any impact on battery life if the sensor is showing NC as Open. Any insights or experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Why It Matters

Understanding this behavior is crucial for reliability, especially since battery life is a key concern for remote sensors. If the sensor’s status inversion doesn’t affect performance, it might not be an issue. But if it does, I might need to adjust my wiring or look for alternative configurations.

Seeking Advice

Has anyone else encountered similar behavior with contact sensors? Are there best practices for ensuring accurate status reporting? I’m open to suggestions and would love to hear how others have tackled this or similar challenges.

Thanks in advance for your help and insights!

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