Express Controls EZ Motion PIR goes balistic..

[chilwd]

I have two Express Controls EZ Motion 3 in 1 Multisensor PIR's in my house. About three weeks ago one of those units starts going berserk with motion detection (detects motion all day long even when there's not, only switches to "off" for about 2 seconds and detects motion again). This unit is mounted outside so I figured it probably broke down with the low temperatures or something. Now tonight my other unit (which is mounted inside my house) starts doing exactly the same thing

Checked homeseer and status update for battery and light value are both still working. Also the correct values for "on" (255) and "off" (0) or still rightly configged. I did not update anything in homeseer nor made any config changes it just started doing this out of the blue. Both units or not even 1 year old yet. Anyone else having this kind of trouble with Express Controls EZ Motion PIR ? Any help would be much appreciated.

Peter

[chilwd]

Update:
Spend about 20 hours on this problem. Messed up my homeseer devices and events big time trying to find the problem. Guess what... changed the batteries, problem solved!

Lesson learned:
The battery indicator from your devices in homeseer cannot be trusted! (54% and 61% in my case)

Peter

[Bwired]

Well that is not good, new Zwave devices should not have this behaviour when battery drops below a level. It should stop working. the old X10 MS13 has a same kind of problem.

[Digit]

That's why I don't use MS13 any more.
Now, my domotica system sends me an email when the supply voltage of one of my Zigbee sensors drops below a configurable minimum value...
I just had one yesterday, telling me the Supply Voltage of my Kitchen motion sensor was below 3100 mV:

Code: Select all

Van: xxxx@hekkersnet [mailto:xxxx@hekkersnet] 
Verzonden: woensdag 2 februari 2011 0:01
Aan: blabla@hekkersnet
Onderwerp: Alert

XBR5.IS (Kitchen Radio, Supply Voltage):3093,75

So I know it will stop working soon, without traffic jam; that's how it should work!
(I still have to replace the batteries manually though...)

[Bwired]

yes and now you should also not use the EZ Motion PIR

[chilwd]

Well that is not good, new Zwave devices should not have this behaviour when battery drops below a level. It should stop working. the old X10 MS13 has a same kind of problem.

The other unit stopped working indeed, but the battery indicator in homeseer shows a 54% battery life Ah well, I guess I'll just go to our great Dutch wallmart (Vroom and Dreesmann) and purchase a sh*ttload of battery's! Now only need to make an event in homeseer to activate my special "wife-device" to change the batteries

[AshaiRey]

Have a look at Ikea.
They sell alkaline batteries for a good price

[Alexander]

If i can make a suggestion: Buy batteries which aren't drained fast. These aren't expensive (Sanyo Eneloop) : http://www.samenkopen.net/action/575523

[chilwd]

If i can make a suggestion: Buy batteries which aren't drained fast. These aren't expensive (Sanyo Eneloop) : http://www.samenkopen.net/action/575523

Never heard of eneloop batteries before, but it seems like a very logical and good alternatief to regular batteries. Tnx for the tip Alexander!

[Digit]

I use those Eneloop NiMh batts too. Low self discharge, which is important for long usage without having to recharge; 2000 mAh for the white ones.
Now Conrad also has black Eneloop "X", rated @ 2500 mAh.