I tried to do a search on this topic but ran into problems with the search engine so please forgive me if my concerns have been addressed elsewhere. I have 3 door sensors at a remote location that will not be visited over the next 3 months. One of those batteries had drained over a very short timeframe (supplied with device) so I replaced them with lithium battetries. I have 2 devices at my home and both have quickly drained their batteries (supplied with devices). I replaced these with standard batteries. The doors at the remote location are opened once a week on average. My concern is that I will not visit the away location for a little over 3 months. If the devices don't last that long they are not of any real use to me. I do not have the option of getting power to these devices. While in linking mode I turned off the LED on all and set low battery status reporting to the longest interval allowed by the software. I am inclined to turn off battery status reporting also the next time I am there (that is another pain since you can't do this remotely using the ISY) since it is of no real value.

 

I have thermometers at both locations that constantly report internal and external temperature, time, date, and other data and their batteries do not require replacement but once a year. Seems to me that there is something wrong with my setup of the devices or with the devices themselves.

Not sure how helpful this will be since it is a negative response.

 

Installed 2 Hidden Door Sensors in April, no battery issues with supplied batteries. 

 

Are these in exterior doors where temp could be a factor?

Edited January 10, 201510 yr by LeeG

Yes, they are, Lee. That is why I switched the remote ones to lithium. Will see what happens. Glad to hear your experience has been favorable. Perhaps my problem may have been solely related to the Smarthome provided batteries. Will see.

Yes, they are, Lee. That is why I switched the remote ones to lithium. Will see what happens. Glad to hear your experience has been favorable. Perhaps my problem may have been solely related to the Smarthome provided batteries. Will see.

 

Time permitting I would see if the logs show lots of traffic being sent out. There have been instances where battery powered devices would not go back to sleep. Some resolved this issue by simply hard resetting the device which  I suppose indicates the device got locked up.

 

Where as some customers trying the above saw no differences and had to return the device for replacement. 

If you upgrade your ISY to 4.2.22 you can initiate changes to battery devices when they are activated such as with these when they are opened/closed. Note that in my testing it doesn't work with the sensor versions reporting themselves as v.43 (as seen in the Admin Console) but does with v.92.

 

I just replaced the last manufactured supplied battery in my four sensors, and it was on a door that is used maybe 8 times a month. The battery lasted about 7 months. They all now have lithium batteries in them but the oldest so far is only 3 months old so I can't comment on battery life with known good batteries.

 

I actually received a battery with a motion sensor device that wouldn't power on the device and at first thought I had a DOA sensor. Turns out it was a dead battery. So I wouldn't base anything on the included batteries.

Edited January 10, 201510 yr by shannong

Similar experience regarding supplied batteries, but only with those I received during the last 8-10 months.

Good advice all. I will upgrade to 4.2.22 ASAP and I will monitor the life of the newly installed batteries.

Bad news. I just checked and all 5 of my sensors are v.43

I would test just to make sure. It's a new feature in beta that doesn't have any instructions or documentation and I might have goofed something up. The only device directly referenced to work is the Motion Sensor and it didn't work for me, either.

Thanks, Shannong.

 On the v4.2.22 thread Jimbo confirmed he had the same problem with v.43 sensors and said UDI is looking into it.

Thanks.