How to report failed battery in Z-wave devices

[madcodger]

I have a Homeseer LS-100 battery-powered leak detector that I use to measure the temperature inside a generator cabinet (tells me whether it has run/started/stopped). The battery has clearly died, and did so while the gen was running for about five days during a recent outage, as the temp shows 88.7, and it's in Maine, and it's April). We're also at that property, so I know it's not running. I'll just replace the battery today, but I now wonder if there's not a better way to know whether a battery-operated z-wave device has died?

Can someone think of a way to create a program for this?

Also, I don't think most battery-operated z-wave devices respond to the daily ISY query, do they? This device has been out for days, as have a couple of leak detectors I haven't been worrying about, as we're onsite. But it would be great to know that a device was still alive, if anyone can suggest something. I'd like to monitor the temp of some freezers, and those might have temps that remain constant for days.

Finally, if anyone has good suggestions for battery-operated temperature monitoring via the ISY, I'd appreciate suggestions. Thanks.

[dbuss]

I use email and/or text notifications to alert me when the battery level reaches a certain level. Some devices have a low battery status and I do the same for these. Some devices seem to more reliable than others in reporting battery levels. Wireless tags have been very reliable for reporting temperature along with many other statuses. https://wirelesstag.net/

[GlowingHair]

I second wireless tags.

[PhanTomiZ]

Can you point me in a direction on how to integrate these tags into the ISY?

Thanks

PhanTomiZ

[KSchex]

@madcodger  I don't have any Homeseer battery devices but do have several Aeotec.  I have had to place each of them in a plastic box with C batteries because AAA don't last.  They also do not report battery low conditions well, later finding the device has been dead for days.  I have written a program for each that counts errors.  By this and text messages I can sometimes tell if one is awry.  My eventual plan is to get rid of these units and replace with something else.  As for temperature, I have found nothing ZWave that is reliable.  Tags are a good choice.  Good luck..

[dbuss]

5 hours ago, PhanTomiZ said:

Can you point me in a direction on how to integrate these tags into the ISY?

Thanks

PhanTomiZ

I use a Polisy with the Wireless Tag node server.

[madcodger]

14 hours ago, dbuss said:

I use email and/or text notifications to alert me when the battery level reaches a certain level. Some devices have a low battery status and I do the same for these. Some devices seem to more reliable than others in reporting battery levels. Wireless tags have been very reliable for reporting temperature along with many other statuses. https://wirelesstag.net/

I've found battery level reporting in Z-wave devices to be horrible. I just replaced two batteries and they're still showing the old levels. And 60% of my functioning battery devices aren't showing any battery value at all.

I think I've been living under a rock, as I did not know about wireless tags. Looks fantastic! I see that Jimbo wrote a nodeserver, and has a purchase link, so will buy some through that tomorrow. Thanks for the tip!