What kind of sensor for my mailbox?

[Maurice Krijtenberg]

Hi all,

I'm using domoticz and 433 hardware for my smart home, and then I stumbled upon MySensors :) For my first project, I want to monitor my front door mailbox. I have a bag (SecuMax postkeeper) which collects all my mail and packages. What are your suggestions for picking a sensor. It should also be battery powered and must fit somewhere in the bag.

[hek]

Magnet reed switch mounted on the flappy thing?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10Pcs-14mm-Glass-Magnetic-Induction-Reed-Switch-MagSwitch-Normally-Open-NO-/191481783154?hash=item2c95342372:g:awQAAOSwKtlWqYzR

[mrwomble]

I'd suggest a magnetic reed switch. Have a look at the 'Door, window, button' sketch. You can trigger it on interrupt and get the node to sleep in between, so it should work well for battery.

[mfalkvidd]

Welcome to the MySensors community @Maurice-Krijtenberg
Great to have you here!

Have you looked at https://www.mysensors.org/build/binary ? A reed switch should work. At the end of the discussion thread for that example, @LastSamurai mentions a battery-powered version.

[korttoma]

I would say, get your self a Sensebender and a reed switch ;)

[Maurice Krijtenberg]

Thanks for the fast replies! The flappy thing isn't really a flappy thing :) It's a fixed panel which pushes the mail downwards into the bag and prevents burglars using a wire to open the door. The mailbox itself has brushes, so there actually no moving parts.

[loiphin]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161806126324

I am going to use these magnetic switches on my postbox lid. Haven't got them yet, so cant say if they are any good or not.