Any method to get vibration intensity?

#1

1) Give a description of the problem
The SmartThings multisensors also provide vibration sensing. This is useful to trigger on window breakage, but I was also hoping to use it to sense if a door is kicked in. The issue is that the sense seems binary: either active or not. Shutting the door can also trigger vibration sensing. Is there a way around this?
My only thought so far is to see if the door opens very shortly after the vibration. If there’s a way to check vibration intensity, that would be better.

2) What is the expected behaviour?
I would like the trigger to fire only on intense vibration (or at least be able to check the level of vibration).

3) What is happening/not happening?
It works. It’s just too sensitive; often triggers on door simply being shut.

**4) Post a Green Snapshot of the piston![image|45x37]

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5) Attach logs after turning logging level to Full
N/A

#2

Intensity has to be something exposed by the device handler for webcore to be able to do something with.

#3

For what it’s worth, installing the sensor on a thicker foam sticky pad helps a bit with false vibration alarms.
(also, installing it closer to the hinge helps reduce vibration intensity when closing)

Edit:
Please keep in mind that if you move the device too close to the hinge, it can negatively impact the open/close accuracy of the device. (IE: open 3 inches might register as closed) Personally, I try to never slide back more than halfway, but I do a lot of testing before I make it “permanent”.

Ballpark numbers?
A 50% adjustment (16") might drop 30% of the vibration intensity when the door closes
A real spongy foam tape might knock off another 10%

If sliding the sensor halfway does not resolve this, one solution would be to use two different devices. One optimally placed for open/close, and one optimally placed for vibration detection. Unfortunately, (unless you want ultra sensitive vibration alerts), they’re not the same location. A favorite location of mine is if the family uses wreaths or some other door decor. Often they can make for a great hiding place for a vibration sensor. (indoors or out)

If placed strategically, I have even installed a few that could detect door knocks, although I realize this is not your goal.

#4

… and thinking outside the box a bit farther…

Alternatively, you can essentially “lower” the vibration sensitivity by reversing the two pieces. (moving the vibration sensor to the door frame, and the tiny magnet to the moving door). This can reduce the vibration maybe 60% - 80%… Depending on placement, your door frame’s construction (and the rate it absorbs vibrations).

Either way, you should still get alerted if anyone (tries to) kick your door in…

With that device, the challenge really is “dampening” the vibration a bit, but not too much! Hopefully the three examples I have given are helpful to find the right level of sensitivity for your goals…

(I usually start by testing the two extremes, to better understand the scale I am working with)

And of course, we cannot forget the coders mantra:
Test, test, and then test again… LOL

Easy way to test this?

  • Pause any other pistons that are subscribed to that door.
  • Create a new (single line) piston:
    IF acceleration changes to active, Then Flash a nearby bulb

With no other pistons getting in the way, you can knock, open/close, open/slam, and kick the door… all in in under 20 seconds. This should make it easy to determine the threshold precisely where inactive changes to active. If unhappy, then adjust a bit more and test again. Once you are happy with the results, then secure the sensor more permanently, and unpause those pistons.

Oh, and pay no attention to the strange looks you will get… LOL
There will always be naysayers around… Especially around us pioneers…

#5

Very helpful. Thanks.