A good motion sensor can be the base for a great smart home experience. You can use one for everything from turning on the lights to activating a complex scene that lifts your shades and plays funky music. They’re easy to set up, and you’ll never stop finding new applications for them.
However, if you use Z wave, finding the best Z wave motion sensor is tricky, especially when you consider the number of options you have on the market. But, what is a Z wave motion sensor? To help you understand and choose, we’ll take a look at a few options, and gives you a good idea of what to look for in our buyers’ guide.
Quick Summary: Best Z Wave motion Sensor of 2019
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- Best Overall: Ecolink Z-Wave Plus Door & Window Sensor on Amazon
“Best Z wave motion sensor for doors and windows” - Best Versatility: GE Enbrighten Light Switch (1st gen) on Amazon
“Voice control with both Alexa and Google Assistant.” - Best Quality: Ecolink Z-Wave Plus Motion Detector on Amazon
“Small and inconspicuous, and with a five year battery” - Best Durability: GE Enbrighten Light Switch (Motion Switch) on Amazon
“One of the best light switches that work with Z wave.” - Also Good: Ecolink Intelligent Technology Pet Immunity Motion Detector on Amazon
- Also Good: Zooz Z-Wave Plus S2 on Amazon
- Also Good: Aeotec TriSensor
1. Ecolink Z-Wave Plus Door & Window Sensor
- 3 Years Battery Life
- Alexa and Samsung SmartThings Compatibility
Our top pick is a sensor for doors and windows. It’s made by Ecolink, and it’s pretty simple, but adds a lot of functionality. You attach the two pieces on a door or window, and the sensor gets triggered any time you open the door or window.
You have very simple installation, and it comes in white or brown to better fit your décor. Add to that Alexa and Samsung SmartThings compatibility, and 3 years of battery life, and you’ve got the best Z wave motion sensor for doors and windows.
2. GE Enbrighten Light Switch (1st gen)
- Voice Control (Alexa & Google Assistant)
If you’re only looking for a light switch that works with Z wave home automation, turn to GE and consider their Enbrighten switch. This is the basic variant, but there’s also one with a motion sensor (we’ll talk about it below), and both do a great job.
Operation is hassle free, and there’s voice control with both Alexa and Google Assistant. Setting it up is a breeze, and you can have it standalone, or connect it.
3. Ecolink Z-Wave Plus Motion Detector
- 5 Years Battery Life
- SmartThings Compatibility
We spoke about the door and window sensor, but Ecolink also have the best Z wave motion sensor out there. It’s small and inconspicuous, and with a five year battery and such a discrete design, you’ll forget it’s there, except when you need it.
It’s compatible with SmartThings, and it works with a host of Z-wave home automation systems. It also has pet detection (up to 55lbs), and installs really easily. You can have it in both automation mode, and security mode, and it’s also pretty wallet-friendly, too. An excellent choice for a basic motion detector that does things really well.
4. GE Enbrighten Light Switch (Motion Switch)
- Connects with Alexa, Google Assistant & SmartThings
The Enbrighten switch is a great smart light switch that has a built-in motion sensor (choose the Motion Switch option). It connects with Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings and other Z wave compatible smart home systems. You can customize the motion control and choose from occupancy, vacancy or manual.
There’s also the choice of using it on its own, or integrating it into a multi-switch setup if you want to go all out. With easy installation and full home coverage, the Enbrighten is one of the best light switches that work with Z wave.
5. Ecolink Intelligent Technology Pet Immunity Motion Detector
The Pet Immunity motion detector is a slightly better variant of the Z-Wave Plus, which is the best Z wave motion sensor on our list. It comes with premium components that allow it to work admirably in both security and automation mode, and installation is a piece of cake with the included brackets.
It works with most brands that work with Z-wave, and you get the same five year battery life and discrete design. Where its improved is in the pet detection system, so most pet owners should be happy this is the case. If you’ve got a pet, and the Z-Wave Plus doesn’t cut it for you, this is what you want.
6. Zooz Z-Wave Plus S2
While many use motion sensors indoors, we also thought we’d include the best Z wave motion sensor for outdoor use – the Z-Wave Plus S2. While you do need to keep it away from direct rain and sunfall, it works admirably on your porch, for example.
It’s easy to install, and it comes with an S2 security protocol that encrypts signals, making it pretty tamper proof, provided your hub supports S2. If it does, and you want a small, easy to install outdoor motion sensor, the Z-Wave Plus S2 by Zooz is your best bet.
7. Aeotec TriSensor
Aeotec TriSensor has 3 sensors that are crafted for a smart home making your home smart, responsive, and secure. It holds data for intelligent automation that is most essential for any smart home.
The 3 sensors have a size of 1.77 inches. It has a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, and a light sensor. The motion sensor’s z-wave automation detects a precise motion up to 23 feet and believed to be 40% bigger than its rival in the market nowadays. The temperature sensor lets you automate your home’s cooling and heating system. It has a real-time reading between 14~122°F with an accurate reading of ±1°C. The light sensor on the other hand automates your light system, it analyzes the brightness of your room between 0 to 30000 LUX with an accuracy of ±3%.
Aside from its high level of security, it is also easy to set up and has a flexible installation option. You can place this almost anywhere in your home, could be at the corner as a shelf, beam, or ceiling sensor.
Buyers’ guide
The first thing to note about a motion sensor is the dimensions. Having a large unsightly device will mean that you could hit it eventually, and damage it without wanting to. Then, you’ve got the detection range and angle. This is what dictates how effective the motion sensor is, and how close you have to be to it in order for it to detect motion.
A motion sensor may also come with additional sensors, such as light, temperature, and vibration. You may think you only need motion, but all of them will let you make things even easier within your smart home. Last but not least, if you’re the owner, or a potential owner of a pet, you should get a sensor that ignores pets. Having your lights turn off every time your dog walks past the sensor is a nightmare, and definitely not the most pleasant experience.
Wrapping things up
We hope to have given you a good overview of a few popular Z wave motion sensors. Along with our buyers’ guide, you’ll be able to choose the best Z wave motion sensor for you, and make your home a better place!
1. Ecolink Z-Wave Plus Door & Window Sensor
Our top pick comes courtesy of Mudder, and it’s a 9-piece kit with quality, durable tools that you’ll be able to use for a good while. There are 9 pieces, and they’re all tweezers which lets you get quite a bit of versatility. They’re all in various sizes, and are made from stainless steel.
