My ZSE18 Motion Sensor is Not Reporting Reliably To My Hub

Are you experiencing issues with your ZSE18 Motion sensor despite successfully installing and linking it to your hub? Do you find that it's consistently displaying incorrect status readings, such as being stuck on motion or no motion, or perhaps failing to generate reports altogether? Check out the troubleshooting steps below!

Check The LED Response

We recommend starting here, as this simple check will confirm if the sensor is detecting motion physically, and rule out any hardware issues with the sensor itself. You can test this by simply observing if the LED indicator on the sensor responds to the presence of motion. The LED is set to blink on motion by default; however, if you have changed this in the Advanced Settings, you'll need to enable the LED on motion for testing purposes and manually wake the sensor to receive the change (if on battery power).

If the LED is responding as expected, continue the troubleshooting steps below to check any other potential issues. If you do not get an LED response to motion after verifying the LED is programmed to blink on motion, please try a fresh battery in the unit (see the Battery section below for recommended brands).

Inclusion Location

Where were you when you first included the sensor to the Z-Wave hub? When building your mesh, you want to start by including the mains powered devices (non-battery) that will be located closest to the hub first, then building outward as you include devices.

This allows the hub to utilize the necessary repeaters to reach the devices on the outside of the mesh network.
A Z-Wave repeating device is any mains-powered (non-battery) device, such as any of our Z-Wave switches, Z-Wave plugs, or dedicated Z-Wave range extenders or repeaters like the ZAC38 Range Extender.
You also want to ensure you give your Z-Wave mesh time to establish itself before automating your Z-Wave devices. It may take several hours for your Z-Wave mesh to automatically find the optimal routing.
If you add devices near the hub, then move them to their final location, you may experience routing issues down the road; therefore it is preferable to join your devices in their intended permanent location.
- When you include a Z-Wave device while near the hub, the hub devises a direct line of communication with the device. This means that when you relocate the battery powered units to the target installation location, the hub has already established the route and ignores any potential repeaters that may be needed when the device is in the installation location
If you were not at the installation location when including the device, you'll want to exclude it and re-include it from the target location to ensure optimum routing.

Check the Distance to the Hub

If you've confirmed that the sensor is properly detecting motion via the LED indicator and that the sensor was properly included from the target installation location, the next thing you'll want to check is the distance to the hub and repeaters.

How far is the sensor from the hub and the nearest non-battery powered Z-Wave device?
- The ZSE18 500 series has a Z-Wave range of up to 100ft line of sight, while the 800 series has a Z-Wave range of 150ft line of sight. Please keep in mind that this Z-Wave range is line-of-sight, which means there would be no wall or obstructions and the hub would be at the same elevation as the sensor (not on a different floor of the home).
- If your sensor is not line of sight or is close to or farther than the rated distance, you'll need Z-Wave repeaters between the sensor and the hub.
  - Remember, if you add a repeating device between the sensor and the hub, it is recommended to exclude the ZSE18 sensor and re-include it from the target location, so the hub can then utilize the new repeater int the communication route.
  - If your hub provides the option, you can also heal the network (also called network repair, rebuild routes, or Z-Wave repair, depending on your hub interface). Some hubs, like the Z-Box, optimize routing frequently, updating the mesh routes to the best available. Remember to manually wake all battery powered devices to update the route.

Check for Interference

While the ZSE18 boasts a range of 100-150 feet in a clear line of sight (dependent on your Z-Wave chip model), various forms of interference, such as dense walls, bulky furniture, and metallic objects, can diminish this distance. It's worth noting that household appliances like cordless phones, older baby monitors, and weather stations can also contribute to radio interference, a factor often overlooked.

Ultimately, the effective range is influenced by the layout of your residence and the robustness of your mesh network. To mitigate interference, follow the same steps outlined earlier for adding Z-Wave repeaters. Additionally, consider adjusting the sensor's position or angle to optimize signal reception.

Battery

If you've checked the LED response and ruled out any range or interference issues, check your battery if you're running the sensor on battery power.

3.2V - 3V is a full battery (100%) and the Z-Wave chip manufacturer requires all Z-Wave devices to report low battery at 2.6V.
- The ZSE18 Motion sensor is powered by a single CR123A battery, and we recommend using Energizer, Panasonic, or Maxell brand batteries which are confirmed to work well in the sensors.
- Rechargeable batteries are not recommended, as these usually decrease in max voltage with time, so you may see a shorter battery life or a "fully charged" battery not working in the sensor.
- Additionally, never power your ZSE18 sensor by battery and USB at the same time; this may damage the device so that it will not work on battery power going forward.

Temperature

The ZSE18 is rated for indoor use only, and the operating temperature of the sensor is from 32° – 104° F. You'll want to ensure the temperatures do not drop below 32°F, as while CR123A batteries can technically operate down to -22F, cold temperatures reduce ion mobility, increasing the batteries' internal resistance and dropping the output voltage. No energy storage is lost, it's just that the energy doesn't get to the device, it dissipates internally. So in cold weather it may stop responding, but once it warms up, it should still operate and respond. The sensor needs a substantial amount of Voltage (2.6) from the battery to sustain the Z-Wave chip and report to the hub. When that energy is dissipated due to the cold, you get a loss of function until the battery is warmed. You may experience reporting issues if the sensor operates in extreme temperatures close to the edge of the rated low of 32° F and the rated high of 104° F for prolonged periods of time. Keep in mind that climate conditions affect all electronic devices and especially battery-powered products so it's best to avoid exposing your electronics to direct sunlight and keep them in a shaded spot protected from extreme heat or cold.

If you've tried all of the troubleshooting steps above but you are still having reporting issues, please reach out to our team for assistance and include the details from the troubleshooting steps you've attempted above for the most expedient resolution.