How to add a motion sensor

post by qttire1 on Jun 22, 2024

just added the rachio 3 system and need to add a motion sensor to my mulch beds to stop the deer. I see other brands offer a motion sensor for their products. Does rachio offer a motion sensor or can someone tell me if there is another brand that is compatible with the rachio 3 system. I see some things online but just not sure if they will work and would love to be able to tie it into this system if possible.

Thanks

post by Thomas_Lerman on Jun 22, 2024

I use a Yard Enforcer which is a stand-alone version of what you are talking about. Rachio does not directly support that, but I know people have done this using home automation here in the forums. Will that help you?

post by qttire1 on Jun 23, 2024

Yes I use the smart things app and going to test out my ring camera to trigger the motion to turn on the zone needed.

post by tmcgahey on Jun 24, 2024

This is exactly what I used at one time when a neighbor kept letting his dog crap in my yard and not pick it up. I haven’t used it in a long time, but as long as you have Rachio connected to ST, it should work. Just set a rule within ST to run zone x when motion on Ring.

post by qttire1 on Jun 24, 2024

I tried setting up my ring camera last night. I was able to view the camera through the smart things app and I was also able to turn on a rachio zone through the smart things app. I set up the “if” to be front door camera motion detection and the “then” to turn on zone 10 and turn off after 1 minute. but it is not working. is there something special to do to trigger the motion sensor?

post by tmcgahey on Jun 24, 2024

Boy, it has been 4 years or so since I did that, and I haven’t tried it since ST moved to the new platform. That certainly sounds like what I did. I can try and play with it this week to see if I can still get it to work.

post by ady624 on Jun 24, 2024

Wondering if ST supports live events with ring - ring are notorious about limiting events. Can you control the zone from ST? look up events on the ring camera in ST (History tab) - does it reflect the motion events? Is the camera set to use smart events (ie person detection)? Make sure motion events are on, not just person detection. No other ideas at this time.

post by qttire1 on Jun 25, 2024

history motion is not working but I can access the camera and the sprinkler zone from the ST app. Its a first gen doorbell ring camera so maybe to old. going to try a ring spotlight cam to see if that works.

post by tmcgahey on Jun 25, 2024

My Ring Pro looks like it is showing history in the ST app. I can’t access the video history in ST, but it shows the event. I have my doorbell motion set to trigger a series of lights, so I know it works… @qttire1 you could try setting a rule to have it turn on lights with motion just to test that the Ring side is working…

post by qttire1 on Jun 27, 2024

I setup my lutron light to when turn on activate sprinkler zone and that worked perfect. I think my ring cam is first gen, going to get a spotlight cam and try that.

post by jjyahoo on Jun 28, 2024

I currently am using a Zooz battery powered outdoor motion detector array with my Smartthings hub. Both the Rachio and the Zooz motion detectors connect to the hub. Smartthings will allow you to set up a routine that will run a particular zone when motion is detected. You can also turn the zone off after 1 minute (Rachio minimum is 3 minutes). Zwave is a good option because it reaches further than wifi. Sensors are about $40 and available on smartesthouse.com. The system works very well. I have been using it for 5 years.

post by tjh on Jun 29, 2024

If Rachio had fixed their Homekit integration as promised, that’s exactly what I’d have,

One for all the neighbors and dogs on my front lawn. One for the pesky sales critters that can’t read no soliciting signs on my front door.

I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when Rachio abandoned us.

post by ady624 on Jun 30, 2024

I mean, HomeKit works now, but I wasn’t able to find a way to use Rachio as an action?! has anyone? and this one here might be on Apple

post by dman on Jul 21, 2024

Are you using a SmartThings hub to make the motion sensors work with with the Rachio3 controller? I am new to the Rachio3 and the SmartThings application. I want to use a motion detector to activate a sprinkler set. I bought a Rachio3 controller just so I could set this up. I appreciate any assistance you can provide.

post by jjyahoo on Jul 22, 2024

That is correct. I use the SmartThings hub with Rachio irrigation controller and Zooz outdoor motion detectors. I am using SmartThings rather than Amazon Echo because SmartThings routines offer more flexibility primarily related to the ability to turn a zone off after 1 minute. I am using this system to keep the deer off of my roses and it is really the sound that scares them off. They are usually long gone by the time the water starts spraying.

post by dman on Jul 22, 2024

Jerry,

Thank you for all the information you provided. Do I need to get a SmartThings HUB? I am totally new to this equipment. On other threads there is talk about a SmartThings hub. So far I have only purchased the Rachio 3 sprinkler controller, but plan on purchasing the Zooz motion sensors for various areas of my lawn.

post by jjyahoo on Jul 22, 2024

No problem. This sounds like a good solution for you.

Yes you need a SmartThings (ST) hub for the system as I have it designed. You can buy a gen 3 ST Hub on amazon for $119.00. Don’t buy the ST Station - it doesn’t support Z-Wave communication. Z-Wave is important because it works over a longer distance than WIFI or other remote communication technology.

post by dman on Jul 22, 2024

Thank you so much for the info! I will probably contact you on and off as I complete this project. Again, thank you for all the help.

post by qttire1 on Aug 27, 2024

thanks for all this info. I am using the smart things app and purchased the aeotec smart home hub and got the zooz 800 outdoor motion sensor. The hub syncs right up in the smart things app and i am able to add the motion camera also to the app. Thinking I would just install these and make a routine to make it turn on my rachio zone did not work. I also tried to do a routine when motion sensor detects motion turn on some smart lights which did not work either.

post by jjyahoo on Aug 27, 2024

Brian,

You can check to see if the motion detector and the Rachio are connected in the app. Each zone of the rachio should show up as a device. You can test running each zone from the smartthings app. The motion sensor icon in the app should shake when it detects motion so you can tell it is working.

post by qttire1 on Aug 29, 2024

I was finally able to get it. I had to add a driver to the smart things app and hub to get it to sync to the sensor. Works great now, just waiting to see if this stops the deer. Any reason why you did a virtual switch vs just setting a time between 4:30 am and 6:30 am? I have my irrigation system running at 6:30 am almost every morning and in the fall will adjust to later when I stop using the system until I winterize it.