Finally got around to checking out the new Wyze Sense components. Today, Wyze offers a bridge, door/window contact sensors and a motion sensor. We will discuss setup, typical usage and integration with other devices.
The Wyze Cam V2 1080P Indoor Smart Home Camera with Wyze Sense Starter Kit includes the basic camera with a bridge, motion sensor and two contact sensors.
Wyze Sense Components
It’s amazing how small all these parts are.
The first component is the bridge. This is a USB device that plugs into any Wyze Camera. This is the hub used to communicate to the Wyze sensors. A single bridge can manage up to 100 devices. Cannot manage any sensors without a bridge so be sure to hook this up first.
Wyze contact look very similar to wireless sensors you get with any security system. This is what is shown in the photo that accompanies this article (admittedly, I could have done a better job at straightening out the top part). There are two parts. One attaches to the stationary door or window frame. The other to the door or window.
The Wyze motion sensor is insanely small. When compared to a typical motion sensor from a security company, this is a fraction of the size. This can be attached to a wall or simply seated on a table or shelf.
Installing Wyze Sense
First, plug the bridge into any Wyze Camera. This includes the Wyze Pan or Wyze Cam. I selected a Wyze Pan where the USB port can be found on the back of the camera. After a few seconds, the blue light on the bridge turns blue. Now press the plus sign in the Wyze app and select the contact or motion sensor.
After selecting the motion or contact sensor, the app prompts you to reset the device using the small pin included with the device. It takes a few seconds for the device to be recognized. You can then select notification and event video settings.
The contact sensor has two components. One attaches to the door or window frame. There is a limitation here in that you need to select a flat part of the frame that is wide enough to accommodate the width of the sensor. Luckily the contact sensor is rather forgiving and doesn’t need to be 100% straight. The second component needs to line up directly beneath the smaller contact attached to the frame. Both components already have adhesive strips behind them. No nailing required.
Contact sensors are powered by a CR 1632 battery. You can replace these yourself with Energizer CR 1632 Batteries.
The motion sensor measures 1.2 x 1.2 inches which is very small. There is an adhesive backing for those wanting to attach to a flat surface. Like the contact sensor, this is also activated through the Wyze app. Placing the motion sensor in a corner of the room will cover the most area.
Motion event logs are stored in the cloud and can be accessed for fourteen days from the Wyze app.
Wyze Cam Integration
There are a few ways to integrate a Wyze Sensor with other devices. The easiest integration is (not surprisingly) with a Wyze Cam. Selecting Event Video Settings within the app will bring up a list of Wyze cameras. Simply select the ones you want to record a video clip when the sensor is tripped. This is a nice way to instantly track what triggered the sensors from another part of the home or office.
The second integration point for Wyze Sense is IFTTT. We discussed integrating IFTTT with Wyze Cams in a prior article. This service does some interesting integrations such as turning on a Wyze Bulb when the Wyze Motion Sensor is tripped. IFTTT also adds geofencing which can deactivate the motion sensor when you are home.