ZSE42 Water Leak XS Sensor FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About the ZSE42 Water Leak XS Sensor

Find the answers to your questions quickly by searching key words!

Press the CTRL and F keys at the same time on your keyboard. A little box should pop up in your browser window.
Type in a key word in your question like "hub" or "compatible". You should see your key word highlighted every time it is mentioned on the page.
Use the arrow keys in the search box to jump to each instance that your key word is mentioned.

Prevent Damage ZSE42 ZSE42 Water Leak Sensor

INSTALLATION QUESTIONS

Can the ZSE42 be installed outdoors?

The new ZSE42 800LR model can be installed outdoors (it's IP66 rated) but freezing conditions may cause false alerts and affect battery life. The older 700 series version is IP64 rated which means it can take a splash or a drizzle but it can’t be exposed to rainfall, snowfall, or direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. We recommend placing the sensor under eve when using it outdoors. Learn more about the differences between the ZSE42 800LR and 700 series ZSE42 models here.

How does the leak detection work? Do all 4 prongs on the bottom of the device need to be touching water to detect a leak?

The sensor will detect a leak when water reaches any of the 2 probe pairs shown in the below drawing.

What is the operating temperature of the ZSE42?

32° – 104° F

What are the dimensions of the ZSE42? How big is the device?

The ZSE42 800LR model is 2.4” x 1.4” x 0.4” while the ZSE42 700 series version is 1.9” x 1” x 0.3”. Learn more about the differences between the ZSE42 800LR and 700 series ZSE42 models here.

What is the wireless range of the sensor?

Z-Wave devices work best in a mesh network, so even though the sensor has a range of up to 300 feet line of sight, this means 300 feet with other Z-Wave signal repeating devices between where the hub is and where the sensor will be installed. Z-Wave devices work best in a mesh network, so even though the sensor has a range of up to 300 feet line of sight, this means 300 feet with other Z-Wave signal repeating devices between where the hub is and where the sensor will be installed. The ZSE42 800LR model is Long Range ready which means that if your hub supports Z-Wave Long Range, you can achieve a much greater distance for direct hub-to-device communication at up to 1300 feet. Learn more about the differences between the ZSE42 800LR and 700 series ZSE42 models here.
It is the hub that decides the communication route to each device. The more signal repeating (non-battery powered) devices included on your network, the stronger it is and easier it is for the hub to reach devices that are further away.
Environments with a lot of glass or metal elements, large furniture, and thick walls can also be very disruptive to Z-Wave signals.

What kind of battery does the ZSE42 use / need?

The ZSE42 800LR sensor is powered by a single CR2450 and the ZSE42 700 series sensor is powered by a CR2032 battery. Learn more about the differences between the ZSE42 800LR and 700 series ZSE42 models here.
We recommend using Energizer, Panasonic, or Maxell brand batteries which are confirmed to work well in the sensors.
Our technicians have confirmed that at this point, Duracells are not providing power to the XS sensors due to the extra bitter coating on these batteries. You can try wiping the battery with alcohol to remove the bitter coating, allowing it to dry fully, then inserting the battery.
While CR2032 and CR2450 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 certain amount of voltage from the battery to report, and when that energy is dissipated due to the cold, you get a loss of function until the battery is warmed.

Can I use a BR2032 battery instead of the CR2032 in the 700 series sensor?

You can safely replace most CR2032 coin cell batteries with a BR2032 type lithium battery; however, there are some important factors to consider.
- While the BR is longer lasting, it has a slightly lower voltage.
- The BR will also discharge voltage rapidly at the end of life. For example, once the CR2032 reports 'low battery level', it can maintain at this status of low battery for weeks. Meanwhile, the BR2023 may report "low battery" for one day and then ceases working.
- The BR2032 is recommended more for extreme working temperatures; please note that with lower voltage in normal temperature, the BR may have a shorter life expectancy than the CR ( remember, the Z-Wave chip requires a minimum of 2.5V to work, so only a 15% drop (from 2.9/2.8 to 2.5V) would mean the battery is considered dead for Z-Wave purposes. Any battery reaching 2.5V is considered as 0% battery for Z-Wave.

What is the battery life of the ZSE42?

You should get around 12-14 months out of the ZSE42 XS sensor with normal use.

Can I use rechargeable batteries?

We don't recommend it. Rechargeable batteries usually decrease in max voltage with time, so you may see a shorter battery life if using these. The Z-Wave chip manufacturer also requires all Z-Wave devices to report low battery at 2.6V and many rechargeable batteries are not full 3V when charged so it may seem like the battery is empty even at full charge.

What voltages should the battery report for 100% and when there is a low battery alert?

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.

How do I get the most battery life out of my ZSE42 sensor?

We recommend pairing Z-Wave devices to your hub without security (if your hub lets you choose during inclusion). S2 security adds an additional layer of information to communicate with your hub which can drain the battery quicker than you'd like, in rare cases.

Why is the battery level fluctuating so much? / Why was the battery drained a lot during set-up?

This sensor runs on a coin battery with smaller capacity than the lithium CR batteries used in other sensors, so you may see the battery readings fluctuate from low to higher readings when the sensor is awake during programming and testing. The battery will usually go back to its stable reading within a few hours so always allow a day or two after you see the first lower reading before checking on the actual battery life left for your device.

I replaced the battery in my sensor and now it's not powering on or responding at all.

Check the battery brand. Our technicians have confirmed that at this point, Duracells are not providing power to the XS sensors due to the extra bitter coating on these batteries. You can try wiping the battery with alcohol to remove the bitter coating, allowing it to dry fully, then inserting the battery. Otherwise, our technicians have confirmed that Energizer, Panasonic, and Maxell brands work in the sensors; would you be able to give one of those brands a try?

What is the standby power for the sensor?

Unfortunately, the min/max is not a concrete value we can provide here. It is dependent on distance to the hub, number of repeaters/hops, report type, chip settings, power transmission, etc. This is why the battery life on the sensors is an estimate. 3.2V is a full battery, and anything below 2.5 will register as a dead battery on the sensor, as the Z-Wave chip requires at least 2.6V.
Here is a link with the specs for the chip, which show the current draw depending on frequency and other factors : https://www.silabs.com/documents/public/data-sheets/zgm230s-datasheet.pdf

What is the warranty coverage for the ZSE42?

Zooz 500 series devices are covered by a 12 month warranty. Zooz 700 and 800 series devices are covered by a standard 1-year warranty and by an extended 5-year warranty if registered within 30 days of purchase. Please register your device here and review the full warranty policy here.

Where can I find the ZSE42 device manual?

Zooz Z-Wave Plus 700 Series XS Water Leak Sensor ZSE42 User Manual (PDF)

PRODUCT FUNCTIONALITY QUESTIONS

Does the ZSE42 have an audible alarm that goes off when a leak is detected?

No but it does have LED notifications and can be programmed to trigger an alarm/alert device that does support audible alerts via Z-Wave automation.

Will the ZSE42 act as a signal repeater for other Z-Wave devices in my network?

No. Battery powered devices will not act repeaters. Your Z-Wave hub decides which devices to use to reach other Z-Wave devices. Any non-battery powered Z-Wave device will act as a signal repeater; it would be up to your hub whether or not it will be used in a communication route.

Z-WAVE QUESTIONS

Do I need a Z-Wave hub to buy this device?

Yes. The ZSE42 sensor is a Z-Wave device which would need a Z-Wave hub in order to send leak reports and customize advanced settings.
To control or monitor any of our Z-Wave devices remotely through your smart phone, you'll need a compatible Z-Wave hub. These devices require a central controller that communicates with them and sends commands. Once you have a controller, you would download that controller's dedicated app on your phone and control your connected devices through that app.

Is the ZSE42 sensor compatible with my hub?

You can find a list of compatible hubs for a given device under the Works With section on the product's page. Here is the list of hubs compatible with the ZSE42.

Will this sensor work with my alarm panel?

Alarm panels like Alarm.com will typically only support single switches, door locks, select thermostats, and any authorized items on their list. We would recommend reaching out to your alarm panel company to verify compatibility and to get the latest on any device integrations they may be working on.
To our best knowledge, most alarm panels don't support binary sensors so the ZSE42 won't display correctly in their interface. There is nothing about the Water Leak Sensor that we could change to improve compatibility with alarm panels, since this is a limitation of the hub and how it supports binary sensors. It would be up to your alarm panel to integrate the device, as it follows Z-Wave protocol and has been Z-Wave certified. There is nothing we can change on our end to have the device be recognized correctly. Read more about alarm panel compatibility here.

Where do I find all of my sensor's advanced settings?

ZSE42 Water Leak XS Sensor Advanced Settings

How do I add the sensor to my Z-Wave hub?

How can I tell what firmware my ZSE42 is running on?

The firmware that your sensor is shipped with should be printed on the back of the device where the model specifications are. If your hub supports and properly integrates the device, you should also see the firmware listed in your Z-Wave interface.
Firmware that is listed as 1.01 (or any other value with a 0 in the middle) in the sensor's change log may display as 1.1 in your hub.

How do I update the firmware of my ZSE42 sensor?

Some Z-Wave hubs have a built-in firmware updater that you can use. Otherwise, we recommend using the PC Controller tool on the Simplicity Studio Software as described here. You will need to register your device in order to have access to Zooz firmware files.

How long does the update take? How do I know when it's finished?

Firmware updates should usually take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on connection quality and how much information needs to actually be updated on a given device.
- If it is taking longer than that, please try to bring the hub / controller closer to the device that is being updated.

Where can I find the history of changes and firmware updates for the ZSE42?

ZSE42 Water Leak XS Sensor Change Log

What series Z-Wave chip does the ZSE42 use?

The ZSE42 uses a 700 series Z-Wave chip. We are in the process of updating this model to the new 800 series Z-Wave chip so it should be 800 series by the end of 2023.

Is the ZSE42 available in other Z-Wave frequencies?

The ZSE42 is currently available in 908.42 MHz (US, CA, MX), 921.4 MHz (AU, NZ), and 868.42 MHz (EU) frequencies.

Check out the Zooz Knowledge Base for free support articles about the ZSE42 Water Leak Sensor (and all of our devices)! If you can't find your answer there, reach out to us!