Intelligent voice assistants, washing machines or electric shutters: even though our homes have become smarter and smarter, there is still room for improvement with regard to the classic mailbox. So that you know immediately when you receive mail, you can also make your mailbox smart with a few simple steps. This How-To explains what options you have and how you can easily integrate your mailbox into your Smart Home.
Reports when opened: the door/window contact
The easiest way to monitor a mailbox is to know when the flap is opened. For Smart Home applications, there are already sensors that register when doors or windows are opened: a contact sensor is attached to each frame and window/door. If this contact is interrupted by opening, the sensor transmits a signal. Most smart home solutions, such as Homematic IP, offer an app for central control. This makes it possible to always have your home in view, even when you are not at home.
This functional principle can also be transferred to a mailbox. A sensor monitors the flap, and as soon as a letter is thrown in, notification is sent. A door/window contact can be installed for the mailbox in no time at all – for the mailbox, it is best to use adhesive strips on both sides. Integrate your new mailbox contact into your Smart Home app and you will have your mailbox in view anytime and from anywhere.
HMIP SWDM – the magnetic solution
Regardless of whether you want to embed your mailbox into your Smart Home System or see it as the first step into a new Smart Home: The HMIP SWDM from Homematic IP works both as an entry-level model and as an extension for an already existing Smart Home System. Equipped with two LR03 batteries, it guarantees you seamless monitoring for up to four years. Equipped with a magnetic contact, the HMIP SWDM automatically detects every opening.
Once you have connected the contact to your (existing) Smart Home System via CCU2/CCU3 with a Homematic central controller, you can pair your Smart Mailbox with the Homematic IP Access Point. With a cloud application, you can access your system from anywhere. In this magazine article, we will show you what other options you have to expand your home into a Smart Home with Homematic IP.
Since the SWDM is a door/window contact, which is also recognized as such in the app, you should make sure to manually exclude it from a possible alarm scenario. Otherwise, any opening of the mailbox with an active alarm would trigger a large alarm. Therefore, be sure to configure your mailbox as its own scene, which will only give you an indication when it is opened. This way, you will also never miss a postal delivery again.
Connect the SONOFF DW2-RF to a camera
Want to know who opens your mailbox? The HMIP SWDM can be connected to a camera that triggers as soon as the door/window contact gives a signal. However, keep in mind that surveillance cameras are only allowed to cover your own property. Public spaces such as streets and sidewalks may not be viewed. If your mailbox is opened, you will immediately receive a push notification on the linked cell phone. These notifications are automatically saved so you can access them at any time for three months.
You are also able to add a component to your Smart Home System with the SONOFF DW2-RF. If you want to activate an outdoor lamp when the mailbox is open, all you have to do is connect the corresponding switch or lamp to the sensor – and the surroundings will be brightly illuminated. In combination with a camera, you are not necessarily dependent on a night vision camera.
The SHELLY DW2
For those who are a little more adept at programming codes, the SHELLY DW2 is the perfect door/window contact for your own mailbox. To the included programming/debug header, you can flash the device with alternative firmware. With the integrated ESP8266 2MB flash chip, the world of developer is open to you.
But even if you are not a professional developer, the SHELLY DW2 has a lot in store for you: the compact design makes the contact almost invisible. In addition, the built-in Lux sensor ensures a lightning-fast response time. No other controls are needed to operate the DW2. The Smart Home’s WLAN can be connected to the Shelly Cloud app, so that you can keep an eye on your mailbox at all times. In addition, the door/window contact features the highest compatibility: the device can be linked not only with Android and iOS smartphones, but also with the most popular two voice assistants Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. This way, you can also set spoken notifications: for example your contact registers a movement and Alexa already announces “you just got mail”.
The HMIP BWMI
Another way to monitor your mailbox is to use motion detectors like the HMIP BWMI. This reports any movement in its 105° field of view. Due to the compact design, you are extremely flexible in the installation. The motion detector can be installed in almost any mailbox. If required, you can also connect it to an outdoor lamp so that it illuminates your entrance area around the mailbox as soon as a mail delivery is registered.
Actually you can integrate the HMIP BWMI into the Homematic IP app. This way, you can set a notification for every opening of the mailbox. In addition, the motion detector is equipped with a sabotage contact that sounds an alarm as soon as the device is tampered with or dismantled. In this way, you can ensure seamless monitoring of your mailbox.
Conclusion
Do you want to expand your Smart Home or just keep an eye on your mailbox: With the latest Smart Home technology, you can easily set up a smart mailbox. With a door/window contact and a motion detector, you are perfectly equipped to integrate your mailbox into your Smart Home System. This way, no more mails will remain hidden from you.
Image: Adobe Stock
