Abode is expanding its Apple Home-compatible security range with two new sensors designed to keep an eye on the parts of your property that are easy to overlook. This includes garages, gates, sheds and detached storage spaces.
The new Garage Tilt Sensor and Outdoor Contact Sensor can both be used with Apple Home, as well as Alexa and Google Assistant. In addition, they can also tap into Abode’s CUE automation engine. This allows homeowners to build more useful responses around activity outside the main house.
For example, Abode says an outdoor gate opening after dark could automatically trigger driveway lights. Meanwhile, a garage door could be configured to close itself if it has been left open for more than 10 minutes.
The Garage Tilt Sensor is designed for doors and panels that open by changing angle. It detects when a surface moves more than 45 degrees from its resting position. This makes it suitable for up-and-over garage doors, attic hatches, basement tilt windows and similar hinged panels.
When movement is detected, the sensor can send an alert through the Abode app. This lets you know when a garage door or other monitored surface has started opening or closing. It’s also wireless, with Abode claiming up to 10 years of battery life under optimal conditions.
The Outdoor Contact Sensor takes a different approach. Rated IP66, it is designed specifically for outdoor locations such as metal gates, sheds, storage units, mailboxes and detached garages. Its stronger magnet and wider activation gap are intended to reduce false alarms compared with using an indoor contact sensor outside.
Both sensors can offer connectivity of up to 500 feet in optimal conditions, according to Abode. Moreover, the setup process includes guidance for testing the connection before permanently mounting either device.
It’s a useful expansion for anyone building an Apple Home security setup, particularly if the front door isn’t the only access point that needs monitoring. Abode says the sensors are intended to address vulnerable areas around the perimeter of a property. These are areas that can otherwise go unchecked.
The Garage Tilt Sensor costs $34.99, while the Outdoor Contact Sensor is priced at $49.99.
