DIYANI MS1 Zigbee Rain Sensor for Irrigation and Awning Automation

DIYANI MS1 Zigbee Rain Sensor with IP65 for Outdoor Use

Automatically retracting your awnings when it starts to rain, stopping garden irrigation, or receiving a notification when it rains: this requires a reliable rain sensor. The DIYANI MS1 is a compact binary sensor that does one thing: detect if it's raining. Via Zigbee 3.0, it sends a signal directly to Home Assistant as soon as water touches the snake pattern on the detection plate. No Wi-Fi, no cloud, no adapter: just two AAA batteries and a Zigbee coordinator.

Power and Connectivity

The DIYANI MS1 runs on two 1.5V AAA batteries (not included). Power consumption is less than 1mA, allowing the batteries to last up to a year under normal use. Communication is via Zigbee 3.0; the device is a Zigbee EndDevice and requires a Zigbee coordinator. The sensor features IP65 protection: dust-tight and resistant to water jets from all directions.

Detection and Operation

The detection plate has a snake pattern of conductive traces. As soon as raindrops bridge two traces, the circuit closes, and the sensor registers rain. The MS1 reports two states: rain (1) or no rain (0). It is not a pluviometer; the amount of precipitation is not measured. The response time is almost instantaneous: the sensor reacts as soon as water touches its surface.

Mounting and Enclosure

You can attach the sensor with the included screws and plugs, or using the enclosed sticker. Two screw holes on the back provide secure outdoor mounting. The back cover closes with a rubber seal to keep the inside dry. Mount the MS1 in an open, unsheltered location so that rain falls directly onto the detection plate. Also check out our smart irrigation systems for a complete outdoor installation.

Home Assistant

The DIYANI MS1 works directly via Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA, completely locally without cloud. In both platforms, the device is recognized as eWeLink SNZB-05. No custom converters or quirks needed.

Pairing procedure via Zigbee2MQTT

• Put Zigbee2MQTT in pairing mode via the interface or the HA dashboard.
• Open the battery compartment on the back of the MS1.
• Press and hold the pairing button between the two batteries for 5 seconds until the LED flashes rapidly.
• The device will automatically appear as eWeLink SNZB-05 in Zigbee2MQTT.
• In HA, go to Settings > Devices & Services > MQTT; the rain sensor will appear as a new device.

Entities after pairing via Zigbee2MQTT: water_leak (on/off for rain detection), battery (percentage). Local control confirmed, cloud is not required.

Pairing procedure via ZHA

• In HA, go to Settings > Devices & Services > ZHA > Add Device.
• Open the battery compartment and press and hold the pairing button for 5 seconds.
• ZHA will recognize the device as eWeLink SNZB-05; the water_leak entity will be immediately available without additional configuration.

eWeLink app

Through the eWeLink app and a compatible Zigbee gateway, you can create scenes and automations based on rain detection, such as turning off a smart outdoor plug or sending a push notification. This requires an active internet connection for cloud functions.

Homey

The DIYANI MS1, as a Zigbee device, may be connectable to Homey Pro (2023) via its built-in Zigbee stack. Official support is not confirmed. The most reliable route is via Zigbee2MQTT as an external coordinator in combination with Home Assistant. See our Homey assortment for compatible hardware.

Other Platforms

Through the eWeLink app, the sensor can be linked to Alexa and Google Home for rain detection notifications. Apple Home is not directly supported; indirect linking via Home Assistant and Homebridge is possible.

Automation Examples

Example 1 – Automatic awning retraction on rain

• Trigger: binary_sensor.regensensor_tuin turns on (rain detected).
• Condition: cover.zonwering is not closed.
• Action: call cover.close_cover for cover.zonwering_terras.
• Optional: send push notification "Rain detected, awning retracted."

Example 2 – Stop garden irrigation and resume only when dry

• Trigger 1: binary_sensor.regensensor_tuin turns on; turn off switch.tuinbewatering.
• Trigger 2: binary_sensor.regensensor_tuin turns off; wait 30 minutes and then recheck if the sensor is still dry.
• Condition: time falls within the irrigation schedule (06:00-08:00) and binary_sensor.regensensor_tuin is off.
• Action: turn switch.tuinbewatering back on for the remaining irrigation time.

Points of Attention

• A Zigbee coordinator is mandatory; the sensor does not work standalone.
• The MS1 only detects rain or no rain, not rain intensity or quantity.
• Mount the sensor unsheltered so that rain falls directly on the detection plate; do not place it under an eave.
• IP65 protection applies to the closed device; always check that the back cover closes correctly after inserting batteries.
• The sensor dries by itself after rain, after which the status automatically switches back to dry.
• Batteries (2x AAA) are not included in the package.

Box Contents

• 1x DIYANI MS1 Zigbee rain sensor
• 1x mounting sticker
• 1x screws and plugs for wall mounting
• 1x user manual

Compatibility

Compatible with Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA, eWeLink, Alexa, and Google Home. Works with all Zigbee 3.0 coordinators, including the SMLIGHT SLZB series and other Zigbee USB controllers. Also check out our smart irrigation systems and smart awnings for a complete outdoor installation. View all DIYANI products in our webshop.

✅ slimhuisje.nl — Immediately available and deployable in your existing Zigbee network. Automatically protect your garden and patio at the first drop of rain.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Zigbee hub for the DIYANI MS1?

Yes, the MS1 is a Zigbee EndDevice and does not work standalone. You need a Zigbee coordinator, such as the SMLIGHT SLZB series in combination with Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, or an eWeLink-compatible Zigbee gateway for use via the eWeLink app.

Can the MS1 measure how much it's raining?

No, the MS1 is a binary sensor: it only detects rain or no rain. The quantity or intensity of precipitation is not measured. For Home Assistant automations, this is sufficient for most applications such as irrigation and awnings.

How long do the batteries last?

Under normal use and a power consumption of less than 1mA, the AAA batteries last up to approximately one year. The sensor sleeps most of the time and only wakes up when there is activity. The battery percentage is available as an entity in Home Assistant via Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA.

Is the MS1 also suitable as an indoor water leak sensor?

Technically, the MS1 detects in the same way as a water leak sensor and is recognized as eWeLink SNZB-05 in Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA. Indoor use is possible, but the sensor is designed for outdoor use. Check out our water leak sensors for indoor use.

How do I pair the MS1 with Zigbee2MQTT?

Open the battery compartment on the back and press and hold the small pairing button for 5 seconds until the LED flashes rapidly. Make sure Zigbee2MQTT is in pairing mode. The device will automatically appear as eWeLink SNZB-05; no additional configuration or converters are needed.

Does the MS1 also work with Homey?

Official Homey support is not confirmed for the DIYANI MS1. Pairing via Homey Pro (2023) with a built-in Zigbee stack is possible but not officially tested. The most reliable route is via Zigbee2MQTT in combination with Home Assistant. Check out our Homey assortment for compatible hardware.