One fine morning, my home LeaksProtect signaled my phone about a leak in the kitchen. This was the reason to tell you about it in a separate review. How interesting was the functionality, how complicated was the installation, and most importantly, why should every modern apartment or house have at least one such “baby”? Below are the answers to these questions.
The package
Let’s take everything in turn. The model is delivered in a small cardboard box with an Ajax-style design: an illustration of the product on the front and the most necessary information about the model’s features on the back. We will get acquainted with this list in more detail in the next section of the review. Don’t switch to the next one!
Information from the box walls
In the design of LeaksProtect packaging, the manufacturer, in my opinion, is a supporter of minimalism – the absence of something “flashy” (and why would it be necessary), only the most necessary or important – it depends on your preference.
So, as I mentioned above, the front is an illustration of the product. Yes, it doesn’t convey all the details of the design in detail, but it allows you to create a visual representation of the appearance.
- Below is a four-point list of the model’s key features:
- always active; radio communication in line of sight;
- tool-free installation;
- 5 years of operation on a single battery.
In addition, the labeling, the address of the manufacturer’s official website, and some other technical data are also included here.
The scope of delivery
After getting acquainted with both the box itself and the information on its walls, it is time to start studying the package contents.
So, what’s inside:
- Ajax LeaksProtect detector;
- a short user manual in several languages.
There is no warranty documentation in the box – in our case, it is a receipt certifying the official purchase. The manufacturer provides a 2-year warranty for Ajax LeaksProtect.
Technical specifications of Ajax LeaksProtect
- detector type – wireless;
- installation method – indoor;
- compatibility – Ajax hubs, range extenders, ocBridge Plus, uartBridge;
- alarm delivery time – 0.15 s;
- power supply – 2 AAA, 3 V batteries (pre-installed in the product);
- battery life – up to 5 years;
- Jeweller radio protocol – communication range with the control panel – up to 1300 m in open space, two-way communication between devices, operating frequencies – 866.0 – 866.5 MHz, 868.0 – 868.6 MHz, 868.7 – 869.2 MHz, 905.0 – 926.5 MHz, 915.85 – 926.5 MHz, 921.0 – 922.0 MHz. Self-regulating radio signal power – up to 20 mW, block encryption, detector ping period – 12-300 s;
- operating temperature range – 0°C to +50°C;
- permissible humidity – up to 100%;
- protection class – IP65;
- anti-sabotage – tampering protection, jamming notification;
- dimensions – 56x56x14 mm;
- weight – 40 g.
Body materials
The Ajax LeaksProtect body is a combination of two pieces of plastic. The material itself is reliable – I personally did not notice any characteristic odor of cheap plastic or compression bending. As a result, we can confidently say that the material used for a product with such a load as LeaksProtect was chosen well.
It is easy to see the screw heads in the body of the back panel. They fix the halves of the case. In addition, there is another metal on the outside – the contacts of the moisture sensor. To be honest, I did not look inside, but I have no doubt that there is some metal there, although, of course, it does not affect the build quality. The integrated button in the back panel is also made of plastic.
Impressions on the build quality
The case is collapsible. This fact is proved by the four caps of the aforementioned screws. As for the quality, there are no questions here. Yes, the format is classic, but I personally do not see anything wrong with it – the main thing is reliability. Well, the latter is really great, and the IP65 protection of the case also confirms it.
Body color versions
Ajax LeaksProtect is available in two most popular colors: white or black.
General impressions of the design
Ajax LeaksProtect is an example of neatness and compactness. This is the first thing I personally liked. The second is a great example of industrial design style, which proves that technical detectors can easily “fit in” both a fairly simple interior and an expensive style. The format in which Ajax LeaksProtect was created is primarily an interesting addition to the style of the room, along with the necessary functional component. No compromises – exactly as it should be.
To the question of ergonomics
Here, I’d like to add a bit to the previous point. The surprisingly neat and stylish appearance of Ajax LeaksProtect is complemented by a bright LED on the top of the body. The latter is “sewn” into the logo. When flooded, it flashes red – a kind of amplification to the signal to the smartphone. When it dries, it flashes again. I can’t judge how useful this “thing” is from a functional point of view, but it looks quite good as a decorative element.
Along the perimeter of the bottom panel are the above-mentioned moisture sensor contacts. In addition to them, there is also a QR code with the device registration key, a sticker with markings, the name of the device, and a protection standard label.
“Deployment”
The procedure of “deployment” or, in other words, installation of the detector is extremely simple, and all you need to do is take it out of the box, press the power button and place it in a place that is potentially a “weak link” in your water distribution system. What could it be? Well, for example, I have two sensors – one is placed under the sink in the kitchen, where I could potentially expect flooding, and the other is near the washing machine. This is convenient. But I wrote at the beginning about the connection of the water distribution system, which is, let’s say, the “weak link”.
Connection
However, without connecting the hub, you will not be able to use the detector functionality. To connect, all you need to do is scan the QR code located on the back of the hub using your phone’s camera. In the process, you also name the product and select the room where it will be placed.
Expert opinion
The principle of operation is simple: when water gets on the contacts of the moisture sensor, the user receives a corresponding signal to act. It is up to you to decide what to do next, because there are many formats. It is important to understand that the time required to receive the corresponding signal from the moment of flooding is much less than a second (see Table x-k above), which means you have every chance of responding quickly to the danger.
One of the options for such a response is to pre-install Ajax WaterStop on the main pipe through which water enters your system. This will allow you to automatically shut off the water supply in case of a leak. By the way, we already have experience with Ajax WaterStop, so read the detailed review soon, and believe me – it’s definitely worth it.
As a result, we have a great solution that can protect rooms from flooding. It is interesting to integrate this detector into the Ajax ecosystem, thus adding additional automation to your home. Our practice proves that this is at least not only additional security, but also user convenience.
Ajax LeaksProtect costs UAH 1240 (USD 34).
