So I’m using this in a mailbox as a sensor to let me know when I have mail. it’s a bit awkward to get it mounted correctly where the magnet activates the sensor. But all I’m getting are “OFF” messages… never an “ON” on. If I hold the magnet close to the sensor, it does work as it should so there is nothing wrong with the sensor, but I’m still curious what might cause it to only send “Off” messages as the mail box is opened and closed…
So I think I’ve figured out what the problem is. When the mailbox door is closed, it does indeed change states, but because it’s in this metal mailbox, that signal isn’t being received by my Z-Wave system. It’s not a distance thing as while holding it in my hand at the mailbox, the signal for both states is received, but just not when the device is actually enclosed in this metal box.
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You’re likely quite correct here! Installing a small Z-Wave sensor inside a metal mailbox will almost always block the Z-Wave signal. This happens because metal acts like a shield for radio waves — it reflects and absorbs the signal rather than letting it pass through. Z-Wave operates on radio frequencies that can travel through most building materials (like wood, drywall, or plastic), but metal is one of the few materials that effectively creates a “Faraday cage,” cutting off communication between the device and your Z-Wave network.
If you’d like to monitor your mailbox, you can try placing the sensor outside the metal enclosure — for example, mounting it under the mailbox or on the door with the magnet inside. That way, the radio signal might still be able to reach your hub or the nearest Z-Wave repeater for reliable updates. We have a troubleshooting article dedicated to these kinds of issues if you’d like to run through the options: My ZSE41 Open | Close Sensor Is Not Reporting Reliably To My Hub - Zooz Support Center
The Zooz Waterproof Case for the ZSE41 might also be part of a reliable solution. Mounting it on the outside of the mailbox would let it send both “open” and “close” signals without the Faraday Cage effect. The 800LR version of the sensor–if your hub supports Z-Wave LR–should provide a longer, more reliable radio path from the mailbox to the hub (presumably) inside the house.
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not sure I could live with the waterproof case on the outside of the mailbox… aesthetically I don’t think I’d like it… but its cheap enough so might add it to my next order whenever that might be.. 
Thanks for the tip!
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