Tested: Sedna VA4220WF Valve | Stop at the right time

The Sedna smart valve, from Quebec manufacturer Sinopé, lacked only one function: a flow sensor. This is now done with the second generation, which combines detectors, consumption balances and offline operation for total peace of mind.

Karim Benessaieh
The Press

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Three years ago, the first version of the Sedna smart valve seduced us with its very competitive price of less than $500, which could be paired with a maximum of 20 leak detectors. But without a flow sensor, a feature offered on valves two or three times as expensive, leaks can become catastrophic before they are stopped.

Now, the second generation of this valve can be supplemented with a mechanical flow sensor at low cost. You can adjust the definition of “abnormal flow” to your liking, between 15 minutes and 24 hours of continuous water circulation, and then order the Sedna to close the valve, send an email or a text message, choose all of these actions or none.

Because our water inlet was too narrow and trapped in urethane, the installation of this new valve took a good hour – thanks to the two plumbers from Groupe Charbonneau hired by Sinopé for their patience. Subsequently, we only had to add the Sedna to the Neviweb platform via WiFi and reconnect the five leak detectors to the new valve, which then acts as a Zigbee gateway, the recommended configuration.

We have added a new product from Sinopé, an “intelligent leak detector with perimeter cable”. This cable detects leaks throughout its 2.2 m, and it can be placed around a water heater or along a pipe.

There you go, everything is in place. All you need is a damp towel or a puddle of water on one of the detectors to shut off the water supply.

The flow sensor demonstrated very good accuracy of this system, for example shutting off the water after 59 minutes and 50 seconds of filling the pool when we had programmed a time. A text message and an email came to confirm the closure.

To reopen the water, just press the Open button on the smart valve, or go to the mobile app Neviweb on their phone or tablet. New, you can send a voice command to Alexa or the Google Assistant.

The flow sensor provides an overview of water consumption over the last 48 hours, over 30 days or 24 months. You can ask for the water to be cut off if there is a risk of frost. The valve, thanks to its batteries, can remain active for up to 48 hours in the event of a power failure. It and its leak detectors then operate in offline mode and do not depend on the Internet or Hydro-Québec. They obviously can no longer text or email in this case.

In particular, you can close or open the valve from a Sinopé switch, by clicking twice, or order the extinction of devices connected to a smart socket in the event of a leak. Geolocation allows the valve to react to the presence or absence of the owners, by their telephone, according to the chosen distance.

In 18 days of testing, the system has never failed. The detectors are well designed and continue to emit even when placed between walls or in a refrigerator.

There are no subscription fees, and the system is compatible with other Zigbee platforms, such as SmartThings, which would allow it to still be functional if Sinopé ceased operations.

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The flow sensor has only one defect, probably linked to the fact that it is mechanical and not ultrasonic: it can be noisy when there is a strong flow of water. Nothing dramatic: we then have the equivalent of the sound emitted by a computer whose fan is working hard. The fact is known at Sinopé and seems to be caused by several factors, in particular the configuration of the piping. In fact, this noise only appeared with two precise taps during our tests.

One buys ?

A few constants emerge from the products designed in Quebec by Sinopé, from the thermostats manufactured at the time by Aube to the diversified home automation platform offered in 2022: their quality, competitive price and attention to detail.

The second-generation Sedna smart valve is of the same caliber. A very recommendable choice, no doubt.