I think everyone has had situations where they left the house and then spent the whole way thinking: did I lock the door, turn off the water, switch off the stove or iron? Or when you leave your home unattended for a long time, for example, when you go on holiday, and there is no one to ask to look after it. Ajax smart systems can help solve this issue. They have ready-made solutions for almost any scenario that can protect your home from most types of threats: burglary, flood, and fire. There are also cool gadgets that make life easier and automate routine processes: light switches, smart sockets, relays, and air quality sensors.
Today I am reviewing the WaterStop electric valve, LeaksProtect leak detector and FireProtect 2 RB (Heat/Smoke/CO) fire detector. With the help of WaterStop and LeaksProtect, I will create an anti-flood system, and with FireProtect 2 RB, I will close the fire safety issue in the house. The Hub 2 Plus security system control panel (also known as a hub) will also take part in the review, but we won’t pay much attention to it. Firstly, we already have reviews of this device on our website. And secondly, nothing will work without it. In this review, I will tell you in detail about each device and how to connect them into a single system. We will also test all the devices in action. As always, let’s start with the technical specifications.
For the sake of completeness, here are the detailed technical characteristics of each of the devices.
WaterStop
LeaksProtect
FireProtect 2 RB (Heat/Smoke/CO)
As for the positioning, it can be briefly described as follows: Ajax is a leading manufacturer of smart security systems for homes and businesses that has long established itself in the market. I would say that Ajax is the Apple of security. Functionality, versatility, automation, ease of use, and quality are their main features.
The official Ajax website lists the following recommended prices for the devices:
All Ajax devices come in branded white boxes, which, in my opinion, are very similar in style and design to the packaging of Apple devices. Let’s take a closer look at the package of each device.
The electric valve comes in a branded box with dimensions of 125×171×74 mm. On the front side we can see: the device image, the WaterStop name and the Jeweller communication protocol designation. The back of the box contains brief specifications, features, barcodes with serial numbers, and certificates. On the sides, there is only the Ajax logo, device name, and communication protocol designation. The box itself contains:
The LeaksProtect leakage detector is delivered in a small box with dimensions of 64×64×18 mm. The design of the box is similar to the previous one: an image of the device, model and Jeweller protocol designations, brief technical specifications and features, barcodes with serial numbers and certificates. The LeaksProtect package includes only the detector and the user manual.
The fire detector is supplied in a box with dimensions of 155×155×50 mm, the design is exactly the same as for the previous devices. The scope of delivery includes:
To summarise the equipment: an excellent package in the laconic style of Ajax, with everything you need to install and manage the devices in the right places.
The design of almost all Ajax devices matches their packaging: minimalism and laconicism in a kind of high-tech style. I received all white devices for review. In addition to white, there is also black. Let’s take a closer look at each device.
The WaterStop electric crane is the most massive and heavy device of all those presented in the review. The dimensions of the device are 104×140×70 mm, and it weighs 869 g. The design itself consists of several parts:
On the top of the drive is the Ajax logo, which serves as a light indicator of the drive status and operation. On one side, we can see the control button – if pressed for 3 seconds, it turns the device on and off, and with a short press, it controls the water supply.
Remove the actuator from the mounting platform to take a closer look at the other elements. To do this, pull out the mounting bracket and simply pull the actuator (or the valve with the platform) upwards. On the bottom of the actuator are located:
On the mounting platform are located:
The stopcock is made of brass. The threads on it are of the internal-female (F/F) type, the thread size of this model is ½” (DN 15, 15 mm).
The LeaksProtect leakage detector looks very similar to the hub, but it is much smaller – 56×56×14 mm. There is an Ajax logo on the top, which also serves as a light indicator. There is nothing on the sides. On the rear part there are:
The sensor itself is almost weightless, weighing only 40 grams. By the way, the power button is quite hard and you can’t feel it when you press it. The manual says that if it doesn’t turn on the first time, just press the button harder.
The fire detector is made in the form of a square with dimensions of 124×124×45 mm. It looks very similar to the main hub and the leakage detector, except for the smoke chamber cover located on the top of the device. Let’s take a closer look at the detector.
On the front of the panel, there is a mechanical button with the Ajax logo, which serves as a “test/mute” button. In particular, the following functions are provided:
Under the detector panel, you can see the LED indicator, the siren speaker, the smoke chamber cover, and the thermistor (responsible for detecting dangerous temperatures). One of the sides contains information about the end of the detector’s service life; for our detector, it is July 2033.
On the bottom, there is a SmartBracket attachment panel that needs to be removed to get to the on/off button. The panel is removed by turning it counterclockwise. Remove the panel and see:
The fire detector attachment panel can be fixed to a vertical surface using the supplied dowels and screws.
The main material of Ajax devices is a solid matte plastic that looks quite durable. The build quality is excellent: all the devices are solidly assembled, the body structures feel monolithic, without creaks, deflections, or backlash. In general, all devices under review can be given a fat plus for design, ergonomics, materials and build quality.
Before we move on to directly connecting all the devices into a single system, I would like to tell you more about each of them. I would like to highlight their main capabilities and features. This is to help you better understand what is responsible for what and how the whole system works.
I said that we would not pay attention to the central hub in this review, but I think it is still worth telling you in a nutshell what it is for and what it does.
Hub 2 Plus is the main central unit in the Ajax system. The hub allows you to control and coordinate the operation of all connected devices. The hub also interacts with security and service companies by sending alarms and notifications.
To connect to the Internet, the hub uses several channels at once: an Ethernet cable, Wi-Fi, and a mobile network (two 4G SIM cards). To communicate with the connected devices, the hub uses the proprietary Jeweller protocol, a wireless protocol for fast and reliable two-way communication that supports block encryption with a floating key and device verification during each session. This protocol is used to protect the system and its devices from sabotage and tampering. Another proprietary communication technology, the Wings protocol, is used for image transmission and photo verification.
Up to 200 Ajax devices can be connected to the hub, including up to 10 sirens and 5 radio signal range extenders, up to 100 cameras and video recorders, up to 200 users, up to 25 security groups, and up to 50 rooms. The hub can support up to 64 automation scenarios.
Simply put, nothing will work without the main hub, as it serves as the central control device. The smartphone app does not provide for direct connection of devices. On the one hand, this can be considered a disadvantage, because the cost of even the simplest anti-flood system automatically increases by UAH 10,000 (the cost of Hub 2 Plus). But this is done to protect the entire system. With the help of such a link, your system and its components will be protected from burglary, signal loss, jamming, unauthorised opening, and dismantling.
WaterStop is a smart electric water tap that can be used to remotely shut off water. It works as part of an automated anti-flood system in conjunction with LeaksProtect leak detectors or third-party integrated leak detectors located in the room.
The water supply can be controlled remotely (via the Ajax app), manually (button on the actuator or lever on the mounting platform), and using automated scenarios. The full potential of the device is revealed when using automated scenarios together with other Ajax devices. WaterStop supports such scenarios:
In my opinion, the most popular scenario is to shut off water in the event of a leak detected by LeaksProtect detectors or third-party leak detectors located in the room. When testing the system, I will recreate this situation and show you how everything works visually.
WaterStop, like many other Ajax devices, uses the proprietary Jeweller radio communication protocol to communicate with the hub.
Among the features of WaterStop that are also worth mentioning are the options for protecting the device. These include overheating notifications, protection against jamming and unauthorised dismantling of the device.
Overheating notification – when the tap heats up to +60°C, it can send an alert to the user and the service company to inform them of the device’s condition at the facility so that appropriate measures can be taken. The water supply is not blocked. When the temperature returns to normal, the tap also sends a notification.
Anti-jamming protection – when the valve is stationary, limescale can build up inside the valve over time, making opening and closing difficult or impossible. To prevent this, the tap can close and open automatically from time to time for maintenance. You can set the maintenance time yourself, either by the administrator, a user with the appropriate rights, or the service company. You can also create a separate automatic script for this purpose, which will be executed according to a schedule. For example, for a house, you can set the following scenario: close and open the tap once a day at night when no one is using water.
Protection against unauthorised dismantling is relevant if the crane is not installed at home, but, for example, in public places (cafes, restaurants, hotels, offices). To protect against unwanted dismantling of the electric actuator, an anti-sabotage bracket is included in the kit, which makes it much more difficult to remove the electric actuator without special tools. By the way, if the actuator is removed from the mounting platform, regardless of the type of bracket installed on it, the user and the service company will be notified of the removal in the same way, because the tamper button will be activated.
And finally, I think it is necessary to say where the tap can and cannot be installed. So, WaterStop can be installed on water supply or heating pipes, the main thing is to adhere to the permissible temperature standards – from +5°C to +120°C. The pressure in the pipes should not exceed 10 bar. The operating temperature range of the environment is from +0°C to +60°C, and the humidity level is up to 95%, so it is not recommended to install the tap outdoors.
Thanks to the design of the mounting platform, the valve actuator can be freely positioned in 4 positions without having to remove the stop valve. The WaterStop actuator can also be used with third-party shut-off valves.
LeaksProtect is a detector that responds to water leaks. There are 8 contacts on the bottom of the detector, and if at least one of them gets wet, it will immediately transmit an alarm signal to the hub, which will send a notification to the user and the service company. LeaksProtect is best used in conjunction with the WaterStop electric tap, which will immediately shut off the water at the facility as soon as it receives a signal from one of the detectors. You can create and configure such an anti-flood system using automation scenarios. By the way, as soon as the flood is eliminated and the detector is dry, it will also notify you.
To communicate with the hub, LeaksProtect also uses the proprietary Jeweller communication technology.
FireProtect 2 (Heat/Smoke/CO) is a fire detector that can detect smoke, high temperatures, and dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. It has a built-in siren with a volume of 85 dB. It comes in 2 versions: RB and SB. RB – with replaceable batteries (up to 7 years of battery life). SB – with built-in batteries (10 years of autonomous operation). The price difference between the versions is only 400 UAH. In general, the line of detectors is available in two types of housing. The larger detectors have a smoke chamber and a temperature sensor, and the extended version has a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor. Smaller detectors do not have a smoke chamber and have up to two sensors: only a temperature sensor, only a CO sensor, or both.
By the way, FireProtect 2 can operate even without a hub. In this mode, it will notify about detected threats only with the help of its built-in siren and LED indication.
Other Ajax devices can respond to an alarm transmitted from the FireProtect 2 detector and execute automatic security scenarios. For example, the WallSwitch relay can turn off the ventilation system or cut off the electricity at the facility in case of an alarm received from one of the FireProtect detectors, and the WaterStop electric tap can shut off the water.
All FireProtect 2 detectors support the synchronous alarm function: as soon as one of the detectors detects a threat, all fire detectors in the system are activated.
FireProtect 2 has a smoke sensor, a heat sensor, and a carbon monoxide sensor. The smoke sensor is protected against false alarms, for example, the detector will not respond to ordinary steam or cigarette smoke. The detector also uses the proprietary Jeweller technology to communicate with the hub.
The process of configuring and connecting all devices into a single system is quite simple and fast. For those who use Ajax devices, there will be nothing new and interesting here, as you already know the entire process of connecting and adding devices. And for those who are not familiar with Ajax systems, I will tell and show you everything in detail. But it is worth warning you right away that the manufacturer recommends that the system and its components be installed and configured by official partners and Ajax installation engineers. This ensures proper configuration and efficient operation of all devices. So, first, we need to connect the hub:
Once the hub is connected, you can add other devices, in our case, the WaterStop electric tap, the LeaksProtect leak detector, and the FireProtect 2 RB fire detector. But first, we need to create at least one room. In my case, there will be 2 rooms – the bathroom, where I will install the electric tap and leak detector, and the kitchen, where I will install the fire detector. Rooms are created in the “Rooms” section.
The rooms are created, and now you can add devices. Return to the Devices section and click Add Devices. To add devices, you first need to switch them on and then scan the QR code located on the back of the device or on the box. First, let’s connect the WaterStop tap – for this, you need to remove the electric drive. I’ve already told you how to do this, but just in case, I’ll remind you: pull out the standard bracket and pull the actuator up. After that, scan the QR code and press the power button for a few seconds on the body (until the logo lights up green). Follow the same procedure to add other devices.
All devices are connected and ready to go. Before we start testing the system, I want to show you what settings and functions are available for each device.
The “Water Supply” slider allows you to quickly shut off the water supply directly from the app. Using the advanced settings, you can turn on and off event notifications, disable the on/off button on the actuator, turn on and off the LED indication, create an automatic scenario, test the Jeweller signal strength, and disarm or arm the device. Also, a detailed manual is available right in the device settings – very convenient, I looked there more than once and did not need to run to the computer or leaf through the instructions included in the kit.
Since LeaksProtect is essentially a simple detector, there are not many settings. Among the available options, you can activate the siren in case of leakage detection, test the signal strength, switch off the detector, or disarm it. A detailed manual is also available directly from the settings.
The fire detector has a few more settings, as it has a built-in siren that can sound when one of the threats is detected. If necessary, you can disable this function for all or specific threats. Otherwise, the settings are the same as in the leak detector: signal strength test, disarming, and complete deactivation of the detector. The only additional option available in FireProtect is testing the device’s sensors. A detailed manual is also available.
Before proceeding to the system tests, I consider it necessary to tell you more about the Ajax Security System app. As for the settings of our devices, I showed them when I was assembling the system. Let’s go through the rest of the settings and functions of the app.
Ajax Security System is a multifunctional application for mobile devices that allows you to easily add new devices to the security system, configure them, test their performance, create automated scenarios, remotely control the security system and its individual components, and receive information about the status and events that have occurred.
In fact, the app has 4 main sections: Devices, Rooms, Notifications, and Control. The Devices section contains all of our devices, and the Rooms section creates rooms to which these devices are allocated. The Notifications section contains notifications about events that have occurred – absolutely everything is recorded: new device connections, arming and disarming, alarms, scenario execution, etc. In the Control section, you can arm and disarm the system, switch it to night mode, or manually trigger an alarm.
In the global settings of the application, you can edit account information, view active sessions, set two-factor authentication, enable or disable the application in the background, auto-launch the application, and set a pin.
In addition to the app for regular users, Ajax also has special software for engineers and security companies: Ajax PRO Tool for Engineers, PRO Desktop, Ajax Translator. They differ in advanced functionality and purpose.
Ajax PRO Tool for Engineers is an application for installation engineers, security or service companies. PRO Desktop – applications for administering and monitoring security system alarms. Ajax Translator is an application for communicating Ajax security systems with monitoring software.
For obvious reasons, we will not discuss these applications in this review, but just know that they exist. If you are interested in learning more about them, follow the link to the official website with all the information.
Finally, we got to the most interesting part, namely, the practical testing of the security system we assembled.
To test the anti-flood system implemented with WaterStop and LeaksProtect, I will create an automatic scenario for shutting off the water in case of a leak and arrange it myself. The scenario in the app looks like this:
Unfortunately, I don’t have the opportunity to fully integrate WaterStop into the water supply system of the entire apartment. However, this does not matter, because for the test I have assembled a kind of test stand. It can be used to demonstrate the operation of the tap without any problems.
The idea is the same as if the tap were fully integrated into the water supply system. On the one hand, there is a water supply, and on the other hand, it is discharged directly into the bathroom. This way, the operation of the device will be even better and more clearly visible.
So, the water is open, everything is ready. First, let’s try opening and closing the water remotely in the app.
Great, everything works. Now let’s create a small impromptu leak that will be detected by the LeaksProtect detector.
Using an automatic scenario, the tap immediately shut off the water after receiving a leakage notification from the sensor. Conclusion: the anti-flood system works perfectly.
By the way, do you remember when I talked about preventing the tap from jamming? So here are ready-made scenarios for such prevention in automatic mode according to a schedule: shut off the water every night at 03:00 and open it back at 03:05.
Alternatively, you can create an automatic scenario for opening the water when the system is disarmed. For example, you go to work and arm the system – the water in the house is shut off. When you return, you disarm the system and the tap opens the water by itself. Such a scenario in the app will look like this:
FireProtect 2 RB fire detector. I will check how it recognises smoke and a sharp rise in temperature. Unfortunately, I don’t have any devices that can be connected to the fire detector and automated (except for WaterStop, but I don’t see the point in shutting off the water in case of a fire). So I’m just going to test its operation and show it to you.
Smoke detection. Light a piece of paper and smoke a little near the detector, the built-in siren should go off and a notification should be sent to the app.
As you can see, the siren went off quite quickly, the detector easily detected and recognised the smoke as a threat.
Sudden temperature rise. To simulate a sharp rise in ambient temperature, I simply blow on the detector with a hairdryer.
And again, the sensor worked as expected, recording a sharp increase in temperature. By the way, I had to blow for about a minute, and I cropped the video a little to save you time.
Test results: all the threats to home security I simulated were recognised by the detectors without any problems and appropriate actions were taken. The WaterStop faucet shut off the water by itself according to the scenario I created, and the fire detector activated the siren and sent a notification. With more Ajax devices at your disposal, you can create more complex and sophisticated automated security systems. You can also connect a security company to your security system, which will receive all alarm and event notifications, and you don’t have to worry about anything at all. You can add a security company in the hub settings.
I have already mentioned in the review that all Ajax devices can be powered from several sources – main and backup. I believe that the information on autonomy should be clearly structured and placed in a separate section of the review, because it is quite important. Especially for the residents of Ukraine, where there are frequent and prolonged power outages due to Russian aggression.
Hub 2 Plus is powered by the mains, which is the main source of power. In the event of a power outage, it continues to operate on the built-in 3000 mAh battery, which is enough for approximately 15 hours of autonomous operation. When you reconnect to the power supply, the battery will automatically start charging.
The WaterStop is powered by 4 pre-installed CR123A batteries, which can provide up to 3 years of autonomous operation. It is also possible to connect an optional external power supply of 7.5-14V/1.8A. In case of external power connection, the built-in batteries will become a backup power source.
LeaksProtect – operates on 2 3V AAA batteries that can provide up to 5 years of autonomous operation.
FireProtect 2 RB (Heat/Smoke/CO) – specifically, the RB model has 2 pre-installed CR123A batteries that can provide up to 7 years of autonomous operation. Also, let me remind you that the batteries in the RB version of the detector are replaceable and can be easily replaced over time.
WaterStop, LeaksProtect and FireProtect 2 RB are modern technological devices that have left me with only positive impressions. They are very easy to connect and configure to suit your needs, and they perform their tasks, as real tests have shown, 100%. Can I recommend these devices after the review? Of course! If you are planning to create a reliable security system at home or at your facility, then WaterStop, LeaksProtect, FireProtect 2 RB, and the entire Ajax ecosystem are exactly what you need.
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