Hey fellow Aqara fans! I’ve been tinkering with motion sensors for a while now and discovered some unexpectedly useful setups beyond the usual “turn on lights when I walk in” routine. Here’s my top 5 favorites:
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Pet food reminder - Mounted a sensor above my cat’s bowl that pings my phone if the bowl hasn’t been disturbed by dinner time. No more “hangry cat” situations!
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Laundry alert - Sensor on the washing machine door triggers a notification when the cycle finishes (because who actually hears the beep from the basement?)
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Secret knock entry - Programmed a specific movement pattern (wave hand twice slowly) to unlock my smart lock. Feels like a spy movie!
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Plant caretaker - Paired with a moisture sensor, it reminds me to water when no movement’s been detected near the plant for 3 days (meaning I’ve been ignoring it)
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“Quiet time” enforcer - Sensor on my home office door activates DND mode when it detects me entering during work hours
The best part? All these use just the basic motion detection in clever ways. What unusual sensor hacks have you guys created? Let’s swap some creative ideas!
(Pro tip for #3 - practice your knock pattern before locking yourself out. Learned that the hard way…)