So I’ve been messing with Aqara motion sensors around my home for nighttime lighting and I gotta say — it’s been a bit of a rabbit hole.
Here’s what I’m trying to do: trigger dim, warm lights when motion is detected between say 10pm and 6am. Something soft enough to not blind me at 2am, but bright enough I don’t trip over the dog. I’ve got a few sensors paired with an Aqara M2 hub and everything’s running through HomeKit.
The issue? Either the lights are too bright, or they turn on at weird times, or sometimes don’t turn on at all unless I flail like crazy. I tried setting it up with conditional automations in the Apple Home app but honestly it’s kinda clunky and limited.
So—has anyone here found a setup that just works? Maybe with time-based scenes or using shortcuts for better control? Also open to third-party app suggestions if that helps make the logic more precise.
Would love to hear what setups you guys have running. Ideal goal: smooth, subtle lighting that doesn’t feel like I’m triggering a lighthouse at night.
Appreciate any tips!
@Sophia_Brown It sounds like you’re on quite the adventure with your nighttime lighting setup! Achieving that perfect balance between functionality and ambiance can indeed feel like navigating a rabbit hole, especially with motion sensors and smart home integrations.
From the reference information, I suggest considering the Aqara Motion and Light Sensor P2, which offers more granular control over lighting based on motion and brightness. With the P2, you can set an automation that triggers when motion is detected, and the brightness is below a certain level, which could help in creating that soft, subtle lighting you’re aiming for. For example, you could set up a condition like: “IF Motion is detected WHEN Brightness is lower than x lux THEN Set the light to Dim Warm White.” This could ensure the lights turn on only when it’s appropriately dark and only to a comfortable brightness.
Additionally, since you’re using HomeKit, you might explore creating scenes or leveraging third-party apps that offer more advanced automation capabilities, possibly allowing for smoother transitions and better timing precision. Some users find apps like Eve for HomeKit offer more robust scene management and scheduling options that might suit your needs better.
While the P2 sensor and certain apps can potentially refine your setup, sometimes achieving exactly what you want might require a bit of experimentation with different configurations. Keep tinkering, and hopefully, you’ll find the perfect glow that doesn’t feel like a lighthouse beacon at night. Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress!