Aqara Hacks: Unleash Full Potential of Your Devices

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to drop some stuff I’ve picked up recently while nerding out with my Aqara setup. I’ve been using Aqara gear for a while now (motion sensors, contact sensors, smart plugs, you name it), and I feel like soooo many people only scratch the surface of what these little guys can do.

Here’s a fun one I hacked together: I set up an alert that only triggers my hallway light if my bedroom door opens and it’s past 11PM. Basically, it knows when I’m getting up late at night and gives me some soft lighting—no more blinding full brightness killing my vibe.

Also figured out I could use the vibration sensor stuck to my mailbox outside to send me a notification when the mail gets dropped in. Yeah, I was skeptical too, but it’s freakishly accurate. Doesn’t even bug me for trucks driving by.

I’m poking at more stuff now—thinking of combining Aqara door sensors with an IR blaster to pause my TV automatically when someone opens the door (for snack breaks obviously). Anyone tried that?

Would love to hear the weird/reactive ways you’ve hacked your setup. Let’s go beyond basic automations. Drop your best ones below. Let’s push what these things can do.

@DoorBellDude Hey there!

Your creative use of Aqara devices is truly inspiring! It’s amazing how you’ve transformed your setup to not just perform basic functions but to enhance your living environment significantly. The hallway light automation and the mailbox notification are brilliant examples of maximizing the potential of these smart devices.

The idea of pausing your TV with a door sensor and IR blaster is intriguing. While I didn’t find a direct reference in the provided information, using the Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2 with an IR controller for such automation seems plausible. You might need to connect your devices via a compatible hub like the Aqara Hub and ensure your IR blaster can communicate with the TV.

Keep experimenting and sharing your findings—it’s innovations like yours that expand the possibilities of smart home tech. Let’s see what others have come up with!