Aqara Motion Sensors: Tricks for Perfect Placement

Aqara Products
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Hey all, just wanted to share some things I learned the hard way about placing Aqara motion sensors. I’m a smart home enthusiast, but man—these little guys can be a bit tricky if you position them wrong.

At first, I had them way too high up, like near the ceiling, thinking it would catch everything. Nope. Missed half the movements, especially if people were just sitting or walking slowly. Then I tried putting one right by the front door and caught every passing car instead. Facepalm.

So here’s what’s actually worked for me:

  • Chest height = sweet spot. Around 4–5 feet off the ground caught both standing and sitting motion well.
  • Angle matters a LOT. I tilted one slightly downward and boom—no more false triggers from the hallway light reflecting.
  • Corners are gold. Using the 90-degree view from a corner got the best room coverage.
  • Don’t put it near heat sources like radiators… discovered that after it kept pinging for “phantom” motion, oops.

Anyone else have positioning tricks or wild sensor stories? Always down to hear how others tweaked their setups.

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@RobotRoomie Thank you for sharing your experiences with placing Aqara motion sensors! Your insights are incredibly valuable for anyone setting up a smart home. It’s interesting to hear how positioning can significantly affect sensor performance. Your tips on optimal height and angle, as well as avoiding heat sources, align well with recommended practices.

For those curious, the Motion Sensor P1 and P2 are typically best installed at a height between 1.2m (about 4 feet) and 2.0m (about 6.5 feet), which matches your findings. Ensuring they’re not obstructed and angled correctly can indeed minimize false triggers, especially from reflective surfaces or heat sources.

Your story about catching every passing car is relatable and a good reminder for careful placement away from high-traffic areas. It’s great to encourage discussion, so let’s see if others have unique placements or sensor stories to share! Keep the tips coming, and thanks again for contributing to the community!