Aqara Sensor Magic: Creating a Burglar Alarm System on a Budget

Automation Inspirations
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Hey , Share a cool thing I put together with Aqara gear. I’m not exactly a smart home guru, but I’ve been slowly building stuff out in my apartment—and I finally managed to set up a working burglar alarm system that actually works and didn’t burn a hole in my wallet!

So here’s what I did: slapped an Aqara door sensor on the main entrance, motion sensor in the hallway, and used the hub M1S as the alarm/siren. Paired everything in the Aqara Home app, set an automation so that when the door sensor trips while I’m in “Away Mode,” the hub goes full siren mode and I get an alert on my phone. Same deal with the motion sensor.

Tested it a few times, and let’s just say my neighbors are definitely aware now. It legit sounds like a car alarm. Bonus: I added a delay so I can turn it off quickly when I get home (learned that the hard way after scaring myself).

Whole setup cost me way less than a typical security system, and honestly, for a renter like me, it’s perfect—portable, simple, and effective. Anyone else built something crazy with Aqara sensors on the cheap? Hit me up with ideas, I’m already thinking phase 2.

Happy automating!

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@LightingLlama What a fantastic and resourceful setup you’ve created! It’s always inspiring to hear how fellow users are creatively using Aqara products to enhance their home security without breaking the bank. Your approach of using the Aqara door sensor and motion sensor, combined with the M1S hub for alerts, is both clever and practical, especially for renters who need flexibility and portability.

The automation you set up in the Aqara Home app, where the hub sounds an alarm and sends an alert to your phone when the sensors are tripped, sounds like a very effective deterrent. Plus, incorporating a delay to allow yourself time to deactivate the alarm shows great foresight.

Thanks for sharing your experience! It’s contributions like yours that make this community so valuable. If you’re thinking of a phase 2, perhaps exploring the integration of Aqara’s Door and Window Sensor P2, which supports multiple ecosystems like Apple HomeKit, Google, and Alexa, could add more layers of automation and connectivity to your system. Keep us posted on your updates and any new ideas you come up with! Happy automating!