DIY Zigbee Bed/Chair Occupancy Sensor - A Cost-Effective Solution!

General
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Hey everyone, I wanted to share a fun and practical DIY project I recently completed to solve a common smart home issue. I’ve been using a motion sensor in my room to toggle the lights, but I noticed the lights would often turn off because I wasn’t moving enough while sitting in my chair. This was super annoying, especially during long reading sessions or movie nights!

So, I decided to create a chair occupancy sensor to keep the lights on when I’m present. I’m excited to share how I did it because it’s a great example of how you can customize your smart home setup with a little creativity and some affordable parts!

What You’ll Need:

  • Aqara Door/Window Sensor: I used this one from AliExpress because it’s reliable and affordable.
  • Citall Car Seat Pressure Sensor: Another great find on AliExpress. It’s perfect for detecting weight changes.
  • Soldering Iron: Essential for connecting the components.
  • Chair: Any chair with a bit of DIY-friendly design (like a zipper for easy access).

The Process:

  1. Disassemble the Aqara Sensor: I took apart the sensor to access the PCB. This was a bit tricky, but careful prying did the trick!
  2. Prepare the Pressure Sensor: I pulled the wires out of the car seat sensor and soldered them to the magnetic sensor on the Aqara PCB. I didn’t worry about which wire went where since it’s just detecting presence.
  3. Reassemble and Test: After soldering, I put the battery back in and paired it with Home Assistant using Zigbee2MQTT. It worked like a charm!
  4. Install in the Chair: I had to remove some fabric to place the sensor under the chair cushion. It wasn’t too invasive, and now it’s completely hidden!

Results:

This DIY sensor has been a game-changer! The lights stay on when I’m sitting, and they turn off only when I leave the room. It’s super reliable and has saved me from accidentally turning off the lights in the middle of a movie.

I’d love to hear if anyone else has tried similar projects or has tips to improve this setup. It’s a fantastic way to customize your smart home without breaking the bank!

Happy DIY-ing! :rocket: