I have a couple FP2 Presence Detectors and have tried various installation locations. I am wondering about the experience others have had, and how it compares to mine.
The biggest challenge i have run into is gaining spouse approval. She does not want a white circle capturing her eye, or worse, a USB cable running down the wall.
I have tried hiding it behind a curtain, but that seems to degrade its performance.
I have noticed if I have configured it for a corner installation, the detection distance is not as far as when configured for middle of the wall mounting. But when mounted in the middle of the wall of a large room, it does not detect people located near the corners of that wall.
I have also tried locating it at a lower height. I find then it has trouble with detection interference from chairs and other furniture in its field of view.
I have found a window sill location in my dining room that works well for my Dining & Kitchen areas with virtually no detection errors, but I have yet to find the ideal location for the one in my living room.
I have also discovered my FP2 can get reflections off the front of my refrigerator. Thus, depending on the size & position of my detection zones, having the FP2 located at an angle to the front surface of my refrigerator can cause mislocated detections. Fortunately, i did find a location that alleviated this issue.
So, I am wondering what observations others have noted, and what workarounds they have found.
I do wish the FP2 could be rotated 90 degrees in its mounting adapter so it could be mounted to the side of an object (swapping L/R with Up/Down). It would also be nice if it could be angled up to 45 degrees side-to-side so it could detect people right up against the wall on one side when wall mounted - or both sides when wall mounted near a corner.
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@tvlorsfamily Thank you for sharing your experiences with the FP2 Presence Detectors! It’s always fascinating to hear how others are navigating the installation challenges and finding creative solutions.
Based on the reference information, here are some insights and tips that might resonate with your situation:
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Installation Height and Positioning: It’s suggested to mount the FP2 at a height of 1.4-1.8 meters for typical home settings. This can help reduce interference from furniture, as you’ve noticed with chairs in the field of view. For larger spaces, a height of over 2 meters might be acceptable, but it may require angling the sensor slightly downwards.
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Detection Range and Blind Spots: It sounds like you’ve noticed the typical trade-offs in detection range between corner and middle wall installations. The FP2 covers a horizontal detection angle of 120 degrees with a radial detection distance of 8 meters. Beyond 120 degrees, blind spots can occur, which might explain the corner detection issues you’ve experienced.
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Interference and Reflections: You mentioned reflections from your refrigerator, which can indeed affect detection. Marking areas with potential disturbances as interference zones might help, as recommended in the FP2’s settings.
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Installation Flexibility: While the FP2 does not currently support a 90-degree rotation or side-to-side angling up to 45 degrees in its mounting adapter, these are great suggestions that could enhance installation flexibility and detection capabilities.
Your insights about hiding the device behind curtains, and the impact on its performance, align with the advice to avoid installation near glass, mirrors, and other reflective surfaces.
Your feedback is greatly valued, and discussing these scenarios with the community can lead to innovative solutions and enhancements. If you have further questions or need assistance with configurations, feel free to ask!
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