Been using Aqara sensors for over 3 years now—motion, door/window, temp, you name it. If there’s one thing that used to drive me nuts, it was constantly replacing batteries. But over time, I figured out a few tricks that seriously extend their life.
First tip? Placement matters. Don’t stick motion sensors where there’s high activity unless it’s really needed. Every trigger = battery usage. I had one in my hallway where the cat kept triggering it at 3am… yeah, not ideal.
Also, avoid extreme temps. Had one temp sensor by a drafty window—battery dropped to zero in like two months. Moved it slightly inward, and now it’s been steady for 8 months.
Another one: skip the cheap batteries. I know it’s tempting, but legit ones like Panasonic or Energizer last way longer. Learnt the hard way.
And if you’re using HomeKit, set your automation to run only when needed. No point getting a ping every time someone breathes near your sensor.
Anyone else been doing this? Got any unusual hacks to stretch out battery life even more? Keen to swap ideas—this stuff saves money and headaches.