Has anyone tried linking an Aqara motion sensor to control an Eve Light Strip using HomeKit automations with motion and brightness (lux) levels?
I tried this setup recently. The Aqara motion sensor works fine for motion, but its lux value isn’t shared to HomeKit, which is a bit disappointing. I found out that the Eve Light Strip has one of the nicest warm white tones and really good brightness.
Using the Eve app, I was able to create an animation that turns on the light when the room is occupied and the lux is below 70. It feels pretty natural — the light fades in softly when it’s dark enough.
Curious if anyone has found a workaround to get Aqara’s lux value into HomeKit, or if you’re using another way to make this kind of setup work.
Hello @justice_daniel
Aqara motion sensors, except for the P2, update lux readings only after motion is detected. The P2 sensor can do this without motion detection.
The P1 and P2 sensors that I use in Homekit also use Lux as a luminance measurement.
most of my automation are done in Homekit.
When using P1 sensor, it doesn’t expose the lux to homekit.
I have both p1 and p2.
The p2 sensor is added to Homekit via Matter. I am able to create automation when Lux level Raise above or Drop below, however I cannot combine Turn on Light When HAS MOTION and LUX LEVEL is above 70.
The homekit automation doesn’t seems to have IF THEN IF THEN IF THEN
What you have achieved through the Eve app, I have achieved it using the signals sync function in the Aqara app over matter. My Aqara is also enabled in Home assistant. In turn, my home assistant entities are enabled in HomeKit through the HomeKit Bridge for Home Assistant.
In the Aqara app, I have created a signal which is an If statement and synced over matter.
It is a workaround as it only works if you set a certain lux value. Homekit sees it as an Occupancy sensor. Basically a binary (true / false) statement that you can configure if occupied (if motion detected and lux value is below 10), then…
Big disadvantage of this workaround is that it is pretty slow in reacting.
In the Aqara app you can create signals that use the features of the Aqara app and sync them over matter to another platform/hub.
in the Aqara app, go to Profile>Connect to Ecosystems>Matter (or any other platform you may have except HomKit)>Scene and Signal Sync.
Here you can create signals that you then sync over Matter. For this to work, your Aqara hub needs to be linked over matter to another platform. In my case that is Home Assistant but it may well be that you can also link your Hub over matter in HomeKit instead of natively through HomeKit. I haven’t tested that but it would definitely improve the performance because in my case I have Home Assistant in between.
Once you have synced your signals your other platform will the see the synced signals as occupancy sensors (true/false).
This workaround can be really useful if you want to bring the automation/scene features from the Aqara app to another platform. For example, I have the Aqara Cube Pro. using this sync feature I can use the rotate, shake and push features from the aqara app and apply them in Home Assistant. The same can be done for bringing over certain illumination lux values.
It should also be available on the m2. I also got this to work with my m1s hub. As long as your aqara hub is linked to your other platform (eg HomeKit) over matter.
my aqara is linked directly to homekit without matter.
I am not sure if i can link both homekit and matter, using homekit for the devices and matter only for signal.
Find the Matter device you want to pair and tap it (long).
Tap the settings gear icon to access the settings.
Scroll down
Tap “Turn On Pairing Mode”
This will show a new Matter setup code (QR code or numeric code)
Use that code to add the accessory to another Matter controller
Note: The device must support multi-admin and the code displayed is different from the original pairing code and valid for a limited time (usually a few minutes).
my aqara is linked directly to homekit without matter.