Hello everyone, I wanted to share my experience with setting up motion sensor lights in the basement. It’s been a bit of a challenge, but I think I’ve found a good solution!
The Problem:
I have six zones in the basement, each with its own motion sensor and Shelly relay. It works great for the most part, but there’s this ‘play area’ that’s a bit tricky. The main motion sensor can’t see into the play area, so if the kids are playing there and the main sensor doesn’t detect motion, the lights turn off even if they’re still moving around. It’s a bit frustrating, especially when they’re enjoying their Hot Wheels!
The Solution:
I decided to link the main lights to the play area’s motion sensor. So, when motion is detected in the play area, the main lights also stay on. This way, the kids can play without the lights turning off too soon. I adjusted the automation rule to include both the play area and main sensors.
Here’s a simplified version of the rule I used:
yaml
alias: “Basement Lights”
description: “”
use_blueprint: path: homeassistant/motion_light.yaml
input:
motion_entity: binary_sensor.play_area_motion
light_target: entity_id: light.main_lights
no_motion_wait: 240
Challenges and Tips:
- Zones and Sensors: Make sure each zone has a reliable motion sensor. I found that placing them strategically helps cover all areas.
- Automation Timing: The
no_motion_waitsetting is crucial. I set it to 240 seconds to give enough time for the kids to move around without the lights turning off too quickly. - Testing: After setting up, test each scenario to ensure everything works as expected. It’s a bit of trial and error, but it’s worth it for a seamless experience.
If anyone has similar issues or suggestions, I’d love to hear them! It’s been a learning process, but I’m happy with how it turned out. 