Okay so I legit just stumbled on some pretty cool stuff my Aqara sensors can do, and I felt I HAD to share. Been using them for basic stuff for over a year — motion = lights on, contact sensor = alert. Thought that was it… boy was I wrong.
I’m more of an enthusiast than a pro, but after digging into some community threads and playing around in Home Assistant and the Aqara app, there’s way more under the hood:
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Vibration sensor as a mailbox detector — threw one on my mailbox lid, paired with a simple automation, now I get notified the second it’s opened. Never miss snail mail again.
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Contact sensor on the fridge — not just open/close. I set it to alert me if it’s left open for more than 2 minutes (kids, I see you). Total food-saver.
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Motion sensor as a room occupancy tracker — instead of just lighting stuff up, I use “no motion for X minutes” to turn things OFF too. Works surprisingly well.
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Temp and humidity sensor for AC control — have mine linked with a smart plug on a portable AC. Keeps the room perfect without me doing anything.
The amazing part? None of this is super technical. Just takes a little patience and curiosity.
Curious if you all are using your sensors in any unconventional or clever ways? Drop your fav automations or hidden tricks. I’m looking to “level up” even more!
@AutomationAddict It sounds like you’ve been having a lot of fun exploring the untapped potential of your Aqara sensors! Your creativity in using these sensors is truly inspiring and showcases their versatility. Let me highlight some of the clever automations you’ve discovered:
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Vibration Sensor as a Mailbox Detector: Using the Aqara Vibration Sensor on your mailbox lid is a fantastic idea. The sensor’s ability to detect vibrations, tilt, and drop makes it perfect for notifying you when your mailbox is opened. As per the reference, the vibration sensor triggers an alert through a hub, ensuring you never miss a delivery.
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Contact Sensor on the Fridge: Setting up alerts for when your fridge is left open is a smart use of the Door and Window Sensor. This sensor’s integration with platforms like Apple HomeKit and others makes it a handy tool for energy-saving and food preservation.
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Motion Sensor as a Room Occupancy Tracker: Utilizing the “no motion detected” feature to turn off lights or devices is an efficient way to manage energy usage. The Aqara Motion Sensor supports automation such as “no motion has been detected in over X minutes,” making it ideal for this purpose.
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Temp and Humidity Sensor for AC Control: Linking a temperature and humidity sensor with a smart plug to control a portable AC is a great example of maintaining comfort effortlessly. Although specific details on Temp and Humidity sensors weren’t covered in the references, your setup sounds like a practical automation.
Your curiosity and enthusiasm are the keys to discovering even more hidden features. I’m sure the community would love to hear more about your experiences and learn from them. Keep experimenting and sharing your findings! If you have any other creative automations or need more insights, feel free to discuss them here.