Has anyone had success using the FP2 outdoors to trigger something like porch lights. I have a covered Fascia and can run a usb-c cable to it, but have been reading of a lot of false positives from rain etc… any one done it?
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@bobby2 Using the FP2 outdoors can work for something like porch-light triggering, but false positives are definitely something you’ll want to plan around—FP2’s mmWave radar is very sensitive to movement/energy changes, so anything that moves in its field (plants blowing in wind, hanging decor, etc.) can trigger presence. That same sensitivity is why people worry about weather-related triggers.
A couple practical tips if you do try it:
- Mounting & aiming matter a lot: In most home setups, Aqara recommends mounting around 1.4–1.8 m; if mounted higher, angle it slightly downward to reduce odd detections.
- Do a “proper mapping” pass: Make sure you set up Edge and Interference sources—they’re specifically there because FP2 is sensitive to moving objects and reflections, and the more complete the setup, the better accuracy you’ll get. For a porch, marking areas where plants/flags/decor move can help reduce nuisance triggers.
- Automation side: Once zones are set, you can trigger porch lights via Zone Detection automations (enter/leave a zone) in Aqara Home.
One more note: FP2 has an IPX5 protection rating, but the official guidance also says to avoid placing it near heat sources—so under a covered fascia is generally a smarter choice than fully exposed mounting.
This information comes from community discussions and user experience summaries and may vary by environment. Please verify carefully. Original post link: Aqara Presence Sensor FP2 - Help Center
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