Loved this video. Started my HomeKit by watching your videos. This one was inspirational. We take care of my wife’s mom who is very elderly, can’t hear without her hearing aids and can hardly see. Using your suggestions I bought a chair sensor mat and a bed sensor mat, connected them to the Aqara door/window sensors and took the extra step of getting an Aqara light strip which I installed under the fireplace box behind the grate. Now, when mom is in bed we have one color; when she is in her chair (where she seems to spend most of her waking time) we get another color. If she is not in either we get yet a third color so we know she is mobile. If for some reason both bed and chair sensors are “occupies” we get one of those changing color effects. So much easier to have an unobtrusive indicator of where she is in her rooms without constantly looking in. With the number of caregivers out there taking care of elderly relatives it’s kind of amazing there isn’t more information about using smart home devices like these to make everyone’s life just a little bit easier. Now, if I can figure out how to create an automation to notify us when she gets up in the morning (usually within the same couple of hours) without giving false notice when she just gets up to go to the bathroom (and won’t keep going off throughout the day) that would be really helpful! Thanks again for your videos. Regards, Charlie
These exact projects are what got me into HomeAssistant, you're able to read a return value and use it to make these sensors much more precise and then pass those states back into HomeKit, especially for uses like under a mattress or couch seat. I personally use these for adding context to occupancy, so while a motion sensor or mmWave sensor may be able to inform that I'm in say the living room, one of these sensors can show that I'm sat on the sofa and have automations work differently depending on that state. Say, turn the lights off when no motion is detected, unless someone is sat on the Sofa. Turn on the bedroom light when motion is detected, unless someone is already in bed etc etc.
Brilliant. I did this with my hardwired door contacts at my house. Instead of having the Aqara sensor sticking on all the doors I have them stuck in the old alarm panel and they’re so fast and reliable. That’s probably how I’d to a gate sensor too. Use an outdoor rated contact sensor and wire it to an Aqara sensor in the house or in a weatherproof box. Kinda solves the range issue if it’s a gate far away. Could work for a mailbox too. 😅
I would totally use this so I know when my toddlers get out of bed! Freaks me out thinking about them awake and wandering around the house while I’m sleeping
I do something similar with my CPAP, I have it hooked up to a power monitoring outlet. If it starts drawing power at night, it turns off any lights that are left on, if it powers off at night it turns my lamp on.
You got me thinking. Do you think I could us the Aqara contact sensor to make a dumb button “smart”? I’m thinking I could use this method, what do you think?
An Advanced Feature of the Aqara door and window sensors are the small holes in the board. They are directly connected to the ends of the reed contact. You can easily put some jacks from jumper wires through them, so in case you have these and some wago clamps you can have a reliable connection without soldering.
@@faengelm Just search for wago 221. But I think they are not the most important part, any type of connector can be used. They are connected by dupont cables to the two holes near the reed contact on mainboard of the Aqara sensor.
I used the same aqara leak sensor for my home cinema. 3D printed a remote control holding upper part and attached 2 small magnets to the remote base. When you pick up the remote it turns on my shield pro, 3 amps, laser short throw projector, sub and extends the screen.
On the same source for my office chair, I preferred to use an FSR sensor (more reliable over time) with the Onvis CT3 for the Thread network, it's extremely easy to open too ! I'd like to try it with the Eve Door & Window for the Matter part, it should be much better, maybe within the week if I find a cheap or second-hand one.
Did something similar with the water sensor and a bilge pump switch. It monitors my pool water level and let’s me know when it’s low. But as you mentioned, it’s always telling me there’s a leak😂 That use of the window sensor is awesome!
Very cool Shane! I've been thinking of some possible uses for this solution since the subject was mentioned on your Member's Discord Group. I think I may do something with a Sensor Mat on the floor by my workbench. Seems like it may be a very good way to trigger my Smart Lighting for the bench. Thanks for the ideas!
Don't even need a mat. Two pieces of cardboard, foil, spare wire and weatherstrip foam. Make a sandwich with the middle hollow (Glue foil on two pieces of cardboard, each board tape a wire. line weatherstripping around one piece then put the second piece on top). Basically when the cardboard compresses, the foil touches which in turn completes the circuit of the two wires. I've had this under my bed for over a year and it works every night without fail.
I noticed in the product description that the pad needs to be replaced every 90/180/365 days , depending on the version you buy. Don't like the idea of be replacing the bed sensor from time to time. What do you think about it? Great video as always! Thanks for the content! 👍🏻
Did the same thing with abode door sensors, used the existing hidden wiring and sensors from the door and window sensors of the old alarm system. Looks better than having them on the door/window frame.
LOOOVEEE this idea! I recently dug out my old Withings Sleep sensor to see if I could get it to work in HK but I couldn't get any plug-ins to work easy enough in homebridge, so I may have to go down this route 🤔
Brilliant use of the water sensor. Takes me back to 1999 using the X-10 powerflash modules. I was thinking could use the sensor with a normal doorbell button. Make a simple Door Bell routine to play audio when pressed. $22 vs $220 doorbell cam. Needless to say i ordered one of those water sensors for my Aqara M(attter)2 hub. And to test with all my other zigbee hubs.
Nice Video, was looking for something like that. Do you know what is the difference between 90 day, 180 day and 1 year usage? Do they stop working after that time or what is that?
I'm not completely sure tbh. I think it must be related to regulations or something like that for short and long term patients (I assume they must get new ones every so often).
Great video Shane! I’ve been using mine for a while now to turn on my Living Room tv and my home theater area at night. I added few more conditions to eliminate false triggers also. The way I did mine was I used a Zwave dry contact sensor (no need to solder) that I picked up from Amazon, then I added car seat sensors (dirt cheap $2) I added everything to the Hubitat hub and used the HomeKit integration (thanks to you I found that out via your video) and voila!!
Hey! Thanks for this awesome channel. I wonder what would you recomend for controling IR-devices? I would like to start my projector and soundsystem with voicecontrol along with my apple tv
No IR blasters support HomeKit natively that I know of. A few support Siri Shortcuts, like the Aqara M2, Aqara G3, SwitchBot hub, etc. If you are using HomeBridge, there are a few that should work like broadlink, Logitech harmony, and some others that I've heard of.
I use HomeAssistant but have been considering setting something up like this to turn on nightlights at night when I get up to use the restroom so I don't blind myself and trip over stuff trying to get back to my bed
I used an Aqara leak sensor with two copper wires attached to the sensor leads that extend into the pipe that leads into the pit. When water flows in I’m notified with an Aqara notification. It doesn’t exactly tell me that the pump ran, rather when water flows in.
Hello. Here is the option to use. You can put the sensor in the chair you sit on when you work. You can be busy with work and not notice that someone has entered the house. A combination of a pressure sensor and a door open sensor can let you know that someone has come. for example, turn on a light bulb or a red LED strip that you will glue behind your computer monitor in advance.
These mats are rated for 90 days use so hope your going to look forward to spending £10 a month keeping this sensor running, made a subscription sensor 😂
Hi Shane! Love your ideas, thanks for this channel. Any ideas for a DIY HomeKit mailbox/letter detection? There's no powersource at the mailbox so it would preferably be battery powered. ;) Thanks Niek
I want to test this out with my cats electric warm blanket so it turns on if detects a cat is sitting on top and off if the cat is not sitting there. I wonder if I can find a mat capable of detecting just 5kg difference though.
Hey Rick, I'm not 100% sure tbh. I think the time limits are more for caregivers... regulations... that sort of thing. I assume caregivers have to change out the sensors after a certain amount of time of for new patients.
Hey Shane, seen your shorty YT video on the new hubitat hub. I thought you were strictly a HomeKit guy. Can you use both together & are the automations easy to use as SmartThings & better than the seeming difficult Home Assistant programming? Thanks!
Hey Dan. I am strictly a HomeKit guy. I'm using Hubitat primarily to integrate z-wave devices into my HomeKit setup. I still use HomeKit for almost all of my automations. Almost anything will probably be easier to use than programming in Home Assistant.
Unrelated question i forgot to ask during the last live talk. Since i updated to the new architecture my homekit was butchered, and i have to start over unfortunatly. Luckly there isn't many automations i need to worry about. But question is. Should i redo my home in Homekit now or wait for 16.4? What is your recommendations.
@@ShaneCreates hmm i had issues with devices, and also my wife lost access and I cannot add her back. Prompted me to just delete the house as most is in NodeRed anyways. So mostly wondering if it makes sense to add the devices back now into a new house or wait until iOS 16.4? Also nice video, already looked up for some bed sensors on AliExpress 😅
Could this work with Eve? Getting ready to transition our child from crib to bed... Wife is concerned about not knowing that our kid is out of bed. I have been looking at pressure pads and wanted something compatible with homekit... this may just do the trick.
Most contact sensors work like this, so I'd think it would work with Eve also. Although the Eve sensors are a little more expensive, so I'm more hesitant to bust one of those open and start tinkering around.
I’d put it under the seat of my recliner, and anytime the kids try to sit in it I’d have Alexa say “you’re in my spot” continuously until a switch turned it off
Loved this video. Started my HomeKit by watching your videos. This one was inspirational. We take care of my wife’s mom who is very elderly, can’t hear without her hearing aids and can hardly see. Using your suggestions I bought a chair sensor mat and a bed sensor mat, connected them to the Aqara door/window sensors and took the extra step of getting an Aqara light strip which I installed under the fireplace box behind the grate.
Now, when mom is in bed we have one color; when she is in her chair (where she seems to spend most of her waking time) we get another color. If she is not in either we get yet a third color so we know she is mobile. If for some reason both bed and chair sensors are “occupies” we get one of those changing color effects.
So much easier to have an unobtrusive indicator of where she is in her rooms without constantly looking in. With the number of caregivers out there taking care of elderly relatives it’s kind of amazing there isn’t more information about using smart home devices like these to make everyone’s life just a little bit easier.
Now, if I can figure out how to create an automation to notify us when she gets up in the morning (usually within the same couple of hours) without giving false notice when she just gets up to go to the bathroom (and won’t keep going off throughout the day) that would be really helpful!
Thanks again for your videos.
Regards,
Charlie
These exact projects are what got me into HomeAssistant, you're able to read a return value and use it to make these sensors much more precise and then pass those states back into HomeKit, especially for uses like under a mattress or couch seat.
I personally use these for adding context to occupancy, so while a motion sensor or mmWave sensor may be able to inform that I'm in say the living room, one of these sensors can show that I'm sat on the sofa and have automations work differently depending on that state. Say, turn the lights off when no motion is detected, unless someone is sat on the Sofa.
Turn on the bedroom light when motion is detected, unless someone is already in bed etc etc.
I got the aqara water leak and same pad you got. Works okay. Quick to detect pressure, slow to show clear/no weight
Brilliant. I did this with my hardwired door contacts at my house. Instead of having the Aqara sensor sticking on all the doors I have them stuck in the old alarm panel and they’re so fast and reliable. That’s probably how I’d to a gate sensor too. Use an outdoor rated contact sensor and wire it to an Aqara sensor in the house or in a weatherproof box. Kinda solves the range issue if it’s a gate far away. Could work for a mailbox too. 😅
I want to put 1 on my toilet seat. When I sit down it will turn the bathroom fan on! 😂
I would totally use this so I know when my toddlers get out of bed! Freaks me out thinking about them awake and wandering around the house while I’m sleeping
Just when I think I'm all done with big projects you come through with this GOLD. So sick
Haha thanks for watching Delyn!
I do something similar with my CPAP, I have it hooked up to a power monitoring outlet. If it starts drawing power at night, it turns off any lights that are left on, if it powers off at night it turns my lamp on.
Wow, that's a great idea! Never heard of anyone using a CPAP for automations. Brilliant!
I love that Aqara sponsors you to hack their products 🤣😂
This would be a great idea at my dads house to make sure he’s getting out of bed everyday and let it notify that’s he’s up and moving around.
Thanks. I’m going to do this for my dog bed, my disabled brothers bed, and my parents bed.
You got me thinking. Do you think I could us the Aqara contact sensor to make a dumb button “smart”?
I’m thinking I could use this method, what do you think?
Dude. This is genius.
Shane really like your ideas & how you can innovate to make sensors more adaptable.
good video again! I also use it as an alarm system... So a sensor under a carpet...
That's a good idea!
Haha dude. I was just researching a bed sensor for sleep scene and blind automations throughout the day. Thank you!
Perfect! Thanks for watching Sigmund!
An Advanced Feature of the Aqara door and window sensors are the small holes in the board. They are directly connected to the ends of the reed contact. You can easily put some jacks from jumper wires through them, so in case you have these and some wago clamps you can have a reliable connection without soldering.
Thanks for the tip!
Please provide a link to "wago" clamps
@@faengelm Just search for wago 221. But I think they are not the most important part, any type of connector can be used.
They are connected by dupont cables to the two holes near the reed contact on mainboard of the Aqara sensor.
I used the same aqara leak sensor for my home cinema. 3D printed a remote control holding upper part and attached 2 small magnets to the remote base. When you pick up the remote it turns on my shield pro, 3 amps, laser short throw projector, sub and extends the screen.
Wow that's awesome!!
On the same source for my office chair, I preferred to use an FSR sensor (more reliable over time) with the Onvis CT3 for the Thread network, it's extremely easy to open too !
I'd like to try it with the Eve Door & Window for the Matter part, it should be much better, maybe within the week if I find a cheap or second-hand one.
Wow how easy it it to make 😮 gotta try one in next week then
This is genius! Thank you
Amaziiiing Shane i will do this for sureeee
This is super cool! Already made my non smart door chime smart with one of Aqara door and window sensors. Maybe I’ll try your idea too!
I would use this in my desk chair so when I’m working the lights will stay on, but when I leave the lights will turn off after a few min. Great video!
That's a great one! Thanks for watching!
Did something similar with the water sensor and a bilge pump switch. It monitors my pool water level and let’s me know when it’s low. But as you mentioned, it’s always telling me there’s a leak😂 That use of the window sensor is awesome!
Hi Shane, Thnx for the incredible good and simple solution here. It opens up a lot of different ways of looking at using sensors !!
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
This would be great for an overhead work light at your workbench.
Great idea!!
you could use hook test leads for connection to reed switch.
I love it. Great idea and I love mixing up the content on your channel!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!
Very cool Shane!
I've been thinking of some possible uses for this solution since the subject was mentioned on your Member's Discord Group. I think I may do something with a Sensor Mat on the floor by my workbench. Seems like it may be a very good way to trigger my Smart Lighting for the bench.
Thanks for the ideas!
That's awesome. I can't wait to see what you come up with! !
This is a DIY project right up your alley!
Wow love it! Great job
Don't even need a mat. Two pieces of cardboard, foil, spare wire and weatherstrip foam. Make a sandwich with the middle hollow (Glue foil on two pieces of cardboard, each board tape a wire. line weatherstripping around one piece then put the second piece on top). Basically when the cardboard compresses, the foil touches which in turn completes the circuit of the two wires. I've had this under my bed for over a year and it works every night without fail.
Do you have images you can share of this? Struggling to get a visual in my head from your instructions
I noticed in the product description that the pad needs to be replaced every 90/180/365 days , depending on the version you buy.
Don't like the idea of be replacing the bed sensor from time to time.
What do you think about it?
Great video as always! Thanks for the content! 👍🏻
I can't figure out if that's a built in battery or just a suggestion. I don't want to buy a $4=50 mat every 6 months... anyone else figure this out?
So ingenious
Omg 😳 how do you come up with this stuff, awesome idea and the possibilities /uses are endless hey.
Thank you! Cheers!
very creative!
Did the same thing with abode door sensors, used the existing hidden wiring and sensors from the door and window sensors of the old alarm system. Looks better than having them on the door/window frame.
LOOOVEEE this idea! I recently dug out my old Withings Sleep sensor to see if I could get it to work in HK but I couldn't get any plug-ins to work easy enough in homebridge, so I may have to go down this route 🤔
Good morning and hope all is well. What would be the best NFC tags and stickers available on Amazon?
You can look forward to aqara fp2, or you can have a good experience with door and window sensors plus some pressure sensor kits.
Can u give us some pressure sensor alternatives? The Sammons Preston is not available in my country.
Brilliant use of the water sensor. Takes me back to 1999 using the X-10 powerflash modules. I was thinking could use the sensor with a normal doorbell button. Make a simple Door Bell routine to play audio when pressed. $22 vs $220 doorbell cam. Needless to say i ordered one of those water sensors for my Aqara M(attter)2 hub. And to test with all my other zigbee hubs.
on the bed sensor, any idea what the difference is between the 90-day, 180-day, and 1-year use?
That's how long they work for before failing, pressure mats are not good for longevity for a smart home.
Interesting idea but like Joan Crawford (no wire hangers ever) my edict is ("no hubs ever"!) Thanks for the demonstration...very clever!
Thanks Shane, but what if I use Aqara vibration sensor?
Nice Video, was looking for something like that. Do you know what is the difference between 90 day, 180 day and 1 year usage? Do they stop working after that time or what is that?
I'm not completely sure tbh. I think it must be related to regulations or something like that for short and long term patients (I assume they must get new ones every so often).
Great video Shane! I’ve been using mine for a while now to turn on my Living Room tv and my home theater area at night. I added few more conditions to eliminate false triggers also. The way I did mine was I used a Zwave dry contact sensor (no need to solder) that I picked up from Amazon, then I added car seat sensors (dirt cheap $2) I added everything to the Hubitat hub and used the HomeKit integration (thanks to you I found that out via your video) and voila!!
That's awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Hey! Thanks for this awesome channel. I wonder what would you recomend for controling IR-devices? I would like to start my projector and soundsystem with voicecontrol along with my apple tv
No IR blasters support HomeKit natively that I know of. A few support Siri Shortcuts, like the Aqara M2, Aqara G3, SwitchBot hub, etc.
If you are using HomeBridge, there are a few that should work like broadlink, Logitech harmony, and some others that I've heard of.
This would be great for animals.
If you’re away & the sensor is activated, some type of noise telling the dog to get down 😂😂
Hi Shane do you know why the different bed sensors are rated by days?
Does it work if its a motion sensor installed behind the bed frame/board?
Straight from Minecraft 🥵👌🏼
I use HomeAssistant but have been considering setting something up like this to turn on nightlights at night when I get up to use the restroom so I don't blind myself and trip over stuff trying to get back to my bed
That is cool af 👍
What smart light are you using on your bedside table? I have the Meross one and I love it but yours caught my eye as well lol 😂
It's the Xiaomi Bedside Lamp 2. Even made a video about it a couple years ago! th-cam.com/video/kzCRZSXIyUI/w-d-xo.html
@@ShaneCreates thanks bro I appreciate you!!
@@ShaneCreates dang not available on Amazon right now
Instead of Aqara, you can use a Shelly 1
Super easy and no soldering
How much weight is allowed before the mat is triggered? Also, can you adjust this amount?...
Hi, any idea to know when the sump pump is running, maybe a vibration sensor? It would be cool to know how often it runs.
Aqara has a vibration sensor already. Easy to use.
I used an Aqara leak sensor with two copper wires attached to the sensor leads that extend into the pipe that leads into the pit. When water flows in I’m notified with an Aqara notification.
It doesn’t exactly tell me that the pump ran, rather when water flows in.
This is a good idea to tell me my dog is at the front door and want to come in.
Love that idea!
Hello. Here is the option to use. You can put the sensor in the chair you sit on when you work. You can be busy with work and not notice that someone has entered the house. A combination of a pressure sensor and a door open sensor can let you know that someone has come. for example, turn on a light bulb or a red LED strip that you will glue behind your computer monitor in advance.
That's a great idea!
These mats are rated for 90 days use so hope your going to look forward to spending £10 a month keeping this sensor running, made a subscription sensor 😂
Hi Shane! Love your ideas, thanks for this channel. Any ideas for a DIY HomeKit mailbox/letter detection? There's no powersource at the mailbox so it would preferably be battery powered. ;) Thanks Niek
An Aqara contact or vibration sensor on the mailbox could probably do the trick if you can get decent enough range.
@@ShaneCreates thanks! But Aqara would need a hub as well?
@@ShaneCreates found a solution and works great. Just posted a video on this topic but not sure if I can drop the link here 😉
I want to test this out with my cats electric warm blanket so it turns on if detects a cat is sitting on top and off if the cat is not sitting there. I wonder if I can find a mat capable of detecting just 5kg difference though.
Noticed these pressure sensors have time limits… what’s that about? Like do they literally stop working after the time limit? Thanks!
Hey Rick, I'm not 100% sure tbh. I think the time limits are more for caregivers... regulations... that sort of thing. I assume caregivers have to change out the sensors after a certain amount of time of for new patients.
Hi Shane, have you tried this with a door sensor that doesn’t require a hub?
I have only done it with the Aqara sensors.
Thanks 🙏
Hey Shane, seen your shorty YT video on the new hubitat hub. I thought you were strictly a HomeKit guy. Can you use both together & are the automations easy to use as SmartThings & better than the seeming difficult Home Assistant programming? Thanks!
Hey Dan. I am strictly a HomeKit guy. I'm using Hubitat primarily to integrate z-wave devices into my HomeKit setup. I still use HomeKit for almost all of my automations. Almost anything will probably be easier to use than programming in Home Assistant.
Unrelated question i forgot to ask during the last live talk.
Since i updated to the new architecture my homekit was butchered, and i have to start over unfortunatly. Luckly there isn't many automations i need to worry about.
But question is. Should i redo my home in Homekit now or wait for 16.4? What is your recommendations.
If you've already updated to the new architecture, I don't think there's any reason to wait.
@@ShaneCreates hmm i had issues with devices, and also my wife lost access and I cannot add her back.
Prompted me to just delete the house as most is in NodeRed anyways.
So mostly wondering if it makes sense to add the devices back now into a new house or wait until iOS 16.4?
Also nice video, already looked up for some bed sensors on AliExpress 😅
If i put it under a mat will it feel weird to walk on ???
I don't think so.
Does anybody know of a similar but smaller sensor pad? Something closer to 10"x10"
This is brilliant. I think I might use it to sense when my dog gets on the couch at night to tell her to get off of it.
Anyone have a good plug and play HomeKit IR blaster to suggest?
I don't know of any that support HomeKit natively.
Flic do one. You'll need the flic hub though
Tip for more reliable detection under a mattress. Place a foam pad on top of the mattress and put the sensor between the pad and the mattress.
Thanks for the tip!
Could this work with Eve?
Getting ready to transition our child from crib to bed... Wife is concerned about not knowing that our kid is out of bed. I have been looking at pressure pads and wanted something compatible with homekit... this may just do the trick.
Most contact sensors work like this, so I'd think it would work with Eve also. Although the Eve sensors are a little more expensive, so I'm more hesitant to bust one of those open and start tinkering around.
The same principle works to wire up an old-school mouse trap. 🐭Beats paying $70 for a Victor M1, and they don't have Apple Home!.
I’d put it under the seat of my recliner, and anytime the kids try to sit in it I’d have Alexa say “you’re in my spot” continuously until a switch turned it off
😂 I love it!!
Uggg a hub, if it wasn’t for the hub I would use more aqara products.I wish they were like even and can use hub or not it you want
Why does your pad have expiration dates? 1 year, 6 months, etc. Amazon has you pick which expiration date you want
Aqara Thx for the offer ! But I have to pass ! ( Back door for China )