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Philips Hue Movement Sensor: two-minute evaluate
The Philips Hue Movement Sensor, because the title suggests, is a palm-sized machine that triggers your good lights when it detects motion. That is not all, although – it additionally works as a house safety sensor, alerting you to potential intruders whilst you’re away. Simply faucet a button within the app to ‘arm‘ the Movement Sensor (plus another Philips Hue cameras and sensors in your house) and it will enter safety mode, making your lights behave otherwise and sending you a telephone notification if one thing occurs in your absence. For instance, your lights might flip pink or flash, whereas the app enables you to name an emergency contact with a faucet.
The Movement Sensor requires a Philips Hue Bridge to work, so it is best if you have already got a longtime good lighting setup. For those who’re not acquainted with the Bridge, it is a small hub that connects to your Wi-Fi router, and makes use of the Zigbee wi-fi protocol to attach all of your Philips Hue units in a mesh community.
It has an inventory value of $44.99 / £39.99 / AU$69.95, which implies it isn’t the most cost effective movement sensor round, and when you’re not going to make use of its safety capabilities you then is perhaps higher served by an easier Zigbee machine as an alternative. Nevertheless, the Philips Hue Movement Sensor’s additional safety features imply it might even be a cornerstone of your safety system, and from that perspective it is glorious worth.
The sensor is a small, light-weight machine and comes able to go, with two AAA batteries already put in. To attach it, simply scan the QR code on the again utilizing the Philips Hue app, then maintain the ‘setup’ button till the LED on the entrance flashes orange to pair it, as instructed on display screen.
As soon as the sensor is paired, you may be prompted to assign it to a room, then requested which lights you need it to regulate. These lights do not must be in the identical location; for instance, you might need to have a lightweight activated in your research if movement is detected within the porch so you do not miss a bundle supply (offered it is beneath cowl – you may want the Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor if it should be uncovered to the weather).
The sensor can flip lights on and off, however you may as well use it to regulate their brightness, and even apply scenes.
Just like the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch the Philips Hue Movement Sensor permits you to set completely different actions in your lights relying on the time of day.
Throughout my exams this labored completely, and helped me and my accomplice keep away from being dazzled at night time. I put in the sensor in our hallway and stored the lighting stage low after 11pm so we might discover our method to the kitchen for a drink of water with out being jarred into full wakefulness after bedtime.
As I discussed earlier, the Dimmer Change additionally capabilities as a safety machine (both by itself or with different Hue sensors and cameras), the app enables you to resolve what occasions it ought to set off when it is set to ‘armed’. By default, it should make related Philips Hue lights flash when movement is detected, however you may as well merely make them activate, or have them change colour. An intimidating pink is perhaps a great possibility.
The sensor does not have a siren of its personal, however when you’ve got a Philips Hue Safe digital camera, it may play an audible alert when the sensor detects motion.
Throughout my exams the app reliably despatched me a notification each time my accomplice wandered by and the system was armed – and he knowledgeable me that the lounge lights turned pink as effectively. After rising the sensitivity a bit of, the sensor was capable of detect him coming into the lounge even when mounted on a wall on the different finish of the room, reverse the door.
It is price noting that though you possibly can change the route of the sensor by merely shifting it on its magnetic mount (as described beneath) and dial its sensitivity up and down, the absence of a digital camera on this sensor means it isn’t potential to create customized zones that will not be monitored, so that you would possibly have to spend a while experimenting with the settings so it picks up motion close to doorways and home windows.
That is not a serious concern although, and the magnetic mount may even be fitted to the ceiling, making it easy to regulate potential entry factors.
Philips Hue Movement Sensor: value and availability
- Prices $44.99 / £39.99 / AU$69.95
- Typically discounted, significantly in gross sales occasions
The Philips Hue Movement Sensor is out there globally direct from Philips Hue, and from third-party retailers together with Amazon.
It has an inventory value of $44.99 / £39.99 / AU$69.95, however is usually obtainable at a steep low cost, significantly throughout gross sales occasions like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. You will discover right now’s finest costs in your space listed beneath.
You can too discover it bundled along with the Philips Hue Bridge and a set of good mild bulbs as a part of a Philips Hue Starter Equipment.
Philips Hue Movement Sensor: design
- May be mounted on a wall or used free-standing
- Magnetic wall mount permits you to angle the sensor
- Solely obtainable in white
The Philips Hue Movement Sensor is a discreet white machine with a magnetic again containing a single screw, which you’ll undo to exchange the 2 AAA batteries powering it. The sensor might be mounted on a wall or ceiling, or just positioned on a bit of furnishings when you’d want to not drill holes.
It measures 6.9 x 2.8 x 2.2 inches / 174 x 72 x 55mm (H x W x D) and weighs 2.8oz / 80g.
The mount (which comes with two screws and a wall plug) is a small round magnet. As soon as it is screwed in, you merely place the sensor on high, then tilt it to face the route you need to monitor. Throughout my exams the sensor felt most safe when dealing with straight on, however it by no means felt prone to fall off when tilted.
In contrast to different Philips Hue equipment (such because the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch) you possibly can’t connect the Movement Sensor to your wall utilizing 3M tape. The mount has a barely rubberized end that does not work effectively with adhesives, and the energy of the magnets means the tape would seemingly draw back whenever you take away the sensor unit.
In contrast to some Philips Hue equipment, the Movement Sensor is simply obtainable in white. Nevertheless, because it’s prone to be mounted near a white ceiling, that is not an excessive amount of of a difficulty.
The sensor is not weather-resistant, and subsequently cannot be used outside. In order for you a sensor for detecting motion in your yard, you may want the Philips Hue Out of doors Movement Sensor, which can also be wi-fi and might be mounted on a wall or used free-standing.
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Philips Hue Movement Sensor: additionally think about
How I examined the Philips Hue Movement Sensor
I related the Philips Hue Movement Sensor to my house good lighting setup, which incorporates a number of bulbs, switches, and a pair of Philips Hue Play Mild Bars. I began by putting in it in my hallway so I might take a look at its sensitivity and time-based performance (particularly triggering dimmer illumination at night time). I then moved it to the lounge to check its safety features, triggering alerts on my telephone and setting the principle ceiling lights to pink whereas my husband was house to observe the results.