Presence Sensors

mmWave ESPHome Automation

Presence sensors are the key to truly smart automation. With the right sensor, you can detect if someone is in a room - even when they’re sitting completely still. This guide helps you choose between PIR and mmWave technology.

Top Recommendations 2025

• Plug-and-play: Aqara FP2 (~$85)
• Best DIY: LD2410C + ESP32 (~$14)
• Multi-target: Everything Presence Lite (~$50)
• Budget Zigbee: Tuya ZY-M100 (~$25)
• Premium: Apollo MSR-2 (~$70)

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🔑 PIR vs mmWave - What’s The Difference?

PIR (Passive Infrared)

Traditional motion sensors that detect heat changes:

Pros	Cons
✅ Cheap	❌ Only motion, not stillness
✅ Low power consumption	❌ Cannot see through glass
✅ Simple	❌ False triggers from heat sources
✅ Reliable for motion	❌ Poor for office/couch use

Best for: Hallways, stairs, entryways - places you just pass through.

mmWave (Millimeter Wave Radar)

Modern radar sensors that detect even minimal movement (breathing):

Pros	Cons
✅ Detects stationary people	❌ More expensive
✅ Works through thin walls	❌ Can trigger on pets
✅ Zone detection possible	❌ Requires more setup
✅ Distance measurement	❌ Can detect through windows

Best for: Living room, bedroom, office, bathroom - places where you stay.

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🏆 Ready-Made mmWave Sensors

Comparison

Sensor	Protocol	Zones	Multi-person	Price ~	Score
Aqara FP2	WiFi/HomeKit	✅ 30 zones	❌	$85	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Everything Presence Lite	WiFi/ESPHome	✅ 3 zones	✅ 3 people	$50	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Apollo MSR-2	WiFi/ESPHome	✅ 3 zones	✅ 3 people	$70	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tuya ZY-M100	Zigbee	❌	❌	$25	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sonoff SNZB-06P	Zigbee	❌	❌	$28	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Aqara FP1	Zigbee	❌	❌	$65	⭐⭐⭐

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🥇 Aqara FP2 - Best Plug-and-Play

Overview

Why Aqara FP2?

Price: ~$85

Aqara FP2 is the most user-friendly mmWave sensor:

• ✅ Up to 30 custom zones
• ✅ HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home native
• ✅ Beautiful app with zone drawing
• ✅ Lux sensor built-in
• ✅ Home Assistant via HomeKit integration
• ✅ Wall mount or ceiling mount

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Expensive
• ❌ No multi-person tracking
• ❌ Requires WiFi (no Zigbee)
• ❌ Slower detection than DIY (~3.6 sec)

Specs

Technical Specifications

Spec	Value
Protocol	WiFi 2.4GHz
Range	5 meters / 16 feet
Angle	120° horizontal
Zones	Up to 30
Power	USB-C 5V/1A
Integration	HomeKit, HA, Alexa, Google

Installation

Setup

1. Download Aqara Home app
2. Connect USB-C power
3. Add device in app
4. Place the sensor - wall or ceiling
5. Draw zones in app

Home Assistant

FP2 integrates via HomeKit Controller:

1. Settings → Devices & Services
2. Add Integration → HomeKit Controller
3. Scan QR code from Aqara app
4. Zones appear as separate binary_sensors

Entities:

• binary_sensor.fp2_presence
• binary_sensor.fp2_zone_1
• binary_sensor.fp2_zone_2 (etc.)
• sensor.fp2_illuminance

Buy: Aqara.com, Amazon

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🥈 Everything Presence Lite - Best ESPHome

Overview

Why EP Lite?

Price: ~$50

Everything Presence Lite is the best compromise:

• ✅ HiLink LD2450 mmWave sensor
• ✅ Up to 3 person tracking
• ✅ 3 custom zones
• ✅ ESPHome - full control
• ✅ Lux sensor built-in
• ✅ Bluetooth proxy for HA
• ✅ Open source firmware

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Requires more setup than Aqara
• ❌ Static detection weaker than EP One

Specs

Technical Specifications

Spec	Value
mmWave Sensor	HiLink LD2450
Protocol	WiFi/ESPHome
Range	6 meters / 20 feet
Angle	60°
Multi-target	Up to 3 people
Zones	3 pcs
Extra	Lux sensor, BLE proxy

Installation

Setup

1. Connect USB-C power
2. Connect to WiFi via browser (Chrome)
   • Go to web.esphome.io
   • Select “Install Everything Presence Lite”
3. Device auto-discovered in Home Assistant
4. Configure zones via HA dashboard

Zone Configuration

In Home Assistant you get controls for:

• Max distance
• Zone 1/2/3 coordinates
• Target tracking (X, Y, distance, speed)

# Example automation
automation:
  - alias: "Light on in living room zone"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.ep_lite_zone_1
        to: "on"
    action:
      - service: light.turn_on
        entity_id: light.living_room

Buy: Everything Smart Technology, AliExpress

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💰 Budget: Tuya ZY-M100

Price: ~$25

The cheapest ready-made mmWave sensor with Zigbee:

Pros	Cons
✅ Very cheap	❌ No zones
✅ Zigbee (no cloud)	❌ No multi-person
✅ Works with Z2M/ZHA	❌ Limited fine-tuning
✅ Compact size	❌ Can have false triggers

Buy: AliExpress (search “Tuya ZY-M100 mmWave”)

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🔧 DIY: LD2410 + ESP32

The most flexible and cheapest solution is to build your own sensor!

Why DIY?

• ✅ Only ~$14 total
• ✅ Full control over all parameters
• ✅ Can combine with other sensors
• ✅ Community ESPHome support
• ✅ No cloud

Components

Part	Price ~	Where
HiLink LD2410C	$7	AliExpress
ESP32 DevKit	$5	AliExpress
USB cable + adapter	$3	Often have
Dupont cables	$1	AliExpress
Total	~$16

LD2410 Variants

Model	Interface	Bluetooth	Recommended
LD2410	1.25mm connector	❌	Harder to solder
LD2410B	1.25mm connector	✅	Good, but small pins
LD2410C	2.54mm pins	✅	⭐ Easiest to use

Wiring

ESP32          LD2410C
------         -------
3.3V   ────►   VCC
GND    ────►   GND
GPIO16 ────►   TX
GPIO17 ────►   RX

ESPHome Configuration

esphome:
  name: presence-sensor-living-room

esp32:
  board: esp32dev

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

uart:
  tx_pin: GPIO17
  rx_pin: GPIO16
  baud_rate: 256000
  parity: NONE
  stop_bits: 1

ld2410:
  id: ld2410_sensor

binary_sensor:
  - platform: ld2410
    has_target:
      name: "Living Room Presence"
    has_moving_target:
      name: "Living Room Motion"
    has_still_target:
      name: "Living Room Still"

sensor:
  - platform: ld2410
    moving_distance:
      name: "Motion Distance"
    still_distance:
      name: "Still Distance"
    moving_energy:
      name: "Motion Energy"
    still_energy:
      name: "Still Energy"
    detection_distance:
      name: "Detection Distance"
    light:
      name: "Light Level"

number:
  - platform: ld2410
    timeout:
      name: "Timeout"
    max_move_distance_gate:
      name: "Max Motion Gate"
    max_still_distance_gate:
      name: "Max Still Gate"

switch:
  - platform: ld2410
    engineering_mode:
      name: "Engineering Mode"
    bluetooth:
      name: "Bluetooth"

3D Print Enclosure

Find free STL files on:

• Thingiverse (search “LD2410 case”)
• Printables (search “LD2410 enclosure”)

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📊 HiLink Sensor Comparison

Model	Range	Multi-target	Static	ESPHome	Price
LD2410	6m	❌	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Official	$7
LD2410B	6m	❌	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Official	$8
LD2410C	6m	❌	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Official	$7
LD2420	10m	❌	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Official	$5
LD2450	6m	✅ 3 targets	⭐⭐⭐	⚠️ Community	$10

Recommendation

LD2410C is the best choice for most DIY projects. Easy 2.54mm pins, good static detection, and official ESPHome support.

LD2450 if you need multi-person tracking, but static detection is weaker.

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🏠 Automation Examples

Basic: Light on presence

automation:
  - alias: "Living room light on presence"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.living_room_presence
        to: "on"
    condition:
      - condition: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.living_room_lux
        below: 50
    action:
      - service: light.turn_on
        entity_id: light.living_room
        data:
          brightness_pct: 80

  - alias: "Living room light off when empty"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.living_room_presence
        to: "off"
        for:
          minutes: 5
    action:
      - service: light.turn_off
        entity_id: light.living_room

Advanced: Zone-based

automation:
  - alias: "Desk lamp when working"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.office_zone_desk
        to: "on"
    action:
      - service: light.turn_on
        entity_id: light.desk_lamp

  - alias: "TV ambient lighting"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.living_room_zone_couch
        to: "on"
    condition:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: media_player.tv
        state: "playing"
    action:
      - service: light.turn_on
        entity_id: light.tv_backlight
        data:
          brightness_pct: 30

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⚠️ Sensors To Avoid

Based on community tests, these sensors are not recommended:

Sensor	Problem
Aqara FP1	Outdated, replaced by FP2
Moes ZSS-LP-HP02	Inconsistent, many false triggers
Cheap Tuya clones	Varying quality, poor support

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🛒 Buying Strategy

Starter DIY (~$20)

• 1x LD2410C sensor ($7)
• 1x ESP32 DevKit ($5)
• Cables and USB adapter ($4)
• 3D printed enclosure ($4)
• Total: ~$20

Mid-range - Ready (~$70)

• 1x Everything Presence Lite ($50)
• 1x Aqara Motion P2 (PIR for entry) ($21)
• Total: ~$71

Premium Multi-room (~$280)

• 2x Aqara FP2 ($170)
• 3x DIY LD2410C sensors ($60)
• Total: ~$230

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🛒 Where to Buy?

Ready-Made Sensors

• Aqara Store - FP2
• Everything Smart - EP Lite, EP One
• Amazon - Aqara, Apollo

DIY Components

• AliExpress - LD2410, ESP32, all DIY
• Adafruit - Quality components

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Ofte stillede spørgsmål

Can mmWave sensors see pets?

Yes, mmWave radar detects all living beings that move - including pets. Solutions: 1) Adjust sensitivity/thresholds, 2) Use zones that exclude floor level, 3) Combine with other sensors for smarter logic.

PIR or mmWave - what should I choose?

PIR for passage areas (entry, stairs) where you just pass through. mmWave for living spaces (living room, office, bedroom) where you sit still. Many use both: PIR for quick trigger, mmWave to keep lights on.

Can mmWave detect through walls?

Yes, mmWave radar can detect through thin walls and windows, which can cause false triggers. Adjust range and zones to avoid this, or use physical shielding.

How many sensors do I need?

Typically one sensor per room. Large rooms or L-shaped rooms may require two. Start with one room, test thoroughly, then expand.

What's better: LD2410 or LD2450?

LD2410 for best static detection (people sitting still). LD2450 for multi-person tracking (counting people in room). LD2410 has official ESPHome support and is easier to work with.

Can I combine PIR and mmWave?

Yes! A popular strategy: PIR to turn on lights quickly (instant trigger), mmWave to keep lights on as long as someone is in the room. Everything Presence One has both sensors built-in.

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📚 Next Steps

ESPHome Guide

Build your own sensors.

Get started →

Automations

Maximize your sensors.

Learn more →

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Last updated: December 2025