ctrlspace
// mmWave presence done properly

Everything Presence

Open-hardware mmWave presence sensors running ESPHome. They detect a person who is sitting perfectly still, which is the one thing conventional motion sensors cannot do and the reason most occupancy lighting annoys people.

Why we use Everything Presence

  • True presence detection rather than motion detection, so the light does not switch off while you are reading.
  • Runs ESPHome and connects natively to Home Assistant, entirely locally.
  • Zone configuration lets one sensor cover a desk, a sofa and a doorway as separate areas.
  • Open hardware and firmware, so it is tunable rather than a black box.

Where we do not, and why

  • More expensive than a PIR sensor, so it belongs in the rooms that need it rather than everywhere.
  • Needs USB power, which means a cable or a socket near the mounting position.
  • mmWave needs tuning during commissioning. Out of the box it will detect a ceiling fan.

Pros and cons at a glance

Pros
  • Detects stationary people, unlike PIR
  • Fully local via ESPHome
  • Configurable zones
  • Open hardware, no vendor lock
Cons
  • Costs several times a basic PIR sensor
  • Requires mains or USB power
  • Needs tuning to avoid false positives
  • Import only

The technical position

Main protocol
Wi-Fi, via ESPHome
Local control
Yes, completely
Vendor hub needed
No
Home Assistant support
Native
Singapore availability
Direct order

Where it fits in a CtrlSpace build

Living rooms, studies, home offices and bedrooms - anywhere people sit still and conventional motion lighting fails. Bathrooms, corridors and yards stay on cheap PIR sensors, where movement is a fine proxy for occupancy.

// Frequently asked

Everything Presence, answered plainly

Why not just use a normal motion sensor?

A PIR sensor detects movement, not people, so a still person reads as an empty room and the light goes out. That single failure is why most households turn occupancy lighting off. mmWave detects presence instead.

Do mmWave sensors work through walls?

They can see through thin partitions, which is usually a nuisance rather than a feature. Zone configuration and tuning at commissioning is what stops a sensor reacting to someone in the next room.
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