The Philips Hue motion sensor is a really useful tool as it quickly turns on the light when it detects someone approaching. However, if the battery has a problem, contact yourThe motion sensor may not workas expected. That's why I wanted to write this guide to tell you everything you need to know about this useful Hue accessory.
The Philips Hue motion sensor uses two batteries (AAA Indoor and AA Outdoor) and has a "minimum lifespan" battery of 2 years. In practice it can last 3 years or more, but there is more to know about motion sensor batteries.
Table of contents hide
1) Overview of the Philips Hue motion sensor
2) How long do the Hue motion sensor batteries last?
3) How to Know When to Change Your Motion Sensor Battery (Battery Level Monitoring Tips)
4) Can rechargeable batteries be used in the Hue motion sensor?
5) What are the "best" batteries for the Philips Hue motion sensor?
5.1) AAA batteries for the Hue indoor motion sensor
5.2) AA batteries for the external Hue motion sensor
6) How to replace the actual batteries in the Hue motion sensor
7) How to fix sync issues after changing Hue motion sensor batteries
Overview of the Philips Hue motion sensor
Philips Hue is best known for its smart bulbs and light strips, but it also has a number of "accessories" on offer: the motion sensor is a very useful accessory.
It has a built-in passive infrared sensor and can therefore detect when someone is presentpass. The sensor can then be configured to turn the Hue lights on or off (or change the color and brightness levels) to your liking.
This makes it great for welcoming people into your home (turning on interior or exterior lights), illuminating areas of your home you don't normally enter (especially utility rooms), and more.
And thankfully, installation isn't difficult: no wiring is required, just pop in a couple of batteries. Simply!
As for the batteries they work with,IsPhilips Hue indoor motion sensoraccepts two AAA batteries while theHue external motion sensoraccepts two AA batteries.
Larger external batteries generate more capacity (more on that later) and this is necessary because the PIR sensor on the external model is significantly larger (it is 50% wider and taller and 2 times deeper) compared to the internal model. This improved motion detection consumes more power, which means a larger battery is required.
How long do the Hue motion sensor batteries last?
Despite different battery sizesThe Philips Hue indoor/outdoor motion sensors last "at least" 2 years, with some people finding them to last longer than 3-4 years..
This is because Hue motion sensors arepassiveInfrared (PIR) sensors that use less power thanactiveInfrared sensors also communicateZigBeewhat is known foruse less energy overallthan WiFi-based systems.
The only caveat here is that the more the device fires, the morereduce battery lifeit will be (since it needs to send more ZigBee "messages" to trigger its lighting routines).Well, if youis accidentally activated by your pets over and over again, you'll probably want to stop this to save battery life.
Finally, as I mentioned, the external sensor accepts AA batteries, not AAA batteries. AA batteries typically have a capacity of 2000-3000mAh compared to AAA batteries (which typically have "up to" 1000mAh). That means:
- Hue's internal motion sensor runs on a maximum of 1.5 V (and 4.5 Wh) on the two AAA cells.
- The external Hue motion sensor runs on the two AA cells with a maximum of 3.0 V (and 9.0 Wh).
While it looks like the external sensor will last three times longer, consider that the external Hue sensor's actual PIR sensor is much larger than the internal one (which makes sense since you typically need a larger detection area and motion sensitivity ). we are needed).
But this also uses more electrical energy, which means that despite the larger battery capacity, the Hue outdoor sensor still has a battery life of around 2-3 years, like its Hue indoor sensor sibling.!
Related reading: Philips Hue motion detector in wet areas (bathroom and outdoor)
How to Know When to Change Your Motion Sensor Battery (Battery Level Monitoring Tips)
With the Philips Hue app you can easily check and manage all your Hue accessories:
One of the things you would expect from this official app is the ability to check your battery level, right?
Unfortunately... it isn'tquitethe case. The app notifies you when your device's battery is low, but doesn't let you see the exact battery level (i.e. whether it's 20% or 50% charged).
What's frustrating is that the battery data is actually being provided by the Hue motion sensor and is available in the Hue API. What that means is thatit shouldjust add it to the Hue app.
However, since this is not the case, you can use some third-party applicationsmakeview this data. Two I know are:
- sound lights up
- iConnectHue(payment request)
We hope that this battery data will be added to the official app soon. I will update this page when possible!
Can rechargeable batteries be used in the Hue motion sensor?
No, you cannot use rechargeable batteries in any of the Philips Hue motion sensors. When I asked Philips Hue this question, they told me:"We advise against using rechargeable batteries".
In fact, this is also listed in the sensor manual:
This is because rechargeable batteries almost always operate at lower voltages than regular batteries, resulting in less reliable operation overall.
Of course, if you have high-voltage rechargeable batteries (which are rare but becoming more common), there's no reason why they shouldn't work well. It turns out that most rechargeable batteries currently have a lower voltage and as such Philips Hue does not recommend using them.
What are the "best" batteries for the Philips Hue motion sensor?
Any pair of good quality batteries will work well in the Philips Hue motion sensors - just make sure you buy AAA for the inner sensor and AA for the outer sensor..
I'm personally a Duracell fan, although Amazon BasicsWere testedand they have very good capacity at a much lower price. Everyone will look good on Hue motion sensors:
AAA batteries for the Hue indoor motion sensor
The interior sensor is powered by batteries of the type Triple A (AAA) - Itend to use Duracellbut any other brand will work fine.
AA batteries for the external Hue motion sensor
The Hue Outdoor Sensor accepts double-A batteries, which is good because they hold more charge, meaning they last a little longer. Once again,duracell aaThe batteries work perfectly, although they are slightly more expensive than those of the competition.
However, any quality battery should provide more than 2 years of battery life with your sensors.
How to replace the actual batteries in the Hue motion sensor
The process of changing the battery for indoor and outdoor units is very simple.Hue's internal motion sensor has a single screw on the back, allowing you to remove the back panel and change the AAA batteries when removed.. Skip to 3 minutes in the video below to see this:
Philips Hue external motion sensor islightit takes longer, but only because you have to remove four screws instead of just one! After removing the four screws, the back panel opens and the two AA batteries can be replaced again.:
All in all, it's a simple process and both devices are designed not to be too complicated to switch.
Related reading:
How to fix sync issues after changing the Hue motion sensor batteries
In some cases, people have noticed that the Hue app does not recognize the Hue motion sensor after changing the battery. Luckily this isn't very common, but it can be quite confusing when it happens because you know the batteries are good (you even changed them and tested them in the TV remote to see if they work, didn't you ?) but you just don't connect. .
Well, there are a few reasons why this might happen:
- Your motion sensor may be out of range. If you've taken the sensor elsewhere in your home to change batteries, it might just be out of range of the Philips Hue Bridge. This is the same as a WhatsApp WiFi call failing when you quickly step outside or into your car.
If this is the case, try moving the Hue motion sensor a few feet away from the Philips Hue Bridge.
- Sometimes it takes time.Some people have reported that their Hue motion sensor isn't recognized until the next day! While this is frustrating, you may just have to wait. In any case, as long as the batteries are good and the motion sensor is within range of your Hue bridge, try waiting 24 hours.
- A reboot may be required. If it's still not recognized after changing the battery, you may need to perform a hard reset. First remove the accessory from the Philips Hue app.
Then press and hold the small setup button (on the back of the Philips Hue sensor) for 10 seconds. It should flash red and then orange, which means it's in setup mode. At this point you should add it back to the Hue app.
That's itit shouldsolve your problems, but lookmy complete guidein this one that also covers more things to try.
FAQs
How long does the Philips Hue motion sensor battery last? ›
The Philips Hue motion sensor takes two batteries (AAA for indoor and AA for outdoor), and it has a “minimal battery lifetime” of 2 years. In practise, it can last for 3 years or more, but there's more to know about the motion sensor's batteries.
Does Hue motion sensor have a battery? ›Control your lights automatically by adding a Philips Hue motion sensor to your Philips Hue system. You can place the sensor anywhere in your home as it is battery powered and completely wireless.
How do I check my Philips Hue battery? ›How to Check Hue Go Battery Level. Checking the Hue Go battery status can be checked on the app. The battery icon will be flashing red if the battery is low or charging. This usually happens if the bulb is unplugged from the power socket for a while.
How many years do Philips Hue last? ›With an average lifespan of 25,000 hours, a Philips Hue light bulb will not need replacing anywhere near as often. Exactly how often you will need to change a Hue light bulb depends on how many hours a day it is used — but it can last up to 25 years.
What is the limit of Philips Hue motion sensor? ›There is no limit how many lights a motion sensor can control. It is best to create a new zone/group with all the lights you want the sensor to control.
How do you reset a motion sensor after replacing a battery? ›Remove the batteries from the sensor and leave them out for 10 full seconds. Reinstall the batteries in the sensor – the LED light should briefly flash red when the batteries are back in the sensor. Wait until you see the LED flash green, that indicates it has reconnected to your bridge.
Why doesn t my battery motion sensor light turn off? ›The Problem
Some movement sensors have a built-in override functionality. If the override function is engaged, the sensor light will stay on until the override function is disengaged. This override function is often engaged accidentally which causes confusion and the mistaken belief that the sensor is faulty!
A battery operated motion sensor light is a device that uses battery power to turn on and off when it detects movement automatically. The battery operated motion sensor light helps in many home security applications, outdoor lighting, commercial security, and much more.
How long do motion sensor batteries last? ›Motion-sensor batteries typically last for about four or five years, but the newest models have an even longer lifespan of about seven years. As a general rule, you should aim to replace the batteries in your system at the five-year mark if the batteries have not yet been replaced since you installed the system.
Does a motion sensor work without power? ›A wireless motion sensor alarm is also independent from the power grid of your house. Instead, it uses batteries for power. This means that even during blackouts and power outages, a wireless motion sensor alarm is still functional.
Does Hue motion sensor detect temperature? ›
Do you know that you can use the Philips Hue motion sensor to measure the temperature? The Formula allows you to set two alerting scenes when the temperature in the baby's room is above or below the thresholds.
Why is my Philips Hue not picking up light? ›Your Philips Hue Lights Are Unreachable
Make sure the light is switched on: You or someone else in your home may have switched off the Philips Hue bulb using the physical light switch. Make sure all the switches for your Hue bulbs are turned on to control them from the app.
Use your DIY tool to briefly press the button hidden inside this hole. You've just reset your sensor, and your LED should start blinking again. If it still refuses to work, you may need to change the batteries. The Hue sensor takes two AAA batteries, which should last two to three years.
Does Philips Hue use a lot of electricity? ›Philips Hue and ENERGY STAR
Philips Hue has a wide range of lighting products powered with efficient LED technology that saves up to 80% of the energy compared to incandescent lighting when used at full light output.
Philips dominates this space and is also our top pick for best color LED smart bulb. The latest Hue bulbs can be controlled via Bluetooth or Zigbee (the latter requires the Philips Hue Bridge), they deliver high-quality light, and are backed by a strong warranty.
Are Philips Hue cheap to run? ›The Philips Hue draws between 0 and 0.3 watts which, based on paying a little above average at 15 cents per kilowatt, this will cost you 1.6 cents per month. Say you kit out your entire home with smart bulbs, using 20 or 30 of them, then you can expect to notice the vampire power draw more.
What is the best position for Philips Hue Motion Sensor? ›We noticed that placing the sensor at a level between your head and the ceiling works well. For example, directly above a door seems to be a good place. Did you know that you can still manually switch off lights that are switched on by a motion sensor?
What if I have more than 50 Philips Hue lights? ›However, if your Philips Hue smart lighting collection exceeds 50 lights and accessories, you might require a second Hue Bridge. The same applies to those who live in large houses where some areas might simply be too far away for a single Hue Bridge to support on its own.
How many phones can connect to Hue? ›Just download the Philips Hue app to each device and you're good to go. You can operate your Hue system on up to 10 devices.
Will disconnecting battery reset sensors? ›On some older cars, disconnecting the battery will reset the system but in most new cars it does nothing, except potentially reset the clock and radio station presets.
What causes a motion sensor to stop working? ›
Dirt and dust may accumulate in the sensors. The photocell is an integral part of the motion sensor light and will not detect motion if it is dirty. Troubleshooting: Use a dry rag to gently rub against the sensor and circuit if there is dirt or dust, then re-test your lights.
What causes a motion sensor to fail? ›Motion sensor lights make navigating your property easier while providing essential security benefits. Most models perform as intended, but power outages, inclement weather and age can cause them to fail.
Why does my battery operated motion sensor light keep coming on? ›What Causes my Light to Stay On? Several things can cause your motion detector to stay on, including age, storm damage, a power surge, improper installation, and improper settings.
How do I manually turn off my motion sensor light? ›Can I override my sensor to use the light normally? Yes, most sensors will have the ability to override the sensor function altogether and operate the light manually, as necessary. This is done by turning the light switch OFF – ON – OFF – ON in quick succession.
Can battery light sensor go bad? ›If your vehicle is showing signs of low battery voltage that is a symptom of a bad battery temperature sensor. It can be caused when the computer is provided with inaccurate information and as a result, it doesn't regulate the correct charge required by the battery.
How do you calibrate a battery sensor? ›- Fully discharge the phone until it turns itself off.
- Connect your phone to a charger and, without turning it on, let it charge until the screen or LED indicator reads 100%.
- Turn off the charger.
- Turn on your phone. ...
- Disconnect your phone and restart it.
As when working on all electrical parts within your car, the first step is to ensure that you disconnect your batteries negative terminal.
How do I know if my motion sensor is working? ›Walk-in front of your motion sensor, your panel's home button will flash Yellow. This will occur each time a motion signal is transmitted. This will allow you to determine if the sensor is detecting movement and also let you explore its range capabilities.
What are the 3 settings on a motion sensor light? ›There are 3 settings on a motion sensor light: sensitivity, timer, and lux. These 3 settings determine how sensitive the light is to movement, how long the light will stay on after detecting movement, and what level of darkness the light will turn on in.
Can motion sensors record you? ›If you've integrated the motion detectors into home security systems including emergency lighting and home security cameras, the motion sensors will trigger these to turn on, or to start recording security footage.
How do I know if my battery sensor is bad? ›
Common signs include engine surging, low battery voltage, and an illuminated Battery Light.
Does sensors off increase battery life? ›Having a sensor turned on all day long does take up a bit of battery and processing power. So switch it off if you are looking to prolong your battery.
Do motion sensors use a lot of electricity? ›The cost and consumption of motion sensors is more than offset by the amount money not wasted. Depending on the device, their power consumption ranges from 0.5W to 8W for the most powerful ones. To give you an idea of how little this is, a low consumption bulb that is equivalent to the old 100W bulb consumes 30W.
What are the disadvantages of motion sensor? ›- Radio frequency at high power is harmful for humans (active type).
- Radio frequency in microwave range do not penetrate metal objects (active type).
- Passive motion sensors do not operate above temperature of 350C.
Think about how much natural light a room gets before considering motion-activated lights. If there are windows and adequate natural light during the day, then this lighting system may just waste electricity. While it would be convenient at night, the motion-activated lights would waste electricity throughout the day.
Do motion sensors work without WiFi? ›The Secure Area Sensor can message you when it sensors any unexpected movement near your container without the need of a WiFi or a power connection.
Can I use Hue Motion Sensor as alarm? ›Connect your alarm system in the app to the lighting control – and you're done! If a break-in is suspected, all Philips Hue lamps are automatically switched on and the door and window sensor triggers an alarm. The app immediately informs you via your smartphone about the attempted burglary.
What does red light mean on Hue Motion Sensor? ›LED indications Orange blinking: sensor is ready for installation. Short orange flash at detection: battery is low. Short red flash at detection: battery is empty. Long red flash at detection: sensor cannot reach bridge.
Does Philips Hue have security cameras? ›Home security.
When you choose a security system compatible with Hue, you can do even more to help protect your home. Philips Hue interacts with Nest security cameras to simulate your presence when you're not at home, switch off the lights when you leave the room and more.
It might be that the new bulb needs a firmware update and that's triggering something. You should be able to check that in the hue app. Otherwise, try removing the new bulb and see if that fixes the problem or not.
Do Philips Hue lights go bad? ›
With an average lifespan of 25,000 hours, a Philips Hue light bulb will not need replacing anywhere near as often. Exactly how often you will need to change a Hue light bulb depends on how many hours a day it is used — but it can last up to 25 years.
How to stop Philips Hue lights from coming on after power outage? ›Access hueDynamic's power cut detection feature from the Settings page in the Windows app Or from the Settings page in the iOS or Android app. Once you have clicked the “Power Cut” button, you will see the switch to enable or disable the feature.
How long do Hue motion sensors last? ›Philips Hue motion sensors have a battery life of minimum two years, but can sometimes last even longer based on how much they're used. The Philips Hue app monitors the battery status of each motion sensor and notifies you when the sensor needs a new battery.
Why doesn't my Hue motion sensor always work? ›If nothing else has worked up until now, the next thing to try is resetting the device. Firstly delete the motion sensor from your Hue app (under Settings -> Accessory Setup). Then press the small setup button (on the back of the device) for 10 seconds.
Why is my Hue button blinking green? ›This likely means that you haven't actually paired it with your HomeKit app. If you press and hold, the light will start flashing, and then continue until you hear a second click. Then pair it and the light should go away.
How long do battery operated motion sensor lights last? ›Battery life varies by use. On average, these will last one year. If the sensors are positioned where they are frequently detected, this will affect battery life and shorten battery life.
How long can a motion sensor light stay on? ›On average, a motion detector light will stay on for up to 20 minutes. That amount of time is extended each time a sensor detects fresh movement, so it is possible for a motion detector light to stay on for much longer than 20 minutes at a time.
What makes battery sensor go bad? ›Battery Current Sensor Problems
Dirt and Debris: Dirt, debris, or corrosion on car batteries can penetrate into the sensor causing malfunctioning. This failure can lead to a number of electrical problems including no-start. Charging System Indication: The faulty battery sensors can disrupt the chagrin system.
Sensor lights are a great way to save energy and make your home more secure, but they have one big downside: you can't control them. If you want to turn them on or off, you have to go outside and activate them manually.
What are the disadvantages of motion sensor light? ›Following are the Disadvantages of Motion Sensor of active and passive types: Radio frequency at high power is harmful for humans (active type). Radio frequency in microwave range do not penetrate metal objects (active type). Passive motion sensors do not operate above temperature of 350C.
Do motion sensor lights burn out? ›
While most motion sensor lights will perform well when installed correctly, they can fail from time to time.
How do I make my motion sensor light stay on at night? ›Yes, most sensors will have the ability to override the sensor function altogether and operate the light manually, as necessary. This is done by turning the light switch OFF – ON – OFF – ON in quick succession. The light will then remain ON and will not go OFF until you manually turn it OFF at the switch.
Do motion sensor lights only work at night? ›The motion sensor itself works 24/7, but the lights only come on with motion at night. You can also set the lights to stay on dimly all day til dusk. There are a ton of options for how you can set the motion detectors as well...how sensitive, which direction, etc....
Do motion sensors stop working? ›A motion detector light is sensitive to power surges and blinks and sometimes will not work correctly following an electrical episode. While you may think the fixture is broken, many times, it just requires a reset.
How do you fix motion sensors not working? ›The best way to reset a motion sensor light is to turn it off and back on again for 30 seconds or longer. A homeowner can also turn the power off at the breaker to ensure it has time to reset itself. If that doesn't work, the sensor itself or the bulb may be to blame.
How do I temporarily turn off my Philips hue motion sensor? ›To do this, tap on “On hold” and activate “Execute hold actions exclusively”. Then simply tap on “Add new action” and select “Switch motion sensor”. There you can then select the commands to activate or deactivate a motion sensor.