Best Practices: Room-by-Room Setup Guide

Optimised settings and placement tips for common room types. These recommendations work for both EP1 and EPL sensors unless otherwise noted.

Bathroom

Bathrooms are ideal for presence sensors - automating lights based on occupancy works brilliantly here.

Recommended Placement

• Position: Corner of the room, aimed towards the toilet/shower area

• Height: 1.5-2m from floor

• Avoid: Mounting directly above the toilet (blind spot directly below)

Recommended Settings

Tips

• Higher off delay prevents lights turning off mid-shower

• Consider adding a humidity sensor trigger to keep the extractor fan running

• EPL zones can separate toilet area from shower for different automations

Bedroom

Sleep detection and gentle wake-up automations are popular bedroom uses.

Recommended Placement

• Position: Corner opposite the bed, angled towards the bed

• Height: 1.5-2m from floor

• Avoid: Directly above the bed (difficult to detect lying down)

Recommended Settings

Tips

• Sleep detection: High sensitivity can detect breathing/micro-movements

• Partner-friendly: Long off delay prevents lights triggering if one person gets up briefly

• EPL advantage: Create a zone just for the bed area to detect "in bed" vs "in room"

Common Issues

• Ceiling fans can cause false positives - reduce max distance to exclude fan

• Pets on the bed will trigger detection

Office / Home Desk

Desk presence is perfect for automating monitors, lights, and heating.

Recommended Placement

• Position: Mounted on desk or shelf, aimed at the chair

• Height: Desk level works well

• Distance: 1-2m from the chair position

Recommended Settings

Tips

• High sensitivity detects typing and small movements

• Long off delay handles quick trips to make coffee

• EP1: "Distance & Speed Mode" shows exactly where detection is occurring

• EPL: Create a small zone around the desk chair

Automation Ideas

• Turn on desk lamp and monitor when occupied

• Start a "focus mode" after 5 minutes of presence

• Turn off when leaving (with appropriate delay)

Living Room

Larger spaces benefit from careful zone planning, especially with EPL.

Recommended Placement

• Position: Corner of room with view of main seating areas

• Height: 1.5-2m from floor

• Coverage: Aim to cover sofa/TV area primarily

Recommended Settings

Tips

• Detecting through walls: If you get false positives from adjacent rooms, reduce max distance

• TV watching: People sitting still watching TV can be challenging - use higher sensitivity

• EPL zones: Create separate zones for sofa, dining area, and walkways

EPL Zone Strategy

1. Sofa zone: Primary presence area

2. Walkway zone: Triggers immediate lights but shorter timeout

3. Exclusion mask: Block windows or areas causing false triggers

Hallway / Corridor

Fast response times are essential for hallways - you want lights on before you walk into darkness.

Recommended Placement

• Position: One end of the hallway, aimed down the length

• Height: 2m+ to avoid triggering on pets

• For L-shaped hallways: Consider two sensors or position at the corner

Recommended Settings

Tips

• Speed is key: Use minimal on latency for instant response

• Short off delay: Nobody lingers in hallways

• EPL entry/exit: Great for tracking direction of movement

Kitchen

Kitchens need to handle both active cooking (lots of movement) and passive presence (standing at the counter).

Recommended Placement

• Position: Away from the hob/stove (steam and heat can affect sensors)

• Height: 1.5-2m, aimed at main work areas

• Avoid: Direct line of sight to extractor fan or boiling pans

Recommended Settings

Tips

• Longer off delay handles time spent at the sink or counter

• Avoid mounting near steam sources

• Consider the fridge - door opening can trigger PIR

Garage / Workshop

Larger spaces with vehicles present unique challenges.

Recommended Placement

• Position: High corner, angled down

• Height: 2m+

• Coverage: Focus on work areas, not parked vehicles

Recommended Settings

Tips

• EPL zones: Essential here - exclude the car parking area to avoid false triggers

• Metal surfaces can reflect mmWave signals unexpectedly

• Large temperature swings may affect readings

Outdoor / Covered Areas

If you do use sensors in covered outdoor areas (patios, porches):

Considerations

• Must be fully protected from rain and direct sunlight

• Temperature extremes affect sensor performance

• Wind can cause movement that triggers detection

• Consider IP-rated enclosures

Settings Adjustments

• Lower sensitivity to reduce false positives from environmental movement

• Shorter max distance to avoid detecting passing traffic or pedestrians

• Test thoroughly in different weather conditions

General Best Practices

Power Supply Quality

A quality USB power supply makes a significant difference. Poor or noisy power can cause:

• WiFi connectivity issues

• Erratic mmWave readings

• False positives/negatives

Use a reputable brand power supply rated for at least 1A.

Mounting Surface

• Mount on a stable, solid surface

• Avoid surfaces that vibrate (near washing machines, etc.)

• The ball joint mount allows fine adjustment of angle

Multiple Sensors in One Room

• Both EP1 and EPL can work alongside each other

• Multiple EPLs in one room may interfere - use different channels if supported

• Consider using one for presence and one for specific zone detection

Testing Your Setup

1. Set up the sensor with default settings first

2. Observe behaviour for 24-48 hours

3. Adjust one setting at a time

4. Wait 10 seconds between changes (EP1)

5. Use the diagnostic entities to understand what the sensor "sees"

Quick Reference Card