I am a huge fan of smart home equipment when it adds features but at the same time does not remove features. The Wyze outdoor PIR motions sensors are attached to a camera as an accessory device to the camera and also require “always ON” power at the light fixture. The light switch powering the fixture needs then needs to be a smart “always ON” switch and no longer operates as a normal light fixture switch. Not good for me.
Sick of that but wanting to keep in the Wyze app/ecosystem I’ve hacked the Wyze Switch design and connected it to a cheap off the shelf PIR motion sensor. It operates as if it was a Wyze Switch to the end user, i.e. connects to the app like a switch, has rules like the switch, etc. but instead of switching on an attached exterior light it can control whatever the user desires.
Anyone that is interested please reply and I’ll try to get in contact with you (somehow). I would like a few Beta testers to try these out and let me know the practical limitations you may encounter.
Here is a quick snapshot of the prototype hardware that transplants the heart of the Wyze Switch into a custom PIR motion sensor. This new device requires a USB power source like Wyze Cam products.
Is this a mistype? Wyze doesn’t have an outdoor PIR motion sensor, and your image says it’s an AliExpress PIR sensor:
Sounds like you did some cool creative work here.
What kind of application or automations do you see yourself using this for that weren’t possible through the Wyze app using their existing rules and devices?
AFAIA Wyze only has an outdoor PIR motion sensor that is attached to a Wyze floodlight as an accessory device. Correct me if I’m wrong please. The one I pictured is not a Wyze branded PIR sensor.
The functionality that I desire, and why I went through this trouble, was to ensure all the Wyze Switches I have operate the same as any other traditional flip switch. ON is ON and OFF is OFF. If Wyze is down, internet, whatever, it still works.
If a standalone motion sensor doesn’t send a notification it’s an inconvenience. If a light switch doesn’t switch on that I physically press, that is critical.
So… detect motion… turn on whatever… independent of a Wyze Camera or Wyze Switch. But please let me know your thoughts.
Oh yes, I was thinking a standalone motion sensor, you are correct that they have some in the floodlights, and some cameras, etc.
Very interesting idea to have a PIR sensor trigger the switch to turn something on and off locally without cloud reliance. You have a creative tinkerer’s soul and would probably love home assistant where you do all sorts of stuff like this to make everything work locally and in any way you want (I have recently started getting into home assistant).
I look forward to see your progress on this, though I don’t plan to help beta test it. I have a lot on my plate at the moment. I hope you’ll post updates about things you or others end up doing and how it still works within the Wyze app.
