Do you need Samsung SmartThings Motion Sensor to automate your home? How does SmartThings Motion Sensor work? Reveal details here in Samsung SmartThings Motion Sensor review. Add smartness to your home with a SmartThings Motion Sensor. Receive alerts if there’s unexpected movement, set connected devices to turn on and off as people come and go, and much more. Also monitors temperature. Requires a SmartThings Hub or compatible device with SmartThings Hub functionality. Connected devices sold separately.
Pros & Cons – SmartThings Motion Sensor
Pros
– Good motion detection
– Good magnetic support
– Aesthetic beautiful and small
– Accurate temperature sensor
– Very good battery life
Cons
– No light sensor
– Motion detection period is 1 minute (Philips sensor is 10 seconds), this keeps some automation very long.
– Battery is a CR123
Specifications – SmartThings Motion Sensor
- Manufacturer Samsung HI
- Item Weight 3.36 ounces
- Product Dimensions 2.23 x 2.19 x 1.98 inches
- Item model number GP-U999SJVLBAA
- Batteries 1 CR2 batteries required. (included)
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer No
- Color White
- Style Motion Sensor
- Power Source AC
- Item Package Quantity 1
- Plug Profile Surface Mount
- Included Components Sensor^QSG^HSG^MagneticBallMount^3MAdhesiveStrips
- Batteries Included? Yes
- Batteries Required? Yes
- Battery Cell Type Lithium
- Warranty Description 1 Year Limited
3 key reasons – you need SmartThings
- Monitor your Motion Sensor and other connected devices with the SmartThings app for iPhone or Android.
- Receive alerts from SmartThings if your Motion Sensor detects movement, or if the temperature changes.
- Automate connected devices with SmartThings and set them to turn on or off if your Motion Sensor detects movement, or if the temperature changes.
Samsung SmartThings Motion Sensor review
Design
Its dimension is only 2.23 x 2.19 x 1.98 inches so it is easy to place around your home. The SmartThings motion sensor uses PIR (passive infrared) to detect activity in your room.
| Model Number | GP-U999SJVLBAA |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 3.36 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 2.23 x 2.19 x 1.98 inches |
Look
The rounded corners and flowing lines on the SmartThings Motion Sensor give it a much more modern and less boxy look than its predecessor which is very nice and makes the SmartThings Motion Sensor something that if you can get over the size of should fit nicely into your home.
Battery
The motion sensor does not have the option to plug into a power outlet, but the battery is more than adequate. The current SmartThings motion sensor uses a CR-2477 battery. The exact battery used depends on the model of your motion sensor. Based on reviews of the newer model, you can expect the battery to last 6 to 12 months depending on the amount of traffic.
How to install SmartThings (Mounting)?
The SmartThings motion sensor is one of the most versatile sensors in terms of mounting or placement. The small size and weight of the motion sensor allows you to mount it on a wall, on the ceiling or place it on a bookshelf. The motion sensor includes a mounting bracket that you can use with screws or screwless adhesive strips.
Field of View (FOV)
The SmartThings Motion Sensor has a 120 degree field of view and can detect motion up to 15 feet away. I tested my 2015 model sensors and they easily detect motion at 15 feet or more. The newer sensors are less sensitive than the older sensors, which helps decrease the amount of false positives. With this in mind, make sure the area of detection is within 15 feet of the motion sensor when you place them in your home.
App setup
As with just about any Zigbee sensor setup in the SmartThings App was pretty straightforward and my hub picked it up right away. I went into this kind of blind intentionally and was surprised once I had the SmartThings Motion Sensor set up to find out that it only monitored motion and temperature. In following section, you will find How does SmartThings Motion Sensor work?
Samsung SmartThings Motion Sensor performance review
These motion detectors work really well. The mounts allow a lot of flexibility for installation, they pair quickly, and are very responsive. It was not in the listing but these provide temperature as well. In the Smart Things app you can enter an offset for the temp sensor if the calibration is off, but you can not change the “reset” timer. That might be available in the IDE I have not checked.
These are zigbee sensors and work in the 2.4GHz range (according to the FCC ID). This is the same as many wifi devices but i’ve not yet experianced any interference. Zigbee range is 10-200 meters, I’m using them at just over 10M, but through several walls, and have no issue. I’m not sure how long the battery will last it’s a CR2 cell so pretty big, but the detectors do provide battery level reading. I’ve had zwave motion detectors up for over a year with no battery issues, I would assume these would perform similarly.
Contolling lights is the test for any motion detector. I was using the monoprice z-wave detectors and they are slow to react, presumably to prevent false triggers, but what happens is you are through the room before the lights come on. These Smart Things sensors do not have that issue, they react very fast but do not trigger when cats enter the room. They are also significantly cheaper than Zwave devices. win win. This is How does SmartThings Motion Sensor work.
Samsung SmartThings Motion Sensor customer review
Yes, it works with Alexa without a SmartThings hub!
Had read an article that these motion/temperature sensors could pair directly with an Echo Plus or Studio. However, the listing mentioned at the top that these sensors require adding the dreaded 3rd-party hub to work with Alexa. I mean, who wants more hubs, apps, etc. to manage?
For under $20, I decided to take a chance. Liked the design, look and feel on unpacking it and was very hopeful. Confirmed by asking the Studio if it had a hub and told it to “discover devices”. No smarthome devices found. Tried the Plus. Same. Tried the app, which presumably tries all of the devices with built-in hubs. Nope. Try again “later”, it said.
What a huge disappointment, but figured I’d call Amazon’s excellent phone support and run it by them. They said to add the thing to the (unused) SmartThings app and then install the associated Skill and link it to my Samsung account. The first part of that didn’t work at all, but after adding the Skill, linking it and messing around in the Alexa app a bit, noticed a popup indicating that a new motion sensor was found! No idea why or how. Maybe it would have worked itself out on its own, but it did show up in the Devices section, ready for Routine scripting (motion and temperature).
Not sure why a Skill with account linking would be needed to pair locally with a ZigBee device. Am hopeful that this setup works without sending motion/still/temperature data on an Internet round trip (i.e. if the Internet is down, the motion lights better not be). Imagine it can as the SmartThings app remains oblivious to the presence of the sensor, as well as the rest of the devices.
Love it at $20. Will definitely get more, at least once it is confirmed that it doesn’t require an Internet connection to control local devices. Will see…
PS. Amazon, correct your hub warning at the top of the listing, as it is false and will scare away customers that don’t care to add yet another hub to their setup. Have heard that the contact sensor is the same story.
How does SmartThings Motion Sensor work?
Connect the SmartThings Motion Sensor
In the SmartThings app:
- From the Home screen, touch the Plus (+) icon and Device
- Select SmartThings, touch Motion sensor, and then Motion Sensor (IM6001-MTP)
- Touch Start
- Choose a Hub for the device
- Choose a Room for the device and touch Next
- While the Hub searches:
- Pull the “Remove when Connecting” tab found in the sensor
- Scan the code on the back of the device
Requires a SmartThings Hub or compatible device with SmartThings Hub functionality.
How to remove the Motion Sensor from the SmartThings Hub
If the motion sensor is not performing as expected, you may need to reset the device and/or remove and reconnect the device with the SmartThings Hub.
To remove the device from the SmartThings App:
- From the Home screen, select Menu (
) and touch Devices - Select More Options (
) and touch Edit - Select the device and touchDelete device
- Touch Delete to confirm
) and touch Devices
) and touch EditReset the SmartThings Motion Sensor
If the SmartThings Motion Sensor didn’t connect to the Hub when you removed the pull-tab, reset and connect the device manually. To do this:
- Hold the recessed connect button for five (5) seconds
- Release the button when the LED starts blinking red
- The LED will blink red and green while attempting to connect
- Use the SmartThings app and steps detailed above to reconnect your Motion Sensor.
Alternate of SmartThings Motion Sensor
With SmartThings, you can use a motion sensor to keep watch over areas of your home, allowing you to receive alerts, sound an alarm, unlock a door or even just turn on a light. Not all motion sensors are created equal, however, so we’ve compiled a list that won’t give you any headaches — like our favorite option, the Ecolink Motion Detector — so you can monitor your home no matter where you are.
Ecolink Z-wave Plus Motion Detector
This great detector from Ecolink offers a 5-year battery life (the best of the bunch) and flush or corner mount options. It can be set to ignore pets up to 55lbs and is the best option of quality and price.
BeSense ZWave Ceiling PIR Motion Detector
If you’re looking for a ceiling-mount option, BeSense has you covered. Unlike other options that affix to a corner or flush to the wall, the detector attaches to a ceiling for broader coverage.
Aeotec Multisensor 6
This feature-packed option from Aeotec offers not only motion detection, but also temperature, humidity, light, UV, and vibration. Don’t use six separate hardware devices when the Multisensor 6 has them all.
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