CeilSense

CeilSense is a ceiling sensor for Home Assistant that disappears into a spotlight hole. It uses mmWave radar to see whether someone is there, even sitting still, measures light and, on the V2 Complete and Pro, also CO₂, temperature and humidity, and has an LED ring and buzzer to talk back. Three models are coming: Mini (68 mm), V2 (75 mm) and Pro (90 mm).

Pick the Mini if you only want presence and light, on PoE or USB-C, for a hallway, toilet or corridor. Pick the V2 for the complete ceiling sensor with CO₂, temperature and humidity and three power options. Pick the Pro if you also want smoke detection, VOC and NOx, a speaker and a microphone. The Mini and Pro can be surface-mounted too; the V2 is a recessed model.

Fully local. The sensor talks to your Home Assistant directly through ESPHome, there is no cloud account and your data stays in your own network. That applies to all three models. The voice features of the Pro run through Home Assistant, so you decide whether a local or a cloud assistant sits behind them.

Yes. The firmware is ESPHome and lives on GitHub (github.com/smarthomeshop/ceilsense), including the configurations per model and per radar. You may change everything. The radar components are public too: LD2412, LD2450 and LD6002B are part of ESPHome itself, and we maintain our own component for the LD2460.

Yes. CeilSense is built for Home Assistant and does not work standalone. As soon as the sensor is on your network it appears through ESPHome with all its entities, and our free SmartHomeShop integration adds the Room Designer with zones.

On all three models you choose from three configurations. LD2412 + LD2450: reliable presence, even sitting still, plus the position of up to three people. LD2460: tracking up to five people with a wide 120° × 90° field of view. LD6002B: 60 GHz, measures X, Y and height of up to three people, with the same reach for sitting still as for moving. Which configuration ships as standard will be announced at release.

That depends on ceiling height and radar. At 2.7 m ceiling height, count on a ground radius of about 4 m for motion and 3 m for sitting still with the LD2412 or LD2460, and about 3 m all around with the LD6002B. Play with the ceiling height in the demo above to see your own situation, and place the sensor centrally in the room.

The LED ring (sixteen WS2812 LEDs on the Mini and V2, a ring on the Pro) is off by default and driven from Home Assistant: a night light, red when CO₂ is too high, a flash when the doorbell rings or simply ambient light. The buzzer is an alarm that only sounds when you set it up in an automation: smoke, CO₂, an open door, a timer.

The V2 Complete and Pro use the Sensirion SCD41 (±50 ppm at 400 to 2000 ppm) with pressure compensation by the Bosch BMP388. Recessed installation can slightly affect the temperature reading through heat above the ceiling and from the LEDs; use temperature mainly for trends. The Mini does not measure climate.

On top of everything in the V2, the Pro has a smoke chamber for smoke detection, a Sensirion SGP41 for VOC and NOx, a speaker and a microphone for voice through Home Assistant. The smoke alert is an extra warning next to your certified smoke alarms, not a replacement.

Mini 68 mm, V2 75 mm, Pro 90 mm. The Mini fits an existing 68 mm spotlight hole directly; for the V2 and Pro you widen the hole a little. Spring clips hold the sensor tight against the ceiling. No space above the ceiling, concrete for example? Then mount the Mini or Pro on the surface with a mounting plate, no hole needed.

V2 and Pro: 110 to 240 V mains (handy when replacing a spotlight), PoE or USB-C. Mini: PoE or USB-C, no mains. Have mains connections done by a qualified installer. Ethernet without PoE works too: power through mains or USB-C and use the cable for data only.

Through WiFi or Ethernet (RJ45) with PoE. On first start the sensor creates its own WiFi network where you enter your details; with a network cable it shows up in Home Assistant right away. Using UTP in a recessed installation? Add the length of the plug to the installation depth, about 56 mm in total on the V2.

With USB-C or PoE it is plug and play: hang it in, power it up, click add in Home Assistant. Mains is a job for an installer. You build zones and automations without code in the Room Designer of our Home Assistant integration.

Over the air. ESPHome announces new firmware in Home Assistant and installs it with one click; the configurations per model and radar are on GitHub.

CeilSense is the recessed solution for the ceiling, in three sizes, with an LED ring shining down. The UltimateSensor is a free-standing sensor with more sensors (particulate matter, sound) and an optional voice assistant. Choose CeilSense when the sensor must be invisible, the UltimateSensor for maximum functionality on a table or wall.

When you mainly want to know whether someone is there and how much light there is: hallway, corridor, toilet, utility room, or a bedroom where you only want light automation. The Mini has the same radar options as the V2 and Pro, but no climate sensors and no mains.

The V2 for living rooms, offices and bedrooms where air quality matters: CO₂, temperature and humidity drive your ventilation. The Pro when you also want smoke detection, VOC and NOx and voice, or when you have a large room and want the biggest ring.

PIR only sees motion; as soon as you sit still the light goes out. mmWave radar also sees breathing and small movements, so the sensor keeps seeing you on the sofa or at the desk. The LD2450, LD2460 and LD6002B also give the position, which you use to draw zones: the sofa, the desk, the door.

In development — sign up to hear when ordering becomes available.

Through the documentation at docs.smarthomeshop.io, our Discord community where you can ask us and other users, and by e-mail. Configurations and examples are on GitHub.

Two years of warranty on all CeilSense products and fourteen days to change your mind after delivery. Not satisfied? Return the product in its original condition and we refund the purchase amount.