I want to set up automatic lighting in my hallway, but I'm not sure what to look for when choosing a sensor. It's important that it doesn't trigger on my cat and works with my smart home system. What models actually work without glitches?
The problem is that there's no perfect motion sensor that's guaranteed not to react to cats - it all depends on the model, sensitivity, and your pet's size. But microwave-based sensors actually work better than infrared ones: they filter out small movements much more effectively and often have sensitivity adjustment. For smartphone integration, it's easiest to just find a sensor that works with your ecosystem (if you've got Apple HomeKit, look for those; if Google Home or Yandex, then theirs) - that way everything syncs without any headaches.
What smart home system do you already have in place - that's the main thing, because compatibility often matters more than the sensor itself. If you're already locked into a specific platform (like Home Assistant, Apple HomeKit, or something Chinese), then your options narrow down right away. About cats - I agree there's no perfect solution, but microwave sensors really do respond better to "big" movements than passive infrared ones, so you can use that as a guide. One more important thing: mount the sensor higher up and at an angle so it detects at human level, not at floor level - that way there's less chance of picking up your pet.
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