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Installation Guide

Pre-release documentation. CeilSense V2 has not been officially released yet. The design, specifications and firmware can still change until release. Check ceilsense.nl for the current planning.

This guide takes you from preparing the ceiling to a CeilSense V2 that shows up in Home Assistant. CeilSense V2 is recessed only. If you want surface mounting, look at CeilSense Mini or CeilSense Pro.

Safety: Have mains connections made by a qualified installer. Switch the circuit off first. CeilSense V2 is IP20: for indoor use only.

Read the placement advice at the end of this page before you cut. If you received the modules loose, fit them first: see Radar and Sensor Modules. The Quick Start shows how to test the device on the table before it goes into the ceiling.

Dimensions to Check

Measurement Value
Cut-out Ø 76 mm
Recessed body Ø 74 mm
Outer rim Ø 95.5 mm
Depth above the ceiling surface 41.46 mm, plus plugs and cables
Depth with a straight RJ45 plug About 56 mm
Maximum ceiling thickness 20 mm

The room needed for plugs and cables depends on the connection. Measure the free space above the ceiling before you start.

Have These Ready

  • A hole saw in the exact size for the right material, with a compatible arbor and pilot drill
  • A suitable drill
  • Tape measure and pencil
  • Cable and pipe detector
  • Stable stepladder
  • Safety glasses, suitable dust extraction, and hearing and respiratory protection as specified
  • CeilSense V2 with its modules fitted, plus the power supply and cables you need

Check Before Drilling

  • Locate cables, pipes and structural parts. A detector alone cannot rule out every risk.
  • Switch off the circuit before you remove a spotlight. Leave mains work and verifying that the circuit is dead to a qualified installer.
  • Use dust extraction, especially with concrete.
  • Reusing a spotlight hole? Measure the opening and the space above it. A hole made for CeilSense V1 is 68 mm and too small for V2.

Prepare by Ceiling Type

Plasterboard With a Cavity

Use a hole saw suitable for plasterboard. First check the clearance above the board for the sensor, plugs and cables. Cut through the board only, not its supporting structure. Plastered concrete is not a plasterboard ceiling.

Wooden Ceilings or Sheet Materials

Choose a hole saw suitable for the material. Check the cutting depth and whether the arbor fits your drill. Use rotary drilling without hammer action and follow the manufacturer's speed instructions. Leave beams and other structural parts intact.

Solid Concrete

CeilSense V2 is recessed only and needs a cavity above the ceiling, so it is not suitable for solid concrete without one. Want to recess it into concrete anyway? Have a specialist assess the structure, the drilling position and the diamond core drilling. Do not drill through reinforcement or prestressing tendons yourself.

A surface-mounted Mini or Pro needs no large recessed opening.

Make the Cut-Out

  1. Mark the center of the position with a pencil.
  2. Check the spot with the detector.
  3. Cut a Ø 76 mm hole. Keep the drill straight and use dust extraction.
  4. Check that the ceiling is no thicker than 20 mm at this spot.

Choose Your Power

Power Cable to the ceiling Network Best for
PoE (IEEE 802.3af) Ethernet cable from a PoE switch or injector Ethernet One cable for power and data
110 to 240 V Mains cable, connected by a qualified installer WiFi or Ethernet Replacing a spotlight: the wiring is already there
USB-C USB-C cable, 5 V, at least 1 A WiFi or Ethernet An existing USB supply, or testing

A USB-C supply is not included. Ethernet without PoE works too: use the cable for data and power the sensor from mains or USB-C. See Network Configuration.

Route the Cables

  • RJ45, USB-C and mains are on the ceiling side of the sensor, so every cable has to reach the cut-out.
  • Pull the cable through the cut-out before you fit the sensor, and leave enough length to connect it comfortably.
  • Recessed with UTP? Add the length of the plug to the depth. With a straight RJ45 plug that comes to about 56 mm.
  • Keep the cavity free of drafts for accurate readings.

Fit the Sensor

  1. Make sure the power is off.
  2. Connect the cable to the matching connection on the ceiling side. Leave the mains connection to a qualified installer.
  3. Press the spring clips in.
  4. Push the sensor into the cut-out.
  5. Release the clips. They hold the sensor against the ceiling.
  6. Check that the outer rim sits flat against the ceiling.

First Start

Switch on the power.

  • The LED ring stays off at every start and the buzzer stays silent. A dark ring does not mean the device has no power.
  • WiFi firmware opens the setup network CeilSense V2 Setup. Follow the WiFi steps in Network Configuration.
  • Ethernet firmware connects to your network through the cable.
  • The first SCD41 readings after a start are not meaningful. Give the sensor time to stabilize before you judge temperature.

Add to Home Assistant

  1. Open Home Assistant and go to Settings > Devices & services.
  2. ESPHome devices are discovered automatically. Select CeilSense V2 and add it.
  3. If it does not appear, find the IP address in your router and add it through Add integration > ESPHome. The ESPHome connection uses the standard port 6053.

Placement Advice

  • Place the sensor centrally in the room.
  • At a 2.7 m ceiling, count on a ground radius of about 4 m for movement and about 3 m for sitting still with LD2412 or LD2460, and about 3 m all around with LD6002B. See Radar and Sensor Modules.
  • mmWave can notice small moving objects such as pets, fans and moving curtains. Aim for the area where people are.
  • Mirrors, metal furniture and windows can reflect the radar. Keep them in mind when you choose the spot.
  • Radar can see through thin walls. If a wall is close, plan for tighter settings in Calibration.
  • Do not place the sensor directly above a radiator or other heat source.
  • CeilSense V2 is not rated for wet rooms.

Next Steps