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Use TAPO cameras to trigger motion-detection events in low-light conditions

 
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Use TAPO cameras to trigger motion-detection events in low-light conditions

Use TAPO cameras to trigger motion-detection events in low-light conditions
Use TAPO cameras to trigger motion-detection events in low-light conditions
2025-09-28 15:38:31
Tags: # Smart Actions #Motion Detection #New Product Idea #Sunset/Sunrise

I would like there to be a TAPO light sensor which could be used to condition the behavior of motion detection Smart Actions.

 

Specifically, I would like to be able to have Smart Actions that are only triggered when motion is detected in the dark (or low light) so that I can use this trigger to switch on a TAPO Smart Bulb.

 

There's no point in turning on a Smart Bulb in daylight!

 

 

I imagine that what I've described is a very common use-case, and indeed I have seen other TAPO product owners (posting on other forums) looking for a compatible sensor to meet this exact same requirement.

 

Another use for a TAPO light sensor could be to turn on Smart bulbs automatically when it gets dark - irrespective of motion being detected. This could be particularly useful as a security measure for vacant properties, as well as being generally useful in homes that are occupied.

 

However, I have been told that TAPO do not have a light sensor in the current product range, which is both surprising and disappointing - and hopefully something that your product development team will consider. (I imagine it wouldn't be a very complex device to develop)

 

 

That said, it occurs to me that a TAPO camera could perform this behavior with just a software change: the cameras already have motion detection capability and also a low-light sensor which enables their infra-red illumination.

 

 

Therefore, could we please have a camera-activated motion detection trigger for Smart Actions WHICH ONLY OCCURS IN DARKNESS / LOW LIGHT i.e. when the camera's infra-red illumination is on?

 

This feature request is not specific to a particular camera: it would apply to all TAPO cameras which already have motion detection and infra-red illumination.

 

 

 

 

 

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Re:Use TAPO cameras to trigger motion-detection events in low-light conditions
2025-09-29 07:56:12

  @Customer0 

Hi,
Thank you for your feedback here. I'll log your feature request and forward it to the relevant team for evaluation. 

 

Alternatively, if you have a Tapo camera, you can check if the following configuration helps.
  
  1) On the Tapo app > Smart Tab > Add an Automation entry: How to create Smart Action (Automation or Shortcut) on Tapo app
  2) In the Automation entry, for example, you can set the effective time to 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM every day (nighttime), then set when the camera detects motion, and then turn on a Tapo bulb. 

 

Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
#2
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Re:Use TAPO cameras to trigger motion-detection events in low-light conditions
2025-09-29 13:56:44

Thanks for the reply @Solla-topee, and for forwarding this to the relevant team.

Is it just one team which evaluates BOTH new hardware product suggestions AND ALSO software enhancements for existing products?

 

As for your suggestion, a fixed schedule for activations would need to be regularly updated to cater for the varying seasons and also daylight-savings clock changes, and STILL wouldn't take into account the days when it's unseasonably bright or dark.

 

A hardware light sensor would be a better (smarter !) option, and it would compliment the rest of the TAPO product range, making other products more useful when used in conjunction with a hardware light sensor.

 

Modifying the existing camera software is (hopefully) a quick way of achieving the same sort of result.

 

 

#3
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Re:Use TAPO cameras to trigger motion-detection events in low-light conditions
2025-09-30 03:33:23

  @Customer0 

Hi,
Usually, we will log the product's hardware and firmware suggestions and forward them to the product team for evaluation.

 

From your description, it appears that the new light sensor you requested needs to have the ability to detect both light conditions and motions. If I'm misunderstanding your request, please let me know. The Tapo cameras' features do not have any problems; however, the smart action feature in the Tapo app is currently unable to achieve your usage scenario. 
On our end, I'll record your requests and case details, then forward them to the product team for evaluation.

 

Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
#4
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Re:Use TAPO cameras to trigger motion-detection events in low-light conditions
2025-10-01 02:31:51

Hi @Solla-topee

 

A combined motion detector and light sensor would certainly fit the use-case, though TAPO already sells a stand-alone motion detector so an independent light sensor (which could be used in conjunction with a motion detector in a Smart routine) could be a more useful new product. That way, we could have Smart Actions which detect motion in one place and activate Smart lights based on the illumination in another.

 

For example, detecting motion at the start of a corridor (where it may still be well light) but turning on the lights at the far end of the corridor where it is dark.

 

 

A separate light sensor device would also allow customers who have already purchased motion detectors to make more use of them in conjunction with the light sensor, instead of wastefully throwing away a working motion detector and replacing it with a combined motion detector/light sensor device.

 

 

And a separate light sensor would also be useful for turning on lights (for security purposes) when it gets dark - irrespective of motion being detected.

 

 

The light sensor would probably be quite similar to your existing temperature sensors: continually detecting the light level which could be used to trigger events when a configurable threshold is reached, and could also be used as a control/filter with motion detection events as described in my first post.

 

 

You could probably even package it up in the same style case as the TAPO temperature sensor. I imagine much of the electronics would be the same.

 

#5
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Re:Use TAPO cameras to trigger motion-detection events in low-light conditions
2 weeks ago

  @Customer0 

Hi,
Thank you for your explanation. I'll record your requests and case details, then forward them to the product team for evaluation.
Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
#6
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