How to Set Up Your Ecobee SmartSensor

What You Will Need

• Ecobee SmartSensor
• Compatible ecobee thermostat (ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, Enhanced, or ecobee3 lite)
• CR2477 coin cell battery (pre-installed)
• Smartphone with the ecobee app installed
• Ecobee thermostat already set up and connected to WiFi

Step 1: Choose a Location for the Sensor

The Ecobee SmartSensor measures temperature and occupancy in rooms away from your thermostat, helping maintain comfortable temperatures throughout your home. Choose a room where you spend significant time, such as a bedroom, home office, or living room. Place the sensor at about the same height as a light switch, roughly four to five feet above the floor, for the most accurate temperature readings. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight, near heating vents, or near exterior doors, as these can skew the temperature measurement.

Step 2: Prepare the Sensor

The SmartSensor comes with a CR2477 battery pre-installed. Pull the plastic tab from the battery compartment to activate the sensor. The sensor does not have a power button — once the battery tab is removed, it is on and ready to pair. The battery typically lasts up to two years under normal use.

Step 3: Start the Pairing Process

1. Open the ecobee app on your smartphone.
2. Tap the menu icon and select Sensors.
3. Tap Add Sensor.
4. The app will search for nearby sensors using Bluetooth.
5. When your SmartSensor appears in the list, tap on it to begin pairing.

You can also pair the sensor directly from the thermostat's touchscreen by navigating to Main Menu, then Sensors, then Add Sensor.

Step 4: Name and Assign the Sensor

After the sensor pairs successfully, the app will ask you to name the sensor based on its location, such as "Bedroom" or "Office." This name will appear in the ecobee app and on the thermostat display, making it easy to identify which room the sensor represents. You can also assign it to a specific comfort setting so the thermostat factors in this room's temperature when making heating and cooling decisions.

Step 5: Mount the Sensor

The SmartSensor can be placed on a flat surface like a shelf or nightstand, or it can be mounted on a wall using the included magnetic mount.

1. If wall-mounting, peel the adhesive backing off the magnetic mount plate.
2. Press the plate firmly against the wall at your chosen height.
3. Attach the sensor to the magnetic mount. It snaps on easily and can be removed for battery replacement.

Step 6: Configure Comfort Settings

To get the most out of your SmartSensor, configure your Comfort Settings in the ecobee app.

1. Go to Settings then Comfort Settings.
2. Select a comfort profile such as Home, Away, or Sleep.
3. Under Participating Sensors, enable the SmartSensor you just added.
4. When a sensor participates in a comfort setting, the thermostat averages the temperature from all participating sensors to determine when to heat or cool.

For example, if you add a bedroom sensor to the Sleep comfort setting, the thermostat will prioritize bedroom temperature overnight instead of using the thermostat's built-in sensor in the hallway.

Step 7: Verify Sensor Communication

In the ecobee app, go to Sensors and confirm the SmartSensor is reporting a temperature reading. The sensor communicates with the thermostat via a 915 MHz radio signal with a range of approximately 45 feet. If the sensor shows as disconnected, try moving it closer to the thermostat to verify it is working, then gradually test different positions at the desired location.

Tips for Best Performance

• The occupancy sensor detects motion within about 15 feet. Place it where regular movement occurs so the thermostat can accurately determine if the room is in use.
• You can pair up to 32 SmartSensors with a single ecobee thermostat.
• Replace the battery when the ecobee app notifies you of a low battery. Use only a CR2477 coin cell.
• Avoid placing the sensor behind furniture or curtains, as this blocks the occupancy detector and reduces temperature accuracy.