Air-1 by Apollo Automation: A Powerful Air Quality Sensor

My First Experience with Home Assistant & Apollo Automation

Introduction

I’ve installed Home Assistant a few times over the years, always with big plans to fully automate my smart home. But life happens, and I never quite got around to actually using it. That changed when I decided I needed an air quality sensor. I wanted something that could give me historical data, integrate with Home Assistant, and provide frequent updates. Enter the Air-1 by Apollo Automation—the perfect excuse to finally get Home Assistant up and running.

For anyone looking for specific product details, check out the official page: Apollo Automation Air-1.

This is my first Home Assistant device and my first Apollo Automation product. Let’s see how that worked out!

Why I Chose the Air-1

I researched a lot of air quality monitors before settling on the Air-1. Here’s what led me to this choice:

• Open-source compatibility – I wanted something flexible, not locked into a proprietary ecosystem.
• Home Assistant integration – The goal was full automation and data logging.
• Frequent readings – Some sensors update too slowly to be useful.
• Long sensor lifespan – The Air-1 claims up to 10 years of continuous use, compared to the 3 years of most PM sensors.

Other Sensors I Considered

• IKEA Vindstyrka – Cheap, has a screen, but only measures a few things and uses lower-quality sensors.
• AirGradient Indoor – Has a screen and an indicator, works out of the box, but less powerful.
• IQAir AirVisual Pro – Great visual display, owned one in the past, but has fewer sensors than the Air-1.

Ultimately, the Air-1 stood out because of its sensor variety and long-term reliability, even though it doesn’t have a built-in screen or indicator.

What It Measures

The Air-1 tracks a lot of air quality metrics:

• Particulate Matter (PM): PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10
• Air Quality Indicators: VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), NOx (Nitrogen Oxides)
• Environmental Conditions: Temperature, Humidity (requires an offset adjustment due to heat buildup)

Optional Add-Ons:

• Gas Detection: Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ethanol (C2H5OH), Hydrogen (H2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ammonia (NH3), Methane (CH4) (detects presence rather than exact PPM values)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Monitoring (SCD40)

Unboxing & First Impressions

• Packaging: Clean, minimal.
• Shipping: Took longer than expected.
• Extras: I ordered the additional gas sensors, which came pre-installed. I also opted for the GPIO Header and Dupont Cables, which came separately along with an alternate housing cover for GPIO access.

Setting Up the Air-1 with Home Assistant (AKA My GPIO Nightmare)

BIG WARNING NOTICE: If you ordered the GPIO Header, STOP. Do not install it first. Learn from my mistake.

Here’s what happened:

1. Excited to start, I installed the GPIO Header before even powering up the device.
2. Turns out, the GPIO header can be installed bidirectionally, but only works in one direction. Guess who installed it backward?
3. This meant:
   • The LEDs didn’t turn on (I didn’t even know it had LEDs!).
   • Parts of the device didn’t function, even though WiFi partially worked.
   • Spent hours troubleshooting a nonexistent problem.
4. I even flashed the firmware and checked logs, but nothing made sense.
5. Finally, I removed the GPIO header, powered it on, and… the LEDs lit up instantly. Facepalm moment.
6. At that point, Home Assistant picked it up with zero issues.

Aside from my self-inflicted GPIO disaster, setup was smooth once I had it plugged in correctly. It connected easily, and Home Assistant recognized it instantly.

Testing & Performance

• Accuracy? Seems good, but I don’t have another high-quality monitor to compare it to.
• Update frequency? Frequent enough for meaningful data collection.
• Reliability? So far, solid. No random disconnects.
• Downside? No built-in screen. This makes it great for historical data collection but not ideal for real-time air quality checks (though the LEDs can be enabled for quick visual cues).

Home Assistant Automation Ideas

Here’s what I plan to set up:

• Alerts for gas leaks – Especially in the kitchen.
• Smart dashboards – Home Assistant’s default data views aren’t great, so I’ll work on a custom dashboard inspired by the IQAir Visual Monitor.
• Automated HVAC control – Adjust air purifiers or ventilation based on sensor readings.
• Always-on Display – Considering setting up a dedicated tablet dashboard in the house.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

✅ Highly accurate sensors ✅ Long lifespan (10+ years for PM sensors) ✅ Works great with Home Assistant ✅ Tracks a ton of air quality data

Cons:

❌ No screen for quick real-time checks ❌ Requires manual calibration for temperature readings ❌ My own user errorwith the GPIO header (not the device’s fault, but worth mentioning!)

Final Thoughts & Would I Recommend It?

I’m very happy with the Air-1 overall. If you’re using Home Assistant, this is one of the best air quality sensors you can get. It offers detailed readings, a long lifespan, and integrates seamlessly.

Would I buy another one? Yes—I’d love to put one outside to compare against public air quality data.

Would I recommend it? Yes, with the caveat that it’s best for data-driven users who are okay with not having an out-of-the-box screen display.

For now, my next step is building better dashboards and setting up real-time automations. Stay tuned for updates on that!