RE: HA Holy Grail #1: Occupancy Detection

["Paul Gale" <groups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I do this in a couple of places - PIR's linked to Comfort and then to
HomeVision (and data also available on the xAP network). The automation bit
is OK but whether the system works in real life or not depends (IME)
entirely on the sensitivity of the PIR.

I replaced all the PIR's in the house with new, stylish ones several years
ago. Added at least one per room (so a lot!). The trouble is, although
they're good for alarm use, they're just no where near sensitive enough, so
the lighting can take a while to respond. I did have another couple of more
expensive types (Optex RX40QZ Quad Zone Logic PIR) and these are actually
pretty good - might get a few more and see how they go.

The other thing you carefully need to consider is how long someone may sit
still in a room (hence no PIR activity). In the end, in the master en-suite
bathroom, we disabled the auto-off lighting because it just wasn't working
well. However, with longer delays and a better PIR, things might be better.

I know several others on the list have had success.

Paul.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Andy Laurence
> Sent: 22 August 2006 09:49
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] HA Holy Grail #1: Occupancy Detection
>
> I've finally puched down all the CAT5 in Node0, so it's time to think
> about lighting.  I've got the switches and lighting controllers
sorted,
> but what I'd really like is automgic lights.  This leads me in pursuit
of
> the holy grail.  Occupancy detection.  Has anyone got a reasonably
> reliable method of occupancy detection?  I'm thinking a sensitive PIR,
> which triggers a timer and turns the light on.  When the timer reaches
> zero the light goes off.  Whenever the PIR is triggered, it resets the
> timer.  I suspect I can do this with xAP Floorplan, although I've not
> checked yet.  Has anyone implemented this?  If so, any recommendations
for
> PIRs?
>
> Cheers,
> Andy
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>