50 Occupancy Sensors???

D

DotNetDog

Active Member
The low voltage pre-wire begins on my house this week. I am planning to do LOTS of wire runs...may not use them all but they'll be there.

So if I were to install occupancy sensor everywhere that I spec-ed out, I would have about 50 sensor. They are in every room. Two in bathrooms. In closets...etc...

I'm going with the Elk M1G because it supports more zones (over the OmniProII). So I'm wondering if anyone has tried this many occupancy sensors? It sounds like a lot to me.
 
I would say it can't hurt to prewire but maybe not put in every sensor during the initial install. From my experience I would ask what would be the purpose of each sensor. For a closet, is it to turn on / off a closet light? Could that be done with a contact switch on the door?

I have tow motion detectors on the first floor, and one in the basement, which are primarily used for the alarm when we are upsatair sleeping or away. But I have found that just the three have been enough so far to fill all the lighting / occupancy needs I have come up with for my home, which runs around 2500 sq ft. The only addition I could think of for myself is another motion maybe in the upstairs hall bringing the total to 4. Of course YMMV depending on your needs. Even with just the three motions I have had to write scripts to limit the logging from them as they would flood my event logs.
 
Can you post the specifications or manuf link on the motions you are thinking of using? I especially want their current draw spec.
 
Those look interesting, wondering how well they would work. Do you have any pricing info?
 
Dan (electron) said:
Those look interesting, wondering how well they would work. Do you have any pricing info?
Click to expand...


No pricing yet. I'll contact Automated Outlet soon.
As for how they will work, I'm hopeful. I called both manufacturers and spoke at length. The Visonic sensors are actually motion sensors rather than occupancy. My usage of those takes that into account.

The SensorSwitch sensors should be interesting. I actually forgot to mention one. I am using a variant of the first one in the bathrooms. I need to "hear" is someone is in the shower so I needed to add the microphonics capability. Also, since it's in the shower I am adding the high humidity option. The model number is: CM PDT 9 R LT

This was determined after talking with a rep from SensorSwitch. I hope these things work as well as promised! :)
 
I'd be really interested in pricing and operation of these also. Currently I use 10 IR sensors around the house to trigger lights. In general they work OK, but not 100% reliable. Sometimes they also take too long to trigger.

GM
 
Frederick C. Wilt said:
DotNetDog said:
The Visonic sensors are actually motion sensors rather than occupancy.
Click to expand...

Why do you think the other units don't require motion?
Click to expand...


That's not what I said. There are many threads discussing the difference between motion sensors and occupancy sensors. Visonic makes motions sensors (their words) and SensorSwitch makes occupancy sensors. Both require motion...but "motion" sensors look for the initial motion in the field of view...not continuous motions. I think that's the critical difference.
 
I can speak for the Spy4 sensors, I have been bench testing 8 of them for the last three weeks, and I gotta say that I am impressed!!

btw, FIRST POST WITH NEW HANDLE!! ;)
 
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