A few motion sensor questions

[Herdfan]

I am wanting to add a "dry contact" motion sensor to my lighting system to have the system turn on some lights. The lighting processor has 3 CCI's with one common and it states it needs "dry contact" closures.

I hate to say, but I have no idea what this means. So what I need is some info on dry contact closure motion detectors. I want to put it near the front door so that when someone approaches, the porch light comes on.

How would a "Dry contact" motion sensor be powered. Does it need its own power. I would think so as the power coming from the processor can't be much.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Digger]

I am wanting to add a "dry contact" motion sensor to my lighting system to have the system turn on some lights. The lighting processor has 3 CCI's with one common and it states it needs "dry contact" closures.

I hate to say, but I have no idea what this means. So what I need is some info on dry contact closure motion detectors. I want to put it near the front door so that when someone approaches, the porch light comes on.

How would a "Dry contact" motion sensor be powered. Does it need its own power. I would think so as the power coming from the processor can't be much.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Most alarm motion detectors are 12 Vdc and draw in the area of 50 ma or so. The relay is always closed and upon motion opens up as the circuit is a normaly closed circuit (and if you cut the wire or loose power to the motion you get an alarm). It sounds like you are looking for an outside detector. There are not that many for outdoor use as compared to indoor and they are more expensive.

If you need an indoor PIR (Passive Infared) let me know and I will send you one (I owe you big time). I dont have any outdoors detectors.

Do you have an alarm system? If so waht brand etc and do you have control of programing it etc.

 

[TonyNo]

A dry contact means that there is no voltage present. Just a switch that opens and closes. You would need two wires for power and two more for contacts.

 

[Herdfan]

I have an ELK M1G( way under utilized), but I was hoping to bypass it and go straight to the Lutron processor as it will be easier to write conditionals if all it is doing is looking for a CCI input.

Yes it will be outside and Lutron makes several occupancy sensors that integrate with their hardwired Maestro dimmers and keypads CCI's and get power from these. The wireless dimmers and keypads don't have these built in CCI's so you have to wire them back to the processor.

I may be wrong, but I don't think the processor puts out enough voltage to run a motion sensor. Perhaps I will call Lutron's tech support tomorrow and ask them as it is not in the manual.

And thanks for the offer. :lol: