Does anybody have experience with the Sentry switches? My question is: how does a 3-way Sentry switch operate internally?
I think I understand the operation of a single pole Sentry switch. When the switch is turned ON, it latches mechanically and held in the ON position electrically. When an OFF pulse is sent to the switch, the switch opens and the handle drops to the off position untill someone physically resets the switch to the ON position. This way pre-programmed sweeps at set intervals could keep the lights off in the areas not occupied.
So how does the 3-way setup work then? The 3-way Sentry switch has two travellers and one common leads, so it appears as a normal 3-way, but I can't figure out how it would work in a 3-way situation. It seems that when one of the travellers is turned OFF via another 3-way switch, then the Sentry switch would open and the only way to turn the lights back on would be to physically reset the switch, as it wouldn't make sence that the other 3-way would be able to operate the light at all. That's the whole point of using the Sentry switches, they can be forced OFF remotely but turned ON only locally at the switch.
My confusion is that it's called "3-way", but I can't figure out how it can be used as a 3-way.
If you guys need a diagram I can draw one up.
I think I understand the operation of a single pole Sentry switch. When the switch is turned ON, it latches mechanically and held in the ON position electrically. When an OFF pulse is sent to the switch, the switch opens and the handle drops to the off position untill someone physically resets the switch to the ON position. This way pre-programmed sweeps at set intervals could keep the lights off in the areas not occupied.
So how does the 3-way setup work then? The 3-way Sentry switch has two travellers and one common leads, so it appears as a normal 3-way, but I can't figure out how it would work in a 3-way situation. It seems that when one of the travellers is turned OFF via another 3-way switch, then the Sentry switch would open and the only way to turn the lights back on would be to physically reset the switch, as it wouldn't make sence that the other 3-way would be able to operate the light at all. That's the whole point of using the Sentry switches, they can be forced OFF remotely but turned ON only locally at the switch.
My confusion is that it's called "3-way", but I can't figure out how it can be used as a 3-way.
If you guys need a diagram I can draw one up.
