Stairway Lighting Automation

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mc5w

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Here's an idea where I would want some input. The price of infrared motion detecting light switches has come down enough that instead of putting in a bunch of 3-ways and 4-ways I can wire some motion switches in parallel with each other.

This is pretty straightforward for a hallway, walk-in closet, and so forth.

Has anybody tried this with stairway lighting? I might need to mount the motion sensing wall switches at funny angles but then I already know how to use a rafter square. I am thinking that the switch down near the bottom would need to be at a 45 degree angle or have a cutoff shutter so as to not sense past the bottom. There would also need to be a wall sensor 2/3 of the way up that is aligned with the stairway.

Or, mount a wall switch in the ceiling of the stairway and adjust the shutters to keep it from seeing much pasat the top or bottom.

Or, would 1 wall switch at the bottom, 1 at top, and 1 in the middle be better so that the manual override buttojn could be used.

I would also restrict the wall switches that are ON or AUTO for the override button - the ones with an off position would allow some body to push too many buttons.
 
Re: Stairway Lighting Automation

One of our biggest builders (area mgr.) is having a home built and we wired it she wanted a motion switch so that kitty could see when going to the litter box :D
 
Re: Stairway Lighting Automation

Originally posted by mc5w:
Or, would 1 wall switch at the bottom, 1 at top, and 1 in the middle be better so that the manual override buttojn could be used.

I would also restrict the wall switches that are ON or AUTO for the override button - the ones with an off position would allow some body to push too many buttons.
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With a complicated system like that, you might be better off to leave personnel control out of the picture entirely. By the exception to 210.70(A)(2), the stairs and hallways do not need manual override in the customary switch position. If you include a single pole or threeway at the normal switch position to override your motion system, someone will turn the override on and then you'll get a call to "fix your system." :)
 
Re: Stairway Lighting Automation

I have found out that one of wattstopper's ceiling sensor has an input that can be connected to doorbell buttons top and bottom that will kick on the sensor.

This ceiling sensor would need to be mounted about 2/3 of the way up on the stairway ceiling.

One thing that would make things easier is if the stairway is open to a foyer which means that I can use 1 ceiling sensor for both and parallel with the upstairs hallway. Using fluorescent wall sconces or what have you the energy consumption of a large control zone is not bad.

For that matter, I know someone who has compact cluorescent refit bulbs all over his house so that he can just turn on everything and leave it on until bedtime.
 
Re: Stairway Lighting Automation

Originally posted by mc5w:
I have found out that one of wattstopper's ceiling sensor has an input that can be connected to doorbell buttons top and bottom that will kick on the sensor.

This ceiling sensor would need to be mounted about 2/3 of the way up on the stairway ceiling.

One thing that would make things easier is if the stairway is open to a foyer which means that I can use 1 ceiling sensor for both and parallel with the upstairs hallway. Using fluorescent wall sconces or what have you the energy consumption of a large control zone is not bad.

For that matter, I know someone who has compact cluorescent refit bulbs all over his house so that he can just turn on everything and leave it on until bedtime.
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Why not just use three ways and 4 ways? :confused:
Personally I would not want all my lights coming on all the time. If I needed them i would prefer to just switch them on.
 
Re: Stairway Lighting Automation

I can't find the one that I've been using but it's similar to this Leviton thing here:

3VA81.JPG


I agree with Scott. These things just don't behave in the way you usually would want them to. They turn on when you don't want them to and they turn off when you don't want them to.

I like them for bathrooms and garages.

It looks like this Leviton might be easier to get along with than the ones I've used because the manual switch (that you will want to use) is easier to get to.

I would guess that three of these on a stairway would be doing just about everything but what you want them to. You will be called back to try to adjust it to work right.

[ March 27, 2005, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
 
Re: Stairway Lighting Automation

Another method would be to install a polarized retroreflective limit switch at the bottom and top with a an activate pushbutton in parallel. The limit switches and pushbuttons would need to be hooked up to a slow release relay. This would be more exact that an infrared motion switch.

In fact, I have installed Radio Shack's 12 volt DC limit switch for automatic doorbell applications and it is extremely reliable. It also has 2 terminals for hooking up a 12 volt dry cell battery for power backup. The only problem that we had after adjusting it was that the power failed for a few days and drained down the backup battery.

It also looks better than an industrial switch and has rounded corners. Although, there are industrial limit switches that are very compact and for the more usual 24 volts DC in commercial lighting asutomation applications.

If you want to keep a painter from painting it or anything else, what you need are both masking tape AND a shotgun.

[ March 31, 2005, 01:43 AM: Message edited by: mc5w ]
 
Re: Stairway Lighting Automation

I have been told by somebody at Wattstopper that this is a very difficult application and often results in an expensive number of sensors.

The last time that I did stairwell lighting it was in an upstairs/downstairs 3-family dwelling. What I did was to install 20 watt fluorescent "undercabinet" fixtures as wall fixtures without any switching - just Keep It Simple Stupid. I also installed 2 vacuum cleaner receptacles. There was not enough daylight from the windows to really mean much.

The problem is that the National energy Policy Act is trying to push some energy saving technologies. I wanted to get some input as to which applications are a bit too difficult. Evidentally this one is too difficult.

[ March 31, 2005, 01:48 AM: Message edited by: mc5w ]
 
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