strategies-occupancy-timing

Overview

Occupancy sensing is the most common control method employed today for energy saving. Motion sensors automatically turn ON lights when people enter a space and turn them OFF (or Dim) shortly after people leave. They enable automated lighting control in enclosed offices, open workspaces, and shared amenity spaces.

Occupancy strategy uses an 'On' and 'Off' timer to manage lighting.

On timer - When the lights are first switched on, this timer begins. When it reaches zero, the lights will switch off. If motion is detected the timer will reset.

Off timer- When the no motion is detected, this timer begins. When it reaches zero, the lights will switch off.

Strategy breakdown

The block uses motion, detected at any of the connected mulitsenses' PIR sensors, to determine the state of the connected lights or light groups. An unlimited amount of multisenses can be connected to the block's inputs. Similarly, an unlimited of lights or light groups can be connected to the block's outputs.

Any time motion is detected at one of the block's inputs, the connected lights are immediately turned ON, and the ON timer (length is user-defined) begins. This timer resets when motion is detected after the timer has finished.

Whenever no motion is detected, the OFF timer (length is user-defined) begins. This timer resets when motion is detected again.

When either of these timers finish, the lights connected to the output will turn off.

Subflows

These subflows utilise the new Occupancy Timing Strategy. See example files for more context.

occupancy-timing-subflow.json - Implements a UI for the new Occupancy Timing Strategy, all contained in a single node

bedroom-subflow.json - Similar to the above subflow, but with the output filtered to prevent PIR triggering the light to turn on

Caveats and considerations

When determining which motion sensors should be triggering which lights, extra attention should be paid so that areas of a room are not being needlessly lit. Similarly, motion sensors should be placed in a way such that people are not having to travel across a space in order to trigger the lights.