We would like to install a few stairway spotlights and are wondering about the best way to control them. Should they be switched manually with two-way switches at the top and bottom of the stairs, or with motion sensors or presence detectors?
With our floor plan, it wouldn’t be a problem to install three separate light switches at both the top and bottom of the stairs (one for the main light upstairs, one for the stair spotlights, and one for the light downstairs—all wired as two-way switches), but is that practical? Or would it be better to control the stairway spotlights with motion or presence sensors?
With our floor plan, it wouldn’t be a problem to install three separate light switches at both the top and bottom of the stairs (one for the main light upstairs, one for the stair spotlights, and one for the light downstairs—all wired as two-way switches), but is that practical? Or would it be better to control the stairway spotlights with motion or presence sensors?
S
Sebastian7926 Aug 2016 13:35Yes, so what? I’m not saying motion detectors are wrong—unlike you, who seems ready to start a crusade again.
I’m just saying that not everyone needs them everywhere because light isn’t always wanted. It really depends on personal preference—but you make it sound like it’s absolutely necessary. And yes, there are even homeowners who don’t plan their staircases as dark voids—in those cases, you simply don’t need constant automatic lighting.
I’m just saying that not everyone needs them everywhere because light isn’t always wanted. It really depends on personal preference—but you make it sound like it’s absolutely necessary. And yes, there are even homeowners who don’t plan their staircases as dark voids—in those cases, you simply don’t need constant automatic lighting.
Mycraft schrieb:
And I don't have a single switch... neither in the hallway, nor on the stairs or in the foyer... of course, it's a matter of personal taste...But according to your statement: No matter where you step, a light in that area will turn on for you
That's exactly what you don't want. You might want to, for example, see who is at the door or look into the garden from the upper floor. Lighting controlled by sensors is just nonsense in those cases.
Why? The light is already on when you enter the room. And what business does a guest have with unfamiliar tablets? (If the house even has something like that.) The guest wants to lower the roller shutter at the back left and dim the central light a bit brighter. So they have to take the KNX tablet and start fiddling around. Well, they’re bound to fail at that.
S
Sebastian7926 Aug 2016 13:44And the resulting disadvantages were also described, but then consistently ignored.
Let go of the idea that everyone wants automation everywhere – and also that a person who doesn’t want it simply doesn’t know what’s best for them.
I agree with you on many points, but some things just don’t fit – and I’m no exception to that.
Let go of the idea that everyone wants automation everywhere – and also that a person who doesn’t want it simply doesn’t know what’s best for them.
I agree with you on many points, but some things just don’t fit – and I’m no exception to that.
What do you see differently? That there is never, ever a situation where I would want the hallway light off? There are certainly many.
Or that you also need to make guests, like grandparents who are babysitting, fully familiar with the entire technology?
And you always have to be able to override it manually, so you need all the switches anyway, for example, in the living room. Or can you only control shutters and lighting via an app? In that case, the grandparents would have to be instructed accordingly.
Or that you also need to make guests, like grandparents who are babysitting, fully familiar with the entire technology?
And you always have to be able to override it manually, so you need all the switches anyway, for example, in the living room. Or can you only control shutters and lighting via an app? In that case, the grandparents would have to be instructed accordingly.
@Sebastian79
Well, I see it differently... I’ve only shared my experiences and pointed out the advantages of presence detectors / motion sensors in these areas.
If you want to do that, it’s also possible with presence detectors—you just need a bit of creativity when programming.
Why would they fail? Because they can’t recognize pictograms or can’t read?
Do you think a conventionally wired house is easier? What does the guest do in such a case? No bus system, everything conventional—that’s a typical installation for new builds nowadays:
Well, I see it differently... I’ve only shared my experiences and pointed out the advantages of presence detectors / motion sensors in these areas.
Grym schrieb:
That’s not what you want. Maybe you want to see who’s at the door or look out from the upper floor into the garden. That’s what sensor-controlled lighting is bad for.
If you want to do that, it’s also possible with presence detectors—you just need a bit of creativity when programming.
Grym schrieb:
A guest wants to lower the roller shutter at the back left and dim the light in the middle slightly brighter. So they have to take the KNX tablet and start experimenting. Well, they will fail at that.
Why would they fail? Because they can’t recognize pictograms or can’t read?
Do you think a conventionally wired house is easier? What does the guest do in such a case? No bus system, everything conventional—that’s a typical installation for new builds nowadays:
I have already spent a lot of time learning about KNX, but I still don’t see the point. I would like to be convinced. Is it really just the 0.6 seconds it takes to turn on the light switch?
As I said, you can’t do without a switch—you still want to be able to override and control lights and roller shutters manually, not only through preset scenarios...
As I said, you can’t do without a switch—you still want to be able to override and control lights and roller shutters manually, not only through preset scenarios...