To each there own, but i think after all is said and done, automatic hallway lights are just a natural fit and the best addition home automation gave me (as simple as it is). I have automatic lights in more spots because motion detection is easy, but I wouldn’t really miss them except in the hallway, where taking the time to flip the switch takes as much time as traversing, and then you still have to turn it off after.
I can see that. Most of my house gets enough light - or streetlights at night - to walk through with the lights out at midnight. Add in a lumen sensor, though, to dial lights up when it’s cloudy and down when it’s sunny…
When I think of automations, it’s either things like coordinating big power draws to cheap electricity or trivial quality of life enhancements, like turning out the lights in an empty room. The latter, I have trouble justifying to spend on occupancy sensors and smart switches if it’s only going to save 20 Watts of LED or five steps. Once it’s become your hobby, it’s much easier to say, “I’m going to buy these sensors because they’re fun to play with and it gives me joy to see them work.”
Yeah you buy the sensors because you enjoy it all. The sensors then become even more useful when you realise they don’t just pick up motion, but also temperature, humidity, lumens…
To each there own, but i think after all is said and done, automatic hallway lights are just a natural fit and the best addition home automation gave me (as simple as it is). I have automatic lights in more spots because motion detection is easy, but I wouldn’t really miss them except in the hallway, where taking the time to flip the switch takes as much time as traversing, and then you still have to turn it off after.
I can see that. Most of my house gets enough light - or streetlights at night - to walk through with the lights out at midnight. Add in a lumen sensor, though, to dial lights up when it’s cloudy and down when it’s sunny…
When I think of automations, it’s either things like coordinating big power draws to cheap electricity or trivial quality of life enhancements, like turning out the lights in an empty room. The latter, I have trouble justifying to spend on occupancy sensors and smart switches if it’s only going to save 20 Watts of LED or five steps. Once it’s become your hobby, it’s much easier to say, “I’m going to buy these sensors because they’re fun to play with and it gives me joy to see them work.”
Yeah you buy the sensors because you enjoy it all. The sensors then become even more useful when you realise they don’t just pick up motion, but also temperature, humidity, lumens…
I recently killed the system I’ve had running since COVID, lost it all. The first thing I resetup was the hallway lights motion sensor.
It’s a 4 floor house, so half of it is stairs. Carrying washing around is so much easier when the lights turn themselves on and off.
I’ve just written a post about how I missed having my lights turn on with my alarm clock this week. That was really missed!