Control Air Conditioners and Heaters with the help of PIR Presence Sensors

Sept. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- The application of occupancy sensors until recently that was restricted to control lights of a room has taken a step further and can now control Air Conditioners and Heaters. Controlling the usage of stand alone Air Conditioners and Heaters such that they are activated only when it is actually required could help in curtailing the energy bills.


Motion Sensing is being increasingly used for automated control of lighting, heating and air conditioning loads on a “need based” situation. In tropical countries, one finds copious amount of natural light prevalent in a facility, which obviates the use of artificial light in a task area. The use of occupancy sensors and motion detectors facilitate the patron to conserve energy bills on account of these lighting loads. However, the introduction of controlling and managing HVAC loads parallel with the lighting loads provides a new dimension to saving energy bills consummately.


The new generation of high frequency & passive infrared occupancy sensors / motion detectors are now available with an independent galvanically separated output which permits the sensor to control the air conditioning loads distinctly and separately from the lighting loads.


Typically, a sensor is activated based on the lux setting programmed and the presence or absence of a human being in an area. Therefore, if the lux from the natural light is more than the lux level programmed in the sensors, typically the sensor will not activate the lighting loads even if there is any human presence.


These sensors have a square detection pattern which permits every corner of the room to be sensed accurately and efficiently. The new range adjustment feature enables precise zone bifurcation, which is a boon for open planned offices. It is for the first time that a PIR sensor has a potentiometer for this feature. Until now there were shrouds or covers to increase or decrease the range. This was cumbersome and inaccurate.


Control PRO presence IR QUATTRO

With the introduction of the new Steinel Sensors which now accord the option of controlling the HVAC units, the connected air conditioning / heating load can now be activated on the presence of a human being even if the lux from the natural light is higher than the programmed lux level of the sensor. What this means is that the sensors can control the lighting and the HVAC circuits independently
Air conditioning, in general can be found either as an individual unit or as a unit, which is part of a centrally controlled system. The latter is known as a F.C.U. or Fan Coil Unit while the former known as either a split unit or window unit. These loads are switched using a relay or a contactor, which in turn actuated by the sensor. The most common ratings for either the relay or the contactor are 22 Amps for a 1 Tr load or 32 Amps for a 1.5 Tr load.

High Frequency Motion Detector

The time setting of these sensors is programmed to suit the vacancy pattern of that area where the sensor is installed. Installation scenarios and requirements can vary from area to area. Basic installation provides for a panel housing which contains the switching device while more advanced installations require the use multi-pole rotary switches for bypassing the sensor in the event of any malfunction.

The sensors that can be used for these applications are

1. Passive Infrared or P.I.R.

2. High Frequency, Ultrasonic or Doppler

3. Acoustic

4. Multi sensor using a combination of the foresaid technologies

These sensors are available either in wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted categories, which can either be hard-wired or wireless.


The Return On Investment (R.O.I.) for these sensors can range from 8 months to 12 months depending on the occupancy pattern of the area where these sensors are installed along with the energy costs that can differ from location to location. The installation and commissioning of this solution can take anywhere between 2-3 hours.


For Further Information Contact:

Pammvi Group of Companies
Mumbai
India
Email:    info@pammvi.com
Website:    http://www.pir-motion-sensor.com/

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Pammvi is sole distributor and dealer of Steinel, Germany products for lighting automation and power tools in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other sub-continent countries. Pammvi also deals in FDA certified drugs of abuse test kits and AED.