Using a Connex Motion Sensor to Control a Light

[jboyx989]

Hey guys, I'm new to home automation and have just started experimenting with a few things.

I recently bought a Connex motion sensor which I planned to use to automatically turn on my bathroom smart bulb. I have set this all up, and it works, but there are a few problems.

The biggest problem is that it takes 5 seconds minimum to turn on the light. Its not the end of the world, but is turning out to be quite frustrating waiting in the dark. The red light takes 5 seconds to come on on the sensor itself, so the delay is from the device. From experimenting, it seems the sensor intentionally waits 5 seconds before triggering.

Second issue is that if the light turns off while someone is in the bathroom, they have no way to trigger it to turn on again. They need to leave the room for 1 minute, and then go back in again for it to trigger again. For now I can work around this just by increasing the length of time that the light stays on for from the initial trigger, but its not quite ideal/efficient.

From what I understand both the above may stem from the fact that this sensor seems to have been designed only to be used for intruder detection, and not for light automation.

If anyone has any suggestions, please share, thanks!

 

[ArmatageShanks]

Why not set it up as a trigger instead of a switch.

So when it senses something (you walking in) it switches on the light, senses something again (you walking out) actuates switch again turning it off?

 

[jboyx989]

I dont think I can get it sense me leaving the bathroom, it basically goes to sleep after being triggered, until it senses 1 minute of no motion, where it starts working normally again.

 

[Greglsh]

Hi jboyx989

You are correct, you need a motion sensor that has a "quicker" reset time. Are you using any sort of home automation hub (Smartthings, Home Assistant, Hubitat etc). I do what you are doing in my kitchen and bathrooms. I use the Samsung Smarthings Zigbee motion sensors connected to a smart hub called a Hubitat, the motion sensors have about a 5 second reset time (so detect motion again in 5 seconds) what I do then is setup the lights to stay on while there is motion, once the last motion is detected the lights turn off after 1 min. When walking in they turn the lights on almost instantly. I have also setup a contact sensor on the bathroom doors that if the door is closed then the lights wont turn off, once the doors open, it will wait the 1 min and turn off unless there is more motion.

 

[Saba'a]

Hi

I'm using a connex motion sensor.

However, it doesn't seem to register any motion? The sensor flashes but yet somehow it doesn't register motion in the app?