The software and remote devices are already available in the market. The question is how many Malaysian can manage this "Intelligent Home" system efficiently and effectively. How reliable is the system? How good is the support and maintenance services. Electronic devices can failed without any warning sign. What is the back-up system in the event of circuit board or electronic chip failure?
Pending the arrival of a "full proof" system, I opted for the simpler devices such a Photo sensor, Infrared Motion Sensor, Relay switch and timer switch.
The timer switch was first used in Canada in 1908. Today, this device is widely use for Advertising hoarding board lighting , business signboard lighting and street light. User can set the time for the appliance or equipment to be switched on and off.
Photo sensor detects the surround brightness and will automatically switch the equipment on when the surrounding environment is dark and turn off the light when the environment is bright. I used this sensor for my garden light.
Infrared Motion Sensor detects the heat of occupancy and motion in the environment. This device will turn on the equipment when heat and motion is detected in the environment and switch off when the heat and motion is not detected after a certain pre-set duration.
Timer Switch and Photosensor switch are ready available from local electrical supplier, hardware or DIY shop. But Infrared Motion Sensor is rare in Malaysia. Not many users for this device and therefore, quite difficult to source locally.
Intelligent Passive Infrared Motion Sensor light was invented by two Malaysian brothers from Sitiawan. They won the Geneva Inventors Award in the early 1980s. The commercialisation of the invention did not take off very well due to lack of awareness and users. Thirty years later, this device is widely used in office premises in the Western countries. There is still a limited number of home users.
I am an avid user of Infrared motion sensor since 1990 with a table lamp. Now, my house is cluttered with Infrared Motion sensor from table lamp to wall light and ceiling light. The earlier sensors are either wall mounted or ceiling surface mounted and they can sense only 180 degrees wide
This is my first ceiling flush mounted and 360 degrees sensor . It is more aesthetic and not easily visible or known to intruder or visitor. This is available from online shopping site costing about RM32.00 (USD8.00), inclusive of courier/shipping charges.
The most difficult task of installing a ceiling flush mounted sensor is finding the right position, retrieving the power supply wires inside the ceiling and cutting the hole on ceiling board. The plaster ceiling board is fragile and can be damaged easily. Do plan properly before cutting a hole in the ceiling.
Use an electric drill and a small saw blade to cut the round hole
Three pieces of one-foot long(2mm)wires are required to connect the sensor to the power supply and the light fitting.
Once the wires are properly connected and the desired setting done, pushed the two anchoring spring clips upward and insert the sensor into the hole in the ceiling board. The sensor sits nicely in the ceiling, with only the eyes of the sensor exposed.
The device is successfully test when the surrounding environment reached the set lumen.
Tools required for this installation are;-
1.An electric Drill
2. A six-foot ladder
3. A thin saw blade
4. A test pen
5. A small precision screw driver
6 A Philip screw driver.
7. A wire stripper
No comments:
Post a Comment