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 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…