Room occupancy sensing with automatic appliance shut-off
Motion sensors spread through the room detect people and where they are, so lights and AC run only in the used area and switch off automatically when the room is empty. An optional camera can tell a person from a moving curtain.
The problem
A traditional motion sensor turns off the lights while someone sits still, because it detects motion, not presence. As a result, users disable it and the waste of electricity returns.
How it works
- DetectionDistributed motion sensors cover different areas of the room.
- ConfirmationMotion must repeat or be confirmed by the camera before it counts as occupancy.
- DecisionEach zone gets its own timer, reset with every detection.
- ExecutionThe relay cuts the lights or AC to the zone whose timer has run out.
Project features
- Three sensors cover different zones, so shut-off is partial, not total.
- A smart timer that extends the delay in zones where people sit still.
- The optional camera confirms people are present, reducing wrong shut-offs.
- An occupancy log shows the hours when the room is actually empty.
Parts
All the parts you need in one place. Remove what you already have, and swap parts to fit your budget. Parts with a photo are available in our store at their current price.
Prices are estimates and may change. Parts marked “other supplier” are ordered outside our main store.
Expected challenges
These are the main obstacles to expect during the build, laid out clearly so you know them before you start.
- The motion sensor is affected by drafts and moving curtains, so mounting position is decisive.
- The sensor doesn't detect a still person, so the timer delay should be generous, not tight.
- The camera raises cost and complexity and isn't worthwhile in every room.
- Cutting the AC with a relay requires calculating the current; not every relay is suitable.
The consultation gives you a solution for each one.
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Students' experiences
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Need solutions to the challenges and a complete technical path?
In the consultation we give you a solution for each challenge above, plus a practical build plan from the first step to the last: technologies, libraries, wiring diagram, timeline, and tips for the defense.
- Consultation session
- PDF with solutions and a plan
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