Lighting Automation

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The Sail comes with lighting automation and light dimming controls built into each apartment.

At the main entrance hallway a motion detector at the ceiling detects motion within a certain range and turns on the hallway light. The home owner thus does not have to grope for the light switch in the dark when he first enters the apartment. Similarly, when someone needs to use the toilet located off the hallway, the motion detector automatically turns on the hallway light to light up the area. The concept sounds well and good. In practice however, the motion detector control does not seem suited for the apartment, turning the hallway light on-and-off as one moves about in the living and dining area, becoming a nuisance instead of serving a useful purpose! It is thus better to switch off the motion sensor control.

The switches with dimmer controls are distinct from those without dimmer controls, as depicted below:

To operate the light dimmer switches, first ensure all the master light switches located below the ELCB Panel Box (located near the entrance door) are turned on. The switches are labelled L1, L2, etc., including one labelled Scene Switch. Turn on that one on too, as it controls both the Living and Dining Room lights.

BEDROOMS & STUDY AREA
The lights for the bedrooms and study area are controlled individually by sets of 2 rocker switches aligned vertically side-by-side and operate as follows:

Left rocker switch: Tap top end to TURN ON, tap bottom end to TURN OFF.

Right rocker switch: Tap top end to set light at 75% brightness (power), tap bottom end to set light to 25% brightness.

Alternatively, you may also press and hold the switch to dim the light continuously.

LIVING & DINING AREAS
For no better reason than aesthetics, one set of rocker switches (instead of two) controls the lights in the Dining and Living areas. The left rocker switch controls the Living area light while the right rocker switch controls the Dining light.

Tap the top end of the rocker switch to TURN ON, and the bottom end to TURN OFF the respective light fixture.

MOTION SENSOR SWITCH
The light at the entrance hallway is controlled by the Motion Sensor Switch located below the ELCB Panel Box. To operate the hallway light, the Motion Sensor Switch MUST be turned on. You then use the separate light switch located near the entrance door as follows:

If light switch is turned OFF, the motion sensor detector kicks in, turning on the light when motion is detected by the sensor device located at the ceiling. The light goes off after a preset delay of 5 minutes. The delay timer can be set from 5 minutes (default) to as long as 30 minutes. The timer can alternatively be set to a smart function, in which the delay can be as brief as 5 seconds to as long as several hours, based on the interval and frequency of motion(s) detected.

Unfortunately, the sensor is able to detect movements as far as 10 feet away from the main door, and the hall light goes on and off as one moves about in the apartment!

Now, if you wish to turn on the hall light and override the motion sensor, simply turn on the hall light switch, and the hall light will come on. If you don't need the entrance light, simply turn off the switch. The light however does not go off, because the motion sensor device has kicked in, and the light will only go off AFTER the default preset delay of 5 minutes!

This approach seems counter-intuitive.

If you turn OFF the Motion Sensor Switch, the hall light cannot be operated.

With the Motion Sensor Switch ON, the sensor control kicks in, turning the light on as the motion sensor detects your movement to the hallway, obviating the need for you to voluntarily turn on the hall light switch. The light will only go off after the preset delay, even if you switch off the hall light switch yourself to turn off the light!

The Motion Sensor device seems to be designed for larger apartments or houses, probably with higher ceilings. For apartments with floor spaces smaller than 100 sqm like most units at the Sail, the device detects movements at the dining room, part of the kitchen, living area, etc and so the hall light turns on and off intermittently as one moves about in the affected living, kitchen or dining areas.

The sensitivity, detection range, and timer delay of the motion sensor can be adjusted by accessing the ceiling sensor device in the hallway. Instructions are printed inside the cover of the ceiling sensor device.

Finally, in case the foregoing explanation of how the home lighting system works is too technical or incomprehensible, or you need to adjust the sensor motion control to be less sensitive, call Shai HP... to fix an appointment for the adjustment. He will also explain the the light controls work, and help you to program and set the Master Remote Control unit that controls all the light fixtures and TV set from the comfort of your armchair.

Related Posts
1 The Sail@Marina Bay
2 Developments at the Bay
3 Other Facilities
4 Laze at the Poolside
5 A Typical 2 Bedroom Unit
6 Lighting Automation