I need help. I have 2 regulars 3-way switches on my dining room. the kids keep leaving the light on all the times. (I swear I think they do it on purpose lol).
I need to accomplish this:
add a motion/presence sensor, so that when someone walks into the dining room, the lights turn on. and when there is no presence/movement in the dining room, the lights turn off.
I also would like for them to use the 3 way switches if they want to turn the light on/off manually as well.
I can do it using rule machine or webcore.
my ideas:
I know I need a presence sensor, and either sonoff relays or z-wave/zigbee switches. or to keep the regular dumb 3 way switches.
I recommend you look at Zooz for a switch. Easy 3way wiring letting you keep one of the existing switches.
As for sensors, there are several options to choose between. I recommend one of the combined PIR/Radar motion/presence sensors for fast reaction and fewer dropouts.
Both battery and powered ones are available. You can find lots of discussions here.
Usually, lack of motion will then turn them off unless overriden. I have Zooz switches set up as button devices by each motion sensor so that three taps up will disable motion, and three down will re-enable. The LED in the switch confirms status.
edit: The fancy presence sensors mentioned require a hardwire connection, I believe. Doubling up on a normal motion sensor seems to help me-quite sensitive. I guess you might be able to go the Ionovelli route, with in-wall presence dimmers-I imagine they'd do three way too. Maybe you'll spend 500 bucks for four switches?
Third Reality Zigbee motion sensors work for me. They are battery operated. I have at least two for each room and use the Motion and Mode Lighting app to control the lights. That doesn't address the switch, but the motion detection and light activation is pretty fast. The lights will time out as these are not mm wave radar, but just PIR so motion is needed to keep the lights on. That is probably not a problem where children are concerned. As for three way switches, the GE/Jasco ones will likely serve your purpose.
The new Aqara FP300 is supposed to have a two year battery life. Battery powered. Availability comes and goes. If interested the best bet is to keep checking. Hubitat discussion here: [RELEASE] Aqara Multi-Sensor FP300 (PS-S04D)
Adding to that, an inexpensive way forward would be switch guards and smart bulbs with the presence sensor. Block the switches to on and use the sensor to control the bulbs. If you have toggle style switches these are mostly invisible and easily pushed out of the way for manual control.
If you have Hue bulbs and toggle switches, the Lutron Aurora dimmers work great. They block the switches from toggling, but allow for manual light control, including dimming. I've never used them on a 3-way switch, but I think that theoretically it should be possible to mount them with the toggle either up or down.
I actually use the toggle blockers on my bathroom vanities and lights outside my garage. All Hue bulbs with existing dumb toggle switches. 20 cent imperceptible clear plastic widgets vs 40-50 $ switches? I have lots of Inovelli switches and GE smart switches but for easily managed always powered Hue bulbs they don't make sense for me.
I noticed your three way suggestion, My outdoor garage Hue lights are on a three way so both switches get a clear plastic blocker. The devices I linked attach to a faceplate mounting screw below the switch and are almost invisible in everyday use. The vanity bulbs are controlled by Lutron Picos. Garage by sunrise/sunset and motion.
Like this approach...using Zooz you'll only need one new Smart switch, and the look and feel of the switches will be consistent. Your family will still be able turn the lights on/off via the wall switches but the automated control will likely "train" them after a while to just let the automation handle it. Regardless of how the ligthts get turned on the automation you create will be able to turn them off when there is no motion.
You'll want at least two motion sensors in the room, particularly if your family may sit w/little motion for several minutes at a time. The newer "mmWave" sensors that are being discussed here like the FP300 are better able to sense someone in the room with little or no motion for extended periods. Most of us usually have two (or more depending on size) motion sensors in each room we monitor, and combining mmWave and PIR sensors is also a common approach. You can do a very good job monitoring motion in a room w/two of the regular PIR motion sensors like the Third Reality mentioned below as well.
I still have dumb switches all through my home due to different reasons using zigbee bulbs. I don't have the exact toggle blockers you use but do use some that cover the switch and have an opening in the side of you still need to flip the switch. They work great and don't look bad as they are clear. These are definitely viable options for people that can't or don't want to use switches.
