Looking for ideas here. I have a motion/humidity sensor and a door sensor for both lights and exhaust fan separately. I've got everything working as I want but one thing.
Right now motion turns on lights and keeps them on if door is closed using Motion/Mode Lighting. Using RM when door closes the exhaust fan comes on. When the door is open the fan turns off (unless humidity is high). Then another rule turns off Fan after humidity is low. All is great.
What I'd like to add, is if someone leaves the bathroom and closes the door behind them to run the fan for 10 minutes and then shut off. With my current rules tho, both light and fan stay on forever. I've tried adding some off timer rules with some of the other rules cancelling the off but I keep creating issues with lights and fans turning off when someone is in there, which I need to be fool proof and not have that happen.
So I'm wondering the best way to go here. I don't need anyone to write the rules for me, I can figure that out (i think), but I'm wondering if there's a more elegant way of doing this that I am over looking. Of if an additional sensor somewhere might help. How are you guys/gals handling this?
My recommendation would be to go with extra sensors strategically placed. I would recommend identifying the spots where people typically are when the lights go off and adding sensors closer to those areas.
Seems like you could have a statement somewhat like this: "IF motion sensor is inactive, AND door closed, turn fan off, 10 minutes delayed".
But that would rely on having good motion sensor coverage like @Sebastien notes. Motion sensors are fairly inexpensive, and I have found it doesn't hurt to have multiples especially in problem areas like the bathroom. I have 3 motion and one door sensor plus a separate humidity sensor all in one bath to make it all work like it should.
I think I figured it out. I added the following 2 rules and it seems to be working. If someone is actually in the bathroom the motion sensor keeps the fan going. If they leave and shut the door behind them, it comes on for 10 minutes and then shuts off. The light in this case will stay on indefinitely with the door shut, but I'm ok with that. LEDs cost nothing to run. I'm just too nervous to have a light OFF rule when the door is shut. I really don't want it to malfunction and turn the lights off on someone. So anyways, this is what Ive done. We'll see how it all tests out over the next few days.
I have a moisture sensor in there now. I think I have a new plan. I'm gonna move the motion sensor to the ceiling so it can see better. I'll update later if I get this working.
I think I finally got this rule working. The problem I kept running into was some times I would close the bathroom as I left and the fan would stay on forever and ignore the timer rule. I think because the motion sensor was picking me up as I left the room and the rule was keeping the fan on thinking it was occupied. So I set this up so it would take a 2nd motion event to cancel the timer and it worked really well all weekend. Here it is in case anyone is interested.
