FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

#01 – What is the Occupancy Sensor P1 sensor?
Occupancy Sensor P1 is an advanced, technologically sophisticated but simple to use occupancy sensor that can turn off an air conditioner when it senses that a room is empty and without occupants. This avoids wasting electricity (and money) to keep the air conditioner running even though the room is empty, which obviously saves energy and money in utility bills.

#02 – What if a guest is sleeping at night?
The occupancy sensor can be programmed to work in 3 different modes; one of these is NIGHT mode.
In Night mode, the sensor automatically deactivates during night hours. The air conditioner will be allowed to run, and when daylight returns, the sensor starts working normally again.

#03 – How is the P3 model different from P1?
P3 model differs from the P1 model because it runs on batteries so it doesn’t need a cable connection to the split and can therefore be installed autonomously without the need for an electrician.
It doesn’t monitor doors/windows like the P1 model does, but if you need that kind of solution, we recommend that you combine Occupancy Sensor P3 with our Window Sensor W1.
The only “complicated” part is the wall mounting, and for this you only need a drill, as the screws and wall plugs are already included in the kit.
The batteries will last 3 to 5 years, but a periodic check is necessary to make sure they are still in good condition. Note that an indicator light flashes when the batteries are close to running down.

The Occupancy Sensor P1 model offers several advantages over the battery-powered P3 model:
– first, there are no batteries to take care of.
– second, because of its wired connection and electronic circuitry, Occupancy Sensor P1 can detect whether the air conditioner is on or off.
It is no small detail; in fact in this way, when the conditions for which it was programmed to switch off the air conditioner occur (i.e. after 15, 30 or 60 minutes of uninterrupted non-presence), P1 model will intervene in switching off only if it detects that the air conditioner is ON. If the air conditioner is already OFF, P1 model will not intervene, as its task has already been completed.
This is a substantial difference with P3 model, since the latter, not being connected by cable to the air conditioner and therefore not being able to know the operating status of the same, when the conditions for which it was programmed occur, will switch off the air conditioner, both whether this is ON or whether it is already OFF.
Furthermore, precisely because it cannot know the operating status of the air conditioner, P3 model will cyclically send the shutdown signal to the air conditioner, in the times with which it has been programmed to do so (ie 15, 30 or 60 minutes).

#04 – Will Occupancy Sensor P1 work with my air conditioner?
Occupancy Sensor P1 is universally compatible with any air conditioner, as long as the conditioner can be operated by remote control.

#05 – How does Occupancy Sensor P1 turn off the air conditioner?
During the programming phase, using the original remote control, you will teach Occupancy Sensor P1 the shutdown command; in this way, when it detects that the room is empty, it will send an authentic shutdown command to the air conditioner, just like the one received from the remote control itself.

#06 – Can it be programmed?
Absolutely. As previously explained, Occupancy Sensor P1 can be programmed to work in 4 modes:
1. Apartment mode;
2. Standard Mode;
3. Economical Night Mode;
4. Child Mode.
Further up this page you can read about what each mode does.
In addition to the modes, you can also intervene on the “delay”‘ time, to decide how long Occupancy Sensor P1 should wait after the empty room is detected before turning the air conditioner off. You can choose from 15, 30 or 60 minutes.

#07 – How soon will Occupancy Sensor P1 turn off the air conditioner?
Occupancy Sensor P1 can be configured to turn off the air conditioner after the chosen “delay time” has elapsed (i.e., an uninterrupted period of time of no people within its observation range), choosing between 15, 30 and 60 minutes.

#08 – How long after opening a window will Occupancy Sensor P1 turn off the air conditioner?
The window sensor associated with Occupancy Sensor P1 is programmed to turn off the air conditioner 3 minutes after opening the window. That is, if the guest closes the window within 3 minutes, the air conditioner will not switch off. Otherwise, if the window is left open for more than 3 minutes, the air conditioner will be switched off.

#09 – Do I need a Occupancy Sensor P1 for each aircon unit?
Yes. Each sensor is installed to control the split it is paired with. If you have multiple splits, you will need 1 Occupancy Sensor P1 sensor for each of them.

#10 – Is installation simple?
Although Occupancy Sensor P1 can be installed by anyone sufficiently knowledgeable in electronics and electrical work, we recommend that an air conditioner maintenance/installation specialist, and not a “simple” electrician, be called in. Electricians rarely have in-depth knowledge about the internal wiring of an air conditioner unless they are experienced in air conditioning system maintenance.

#11 – How can you be sure that the room is empty?
Occupancy Sensor P1 is equipped with an infrared motion and proximity sensor (PIR), which can sense the movement of bodies of a certain size (to avoid it being alerted by the movement of small animals, for example). This ensures that the room is empty if the sensor does not detect anything.

#12 – How can I prevent my guests from changing the settings?
Programming is protected by an access code that only the owner knows.

#13 – Why does it have to be connected to the air conditioner’s power supply?
Occupancy Sensor P1 must be wired to the air conditioner’s power supply because this enables it to know if the air conditioner has been shut down following the signal to do so; in other words, it has a bi-directional action, constantly monitoring the power that the air conditioner is using, so it can intervene to turn the unit off again if for any reason it has been turned it back on.
Clearly, if a guest is in the room, Occupancy Sensor P1 will not turn the air conditioner off.

#14 – Can I use it without wiring it?
The Occupancy Sensor P1 model compulsorily requires wired connections to function. You can opt for the Occupancy Sensor P3 model if you prefer a wireless installation; in fact, Occupancy Sensor P3 runs on batteries (4 AA-type batteries) with a battery life of about 3-5 years.

#15 – Can I use Occupancy Sensor P1 in combination with your remote controls?
Absolutely, in fact we highly recommend it! By doing so you will save even more energy and maximize the benefits.

#16 – I have a new inverter type air conditioner, will Occupancy Sensor P1 work with it?
Certainly, Occupancy Sensor P1 is compatible with any air conditioner that can be controlled with a remote control.

#17 – Can Occupancy Sensor P1 turn the air conditioner on?
No. Never. Occupancy Sensor P1 products are designed as energy-saving devices, and under no circumstances will they turn the air conditioner on.

#18 – Can Occupancy Sensor P1 control the air conditioner if doors or windows are open?
The Occupancy Sensor P1 uses RF connectivity and has numerous accessories, including door and window sensors. All Occupancy Sensor P1 accessories are wireless, with a battery life of more than two years.

#19 – Can I also pair Occupancy Sensor P1 door/window sensors to the Occupancy Sensor P3 model?
No. The door/window sensors in the Occupancy Sensor line are only compatible with the P1 model.

#20 – What is the maximum distance from which the window sensor can communicate with the occupancy sensor control unit?
The range of the Occupancy Sensor P1 window sensor is approximately 20-25 meters in an open space.
Inside a building, having to pass through walls and partitions, this distance can vary depending on the building material, but indicatively the signal reaches about 10-15 meters away.

#21 – What range can be monitored by Occupancy Sensor P1’s occupancy sensor?
Occupancy Sensor P1’s PIR sensor can detect to a distance of about 5-7 meters, an ample area that is more than sufficient for most rooms where its use is required.

#22 – Can guests use the air conditioner at night when they go to bed?
Occupancy Sensor P1 can control the air conditioner as you wish. For example, you can choose to allow the guest to use the air conditioner freely during the night. Occupancy Sensor P1 is designed to allow the owner to customize the settings to suit their individual needs.

#23 – How much money will Occupancy Sensor P1 save me?
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to generalize regarding possible money savings. The cost of running an air conditioner is made up of a large number of variables, such as the size and type of the unit, the positioning and shape of the room, the electricity rates, the way the air conditioner is used, etc.
What can be said with certainty is that on average, Occupancy Sensor P1 will reduce the usage of your air conditioner by 50 to 80%.

Another consideration is the reduced wear and tear on equipment that was designed for domestic use. We estimate that life expectancy is increased by 30-50%, which also reduces maintenance time and costs.

#24 – Can guests deactivate my Occupancy Sensor P1?
Occupancy Sensor P1 is completely tamper-proof, protected by an unlock sequence that only the owner knows..

#25 – Do I need a Occupancy Sensor and a remote control?
Our remote controls and Occupancy Sensors do completely different jobs. The remote controls manage how the air conditioner is used when it is running. Occupancy Sensors manages air conditioner use when it is not required. Both products can be used independently of each other or in combination.

#26 – There are frequent power outages in my area. How will this affect Occupancy Sensor P1?
Occupancy Sensor P1 uses a technology called “rolling default”. When power is restored, Occupancy Sensor P1 simply returns to operating as it was before the power was cut.

#27 – Will Occupancy Sensor P1 affect the warranty of my air conditioner?
Absolutely not, as Occupancy Sensor P1 has no interface or connectivity with the air conditioner’s internal wiring.

#28 – What if I have family or friends using the property?
Our advice is to leave Occupancy Sensor P1 as it is. Family and friends are often the worst abusers of air conditioning! However, if you are feeling generous, you can temporarily disable the controller.

#29 – Is it possible to program the P1 presence sensor so that it regulates the temperature in the absence of guests, instead of turning off the air conditioner?
Yes. Occupancy Sensor P1 can be used to program the air conditioning in economy mode instead of turning it off completely. For example, if you don’t want to turn off the AC completely, you can (of course when the room is unoccupied and the AC is running) choose to allow the use of the AC but on a cheaper setting, such as at 26° C.

#30 – Can I turn off more air conditioners if the front door is opened when the guest leaves?
Yes, it is possible.
Obviously you need 1 Occupancy Sensor P1 presence sensor installed for each air conditioner you want to turn off, and a single door/window sensor installed on the entrance door to the apartment.
Once all the Occupancy Sensor P1’s presence sensors have been programmed to operate in APARTMENT mode, it is possible to put 1 single door/window sensor on the entrance door to control them all, which will communicate with all the Occupancy Sensor P1’s presence sensors installed in the various rooms, so that when the guest leaves, the air conditioning will be switched off on all the splits.