Couch / chair person sitting/laying sensor?

[arw01]

Anyone come up with inexpensive insteon hacks for a chair or couch sensor?

 

Maybe something that uses a trigger linc? or a water filled tube we could adapt the leak sensor to, so when you sit down on the cushions it tilts it one way or another and we get a transmission?

 

I read someplace about a fairly spendy sensor that you glue to a floor joist with epoxy, but between that and a wireless insteon sensor, it was over $100.00.

 

My thought on usuage is presence notification, adjustability so I can make the dogs not trip it. With presence I can bring up the lights if the remote is paused and the couch / chair becomes un-occupied.

 

Also if the lights are on, no one is moving, no one is sitting, then I can probably turn off the lights faster and save money.

 

Alan

[Teken]

Anyone come up with inexpensive insteon hacks for a chair or couch sensor?

 

Maybe something that uses a trigger linc? or a water filled tube we could adapt the leak sensor to, so when you sit down on the cushions it tilts it one way or another and we get a transmission?

 

I read someplace about a fairly spendy sensor that you glue to a floor joist with epoxy, but between that and a wireless insteon sensor, it was over $100.00.

 

My thought on usuage is presence notification, adjustability so I can make the dogs not trip it. With presence I can bring up the lights if the remote is paused and the couch / chair becomes un-occupied.

 

Also if the lights are on, no one is moving, no one is sitting, then I can probably turn off the lights faster and save money.

 

Alan

 

Hello Alan,

 

Perhaps you would research for a strain gauge element. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strain_gauge If you find anything that is value priced, please do let me know. As I too am interested in something that would inform me of the presence of a occupant.

 

Teken . . .

[saidmacias]

This might not be the best solution, nor the most elegant one around, but I managed to accomplish my needs with the use of a Triggerlinc connected to two foils of aluminum paper (10x4 in. ea.), backed by duck tape. Sandwiched between both foils, I inserted a 1/8" piece of the exact same size of hard upholstery foam, with 5 holes the size of a quarter. The whole thing fits under the seat cushion and reports an 'open' state until someone sits and compresses the 'device', promoting contact between the two layers of foil separated by the foam and closing the circuit... Believe it or not, it works perfectly each and every time...

[arw01]

I was thinking the same thing, between the bottom of the cushion and the springs that support it.

 

However, your idea with the duct tape backing for the foil with the 1/8" foam separator is pure genius.

[saidmacias]

Thanks, let me know if you happen to need a scheme or a picture and I will gladly upload it to this thread.

 

G'luck! let us know...

[arw01]

sure why not!

[gatchel]

You maybe could use a standard wide gap magnetic door contact (Sentrol 2505AL). Wire tie the magnet to the underside of the chair spring assembly and make a bracket for the sensor portion so that when the chair is occupied the magnet comes in close proximity to the sensor. This would give you some level of buffering so that you aren't getting constant alarms when you're adjusting position.

 

Another thing you could do is use a standard micro switch with a long metal wand (hanger wire) that sticks out a few inches from the switch so that the wand will flex when the switch is activated but pushed beyond its limits.

 

Duck tape and metal, as mentioned above, would also work great. There are several solutions to this...