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Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Echo Responsive Controls Inconsistent Timeouts (Auto Timeout)

Symptoms/Issue

My Echo Occupancy of Vacancy sensor turns off the lights after a different amount of time every time.

Why is the Timeout inconsistent on my Echo Occupancy or Vacancy Sensor?

Description/Explanation of Issue

The Echo Occupancy Sensors and Vacancy Sensors, both PIR and Dual Tech, are equipped with several options for vacancy timeout.  These options are set with dipswitches 3 and 4 on the physical station or via EchoAccess, provided the stations are in Custom mode.  The Timeout options are 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and Auto.  After the set amount of time has passed since the last time the sensor detected occupancy, the sensor enacts a 30 second Grace Period. For more information on Grace Period, click here.

When dipswitches 3 and 4 are set to Auto Timeout, the timer starts at a 5 minute timeout. If the sensor detects occupancy after the 5 minute timeout but during the 30 second Grace Period, the lights will restore and the sensor will add 2 minutes to the vacancy timeout.  If then, after 7 minutes of no occupancy detection and the sensor does not detect occupancy during the 30 second Grace Period, the sensor will subtract 1 minute from the vacancy timeout. In Auto Timeout, the sensor will add 2 minutes for every trigger it receives during the Grace Period to a max of a 30 minute Vacancy timeout.  It will also subtract 1 minute for every Grace Period it does not receive a trigger for a minimum of a 5 minute timeout.  In this way, the sensor is constantly adapting to the needs of the space and the vacancy timeout is not a set amount of time. 

Fix/Solution

  1. If Auto Timeout is not right for the space, change the dipswitches, or custom configuration, to choose a set vacancy timeout of 5 minutes, 15 minutes, or 30 minutes.
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