Setting up an analogue sensor

Situation

This step-by-step plan explains how to set up an analogue sensor in the Niko Home Control software.

Starting point

The starting point for this step-by-step plan is a project that already encompasses Project information and for which a plan was already drawn up or uploaded.

Run through the steps in Adding a new project and then Drawing a plan or Upload a background image if there is no existing project.

Step 1: Create a sensor

• Go to Creation in the menu bar at the top. 

• Click on add an input.
• Click on the type of sensor in the list of options in the right-hand window. The input appears on the plan.
• Drag the sensor to the correct location and give it a recognisable name.
• Choose an existing location from the list.
  Click on Add a location if the location has not yet been defined.

• Click on save to return to the Creation start screen.

Step 2: Define the sensor

• Click on the icon of the sensor you added to the plan.
• Enter the minimum and maximum values as indicated on the sensor you're installing.
  The measuring unit (Lux, sec, °C, …) corresponds to the defined sensor type.

These values must be within the range as preset in the software.

• Click on save to return to the Creation start screen

Step 3: Add an output e.g. Roll-down shutter

• Click on add an output. The output appears on the plan.
• Drag the output to the correct location and give it a recognisable name.
• Choose an existing location from the list.
• Click on Add a location if the location has not yet been defined.

Click on save to return to the Creation start screen.

Step 4: Create an action

• Click on add an action. The action will appear as a text balloon on the plan.
• Drag the action to a logical and appropriate place, e.g. to the relevant input or output.
• Give the action a name.
• Choose an existing location from the list.
  Click on Add a location if the location has not yet been defined.

• Click on continue to go to the players tab.

Step 5: Define the action's basic behaviour

• Click on the two roll-down shutters on the plan to link them to the action.

Analogue sensors cannot be added as an input of an action, only as a condition.

Since alarms and notifications on the touchscreen or smartphone can only be defined on inputs, it is not possible to trigger alarms or notifications from an analogue input.

• Click on continue to go to the Basic behaviour tab.

Step 6: Add a condition to the action

• Click on continue to go to the Conditions tab.
• Click on add a condition.
• Give the condition a clear name.
• Click on no (automation).
• Click on the sensor to add it as a conditional player to the installation.
  The sensor will be linked to the action on the plan via a black line.

The action is an automation that is only triggered by a status change of the analogue sensor. In this case only conditions are linked to the action (no inputs). Under ‘Condition’, you enter the sensor value at which the action needs to be triggered (threshold value).

The action will only be triggered when the sensor passes this threshold value. As long as the sensor remains above or below this threshold value, the action will not be triggered.

A table at the bottom of the screen allows you to define when the start/stop behaviour needs to be activated or when no action is required (shown by “/”).

About hysteresis: Hysteresis is a time delay (in seconds) that prevents activation of the start/stop behaviour in case of sudden or temporary status changes of the analogue sensor. Besides the value you can enter in the software, the sensor may have a predefined hysteresis value, as listed in its specifications.

The action is manually triggered by an input, and will only be executed if the condition is fulfilled. Threshold values and hysteresis are defined as above.

• Click on continue to go to the Time automation tab.
• Click on save to return to the Creation start screen.

Result

Now continue with Cabinet lay-out  and Realisation.