AHR Expo 2010 - Day 1

Today was my first day at the AHR Expo and in fact, was the first time at any expo.  If you can imagine a huge exposition floor with engineers, contractors, and others waiting like it was a rock concert to be let through the gates when the clock struck 10am.  For the first couple of hours the expo isles seamed packed and then it subsided a bit as attendees spread out over the entire exposition floor.  In case you don't know this is the worlds largest air-conditioning, heating, and refrigeration expo.  Find out more at www.AHRExpo.com. If you couldn't make it for this expo, next years is already scheduled so mark your calendars for January 31 - February 2, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

So let me tell you that the expo is a great place to learn, ask dumb questions, ask smart questions, and complain/brag about how things went wrong/right with their products on your last job.

From me to you here is a brief nugget on a subject you may or may not know:

Occupancy Sensors come in two different technologies Infra-red and Ultra-sonic.  Sensors may be selected using a combination of those technologies.  Infra-red detects heat and ultra-sonic detects movement.  A good rule of thumb I was told is to keep your sensor at least 3 feet away from a diffuser.  Sensors not part of a system will come with a number of dip switches so that the different mode settings can be obtained.  Be careful were you direct to ultra-sonic sensors away from the doors as they may pick-up someone just walking by.  As the height of the room is important, ceiling mounted sensors on high ceilings may not pick up any movement and therefore never turn the lights on.

Well tomorrow's another day.  I can't wait to find out what I'm going to learn about.