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suchende · May 12, 2009, 04:26 AM

We have solar screens installed and have to relocate the sensor for the automatic remote control. Where it is now located the screens go down even though they are in the shade. I suspect that that is due to the location of the sensor on the roof. Should it be somewhere below on the wall above the solar screen so that it is only activated when the solar screen [and then sensor] is hit by the sun?
The attached photos: #1 shows the screens facing East and South, taken at about 10 AM; #2 was taken at about 1 PM when screens from #1 where in the shade, but still came down because the sensor is on the roof instead of in the shaded wall area? #3 shows the sensor location now.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Suchende :cool:

KISS · May 12, 2009, 08:09 AM

There are two things that look like sensors. One is a brown protrusion and the other a silver protrusion. I would expect that in order for the sensors to work properly, it would need to be on the same side as the shade facing the direction of the shade facing the outside.

tkrussell · May 12, 2009, 03:14 PM

Any make and model number on the photocell? It may have a sensitivity adjustment.

suchende · May 12, 2009, 03:31 PM

Follow-up to my post above. Thank you KeepItSimpleStupid and tkrussel. The sensor in the photo is the silver/light colored part ON THE ROOF one sees. The brown protrusion is just a downspout for rain water.
As I understand your response 'KeepItSimpleStupid', you seem to agree with me that this sensor should be moved from its current position ON THE ROOF [although facing the correct direction] to a position below on the same side but being closer to the screen, so that this sensor is IN THE SHADE [or for that matter, in the sun] at the same time as the screens! Right now, as I tried to explain, the screens are in the shade after 1 PM but the sensor is in the sun, due to being on the roof. Do I understand this matter correctly?
Please be so kind and respond one more time.

tkrussell, since the sensor faces the correct direction, but being all day in the sun due to being on the roof, the problem seems to be the fact of being in the sun at a different time than the screens. The only way to influence this Somfy sensor is to locate it properly and that's what I am trying to do and seek your experts help. There is no adjustment possible on the sensor itself for the sun.

Thanks again for taking time to help me. Suchende

KISS · May 12, 2009, 05:51 PM

You have the right idea: Sensor is in the shade when the windows aren't because of the angle of the sun or shading objects.

What I would suggest doing is to play with sensor locatiion, by moving it outside on a temporary board so you can experiment with location. That way you'll only have to make holes once.

Only other way would be to measure intensity with a solar cell and a multimeter on the current scale and use the highest value for a test case again with the board.

You might even want to make an adjustable sensor on a bar perhaps because you could have some seasonal variation as well.