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Project Insight: When automation disrupts nap time

Real challenges. Real solutions.

Building automation is designed to make everyday life easier. But what happens when it becomes active at exactly the wrong moment?

At a nursery, the existing shading automation caused a problem that probably no one had anticipated during planning: it regularly disturbed the children’s nap time. For Elsner employee Fabian Gehring, it quickly became clear that the automation needed to be better aligned with the actual routines in the building.

In our “Project Insight” series, he explains how an existing shading control system was modernised and why good automation must not only work reliably from a technical perspective, but also fit the users’ everyday routines.

About our expert

Fabian Gehring

Fabian Gehring works in field sales at Elsner Elektronik and regularly supports customers and partners with projects on site. This gives him first-hand insight into the requirements that arise in day-to-day operation and where existing automation solutions reach their limits.

His focus is on implementing technical solutions in a way that ensures they not only work reliably, but are also easy and practical to use in everyday life.

Follow Fabian Gehring on LinkedIn

A black-and-white portrait of Fabian Gehring with a blue circle in the background

Der Praxisfall

The Case: When Blind Automation Disrupts Nap Time

When Technology Meets Everyday Life

The Challenge

“In a nursery, an older Elsner WS1000 control system dating from 1995 was still in use. During nap time, the blind automation continued to operate as normal. Raising and lowering movements, as well as slat adjustments, repeatedly woke children from their sleep, according to the nursery staff.

The technical task was therefore actually quite simple: during nap time, the shading needed to remain reliably closed and the automation had to pause.”

Old Elsner WS1000 control system and new WS1000 Color control system in a nursery, prior to replacement

Teamwork

My Approach

“Together with our partners on site, we replaced the existing WS1000 with a new WS1000 Color.

The new control system was configured so that the blinds remain in position during nap time and automatic movements are suspended. At the same time, important protective functions remain active. In strong winds, the shading still automatically moves into the designated safety position.

Functions such as slat tracking and twilight automation also remain available. The relevant weather data is shown directly on the display, and the settings can be adjusted by the customer.”

Peace and Quiet Restored

The Result

“The blinds remain closed during nap time, the automation does not intervene unnecessarily and the children can sleep undisturbed. At the same time, the nursery continues to benefit from automatic shading control with weather data evaluation and protective functions.”

WS1000 Color in the electrical distribution system of a nursery following the modernisation of the shading control system

Learnings

Key Takeaway

“This case shows very clearly that good automation must do more than simply work from a technical perspective. Above all, it needs to reflect the actual routines within the building.

Sometimes the greatest added value does not come from a particularly complex function, but from technology staying in the background precisely when it is not needed.”

WS1000 Color

Components Used in the Project

The WS1000 Color building control system provides automatic control of shading and other functions based on weather data and individually defined settings.

In the nursery project, an older WS1000 dating from 1995 was replaced by WS1000 Color, and the shading control was adapted to the building’s daily routine.

WS1000 Color: Central control system and operating unit, P04i-GPS weather station, indoor sensor

Elsner Control Systems in the Online Shop

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Elsner Academy Webinar Recording

Conservatory Control Systems: Product Selection and Installation

Which control system is right for which project, and what needs to be considered when it comes to installation and expansion?

In the “Elsner Conservatory Control” webinar series, you will learn which Elsner control systems are suitable for different requirements and what matters during planning and installation. In webinar 1 on “Product Selection and Installation”, Frederik Riedel and Fabian Gehring explain in a practical way how shading, windows and other functions can be automated using Elsner control systems.

You will learn, among other things,

how to select the right control system for different project requirements,
how existing systems can be expanded using radio components,
what to consider when installing and positioning the weather station,
how drives and control systems are connected correctly,
and which solutions are suitable for different combinations of awnings, blinds and windows.

Concrete planning and installation examples show how systems such as WS1000 Color, WS1000 Connect, WS1 Color/Style and Solexa II can be used and expanded depending on the requirements.

Watch recording on YouTube