HELP! How can I disable All-Star Movies thermostat sensor?

[cobright]

It depends if you were in a room with a sensor or not. Not all rooms have them yet. Or you were comfortable at the higher temp or slept well despite it

In 2013 we stayed at POR, and the thermostat was a SensorStat DDC. Not only was the motion sensor inconvenient but it was programmed with soft limits so even when set to 65, the AC would shut down at 68. All while keeping just the set temp on the display.

There is a soft standby mode designed to be used by guests. Press power and cooler buttons at same time for a few seconds and the display will BP for bypass.

If that doesn't do enough for your comfort, there are plenty of ways to skin that cat. The thermostat unit controls the actual AC/Heat unit through a standardized protocol called DDC (direct digital control).

The wiring harness inside the thermostat is easy to access and can be tapped into non-invasively. Its all low voltage in there so no risk of zapping anything. The cold command can be jumpered to run nonstop. If you want a little more control, a $4 arduino board can be programmed to send the signals timed out to hold a certain temp.

My last stay was at Grand Florida an and the suite had a newer version of the thermostat, a DDC2F. The soft bypass feature had been deactivated. Thankfully, the 2f model uses a more modern processor chip that can be re-programmed. So I wrote a new program that was more deferential to its human master, then flashed the original back before we left. To be honest, clipping a 9 volt battery to the motion sensor signal wire would have done me just as well.

Funny bit of trivia... the thermostats do not appear to have any network communication, but the DDC2F units store info on approximate number of guests in room at any given time. It knows if your seeking extra guests in.

TLR Version... If you get me the model of your thermostat and a picture (just to be double sure) I'll get you a comfortable room temp.

 

[WDWKOOK]

In 2013 we stayed at POR, and the thermostat was a SensorStat DDC. Not only was the motion sensor inconvenient but it was programmed with soft limits so even when set to 65, the AC would shut down at 68. All while keeping just the set temp on the display.

There is a soft standby mode designed to be used by guests. Press power and cooler buttons at same time for a few seconds and the display will BP for bypass.

If that doesn't do enough for your comfort, there are plenty of ways to skin that cat. The thermostat unit controls the actual AC/Heat unit through a standardized protocol called DDC (direct digital control).

The wiring harness inside the thermostat is easy to access and can be tapped into non-invasively. Its all low voltage in there so no risk of zapping anything. The cold command can be jumpered to run nonstop. If you want a little more control, a $4 arduino board can be programmed to send the signals timed out to hold a certain temp.

My last stay was at Grand Florida an and the suite had a newer version of the thermostat, a DDC2F. The soft bypass feature had been deactivated. Thankfully, the 2f model uses a more modern processor chip that can be re-programmed. So I wrote a new program that was more deferential to its human master, then flashed the original back before we left. To be honest, clipping a 9 volt battery to the motion sensor signal wire would have done me just as well.

Funny bit of trivia... the thermostats do not appear to have any network communication, but the DDC2F units store info on approximate number of guests in room at any given time. It knows if your seeking extra guests in.

TLR Version... If you get me the model of your thermostat and a picture (just to be double sure) I'll get you a comfortable room temp.

I'm intrigued by your post, @cobright. A little dizzy, too, but nonetheless, intrigued! I thought the MB with its long-range RF was intrusive, but I had no idea the thermostat could be just as bad.

Any idea how long the soft stand-by lasts? Our home programmable has a 3-hour temp. override.

 

[Trixie Belden]

Good grief, who needs their room at 69? My air is set right now to 75. Maybe that is part of the problem too. People want it so cold they need to use their blankets. My nephew does that too, but it is wasteful, and I would never do it in my own house, so I won't do it when I am at a hotel. But I bet you hit on at least one of Disney's reason for wanting control over the room temperatures.

Have you hit menopause yet? My air is set on 75 during the day but goes down to 70 at night and I STILL get hot. And that's with a ceiling fan on high right over my bed. We'll be asking for maintenance to override our thermostat.

 

[ArwenMarie]

In 2013 we stayed at POR, and the thermostat was a SensorStat DDC. Not only was the motion sensor inconvenient but it was programmed with soft limits so even when set to 65, the AC would shut down at 68. All while keeping just the set temp on the display.

There is a soft standby mode designed to be used by guests. Press power and cooler buttons at same time for a few seconds and the display will BP for bypass.

If that doesn't do enough for your comfort, there are plenty of ways to skin that cat. The thermostat unit controls the actual AC/Heat unit through a standardized protocol called DDC (direct digital control).

The wiring harness inside the thermostat is easy to access and can be tapped into non-invasively. Its all low voltage in there so no risk of zapping anything. The cold command can be jumpered to run nonstop. If you want a little more control, a $4 arduino board can be programmed to send the signals timed out to hold a certain temp.

My last stay was at Grand Florida an and the suite had a newer version of the thermostat, a DDC2F. The soft bypass feature had been deactivated. Thankfully, the 2f model uses a more modern processor chip that can be re-programmed. So I wrote a new program that was more deferential to its human master, then flashed the original back before we left. To be honest, clipping a 9 volt battery to the motion sensor signal wire would have done me just as well.

Funny bit of trivia... the thermostats do not appear to have any network communication, but the DDC2F units store info on approximate number of guests in room at any given time. It knows if your seeking extra guests in.

TLR Version... If you get me the model of your thermostat and a picture (just to be double sure) I'll get you a comfortable room temp.

You have some skills there! You're right, the soft bypass has been deactivated at Disney (in my experience), and probably most other hotels by now. I guess the internet made it too easy to figure out.

Thank you for confirming that the temp that shows up on the screen isn't necessarily the temp that the room is actually at. That, to me, is one of the worst parts of the whole thing. It's one thing having a hot room, it's another thing when the screen is reading that it's cool. Messes with your head.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We don't have A/C in our house, at least not central air. We do have window units in our bedrooms. Those are kept at 70, and during the day they are set to energy saver. But at night, I can't sleep in a room that is warm! The rooms at WDW are unbearable for me to sleep in if I can't adjust the temp. And with them taking away so many ceiling fans, it's getting worse and worse for me!!
Even in the winter, our bedrooms don't use heat. If the room gets to below 55, it will come on, but that doesn't happen often.

I pack a Vornado fan now and shoot it right at me. The last time we stayed at Bay Lake, I think there was a ceiling fan but it sounded like it was going to fall off the ceiling when it was on lol

That's one good thing about the winter, bring on the cold bedroom!

 

[cobright]

You have some skills there! You're right, the soft bypass has been deactivated at Disney (in my experience), and probably most other hotels by now. I guess the internet made it too easy to figure out.

Thank you for confirming that the temp that shows up on the screen isn't necessarily the temp that the room is actually at. That, to me, is one of the worst parts of the whole thing. It's one thing having a hot room, it's another thing when the screen is reading that it's cool. Messes with your head.

Here's a link to the field service manual for the DDC2F, most applies to earlier models.

The 2f model actually makes it easier to change the programming. With a couple connection adapters and a device with a serial terminal, you don't need to do anything so drastic as reprogram the entire chip. Older models required a specific handheld programmer.

There's also a really neat feature that's not being used. The thermostat can be set up so if room is occupied it will light up an infra-red led on the outside of the entry door. Then housekeeping, armed with a little handheld gizmo, can tell if the room is empty or not without knocking or just barging in.

99% of the time, obstructionist electronics can be placate with a couple aligators clip jumpers and a 9volt battery. Never let a machine boss you around.

 

[cobright]

I'm intrigued by your post, @cobright. A little dizzy, too, but nonetheless, intrigued! I thought the MB with its long-range RF was intrusive, but I had no idea the thermostat could be just as bad.

Any idea how long the soft stand-by lasts? Our home programmable has a 3-hour temp. override.

If you can get the unit into bypass mode, so it shows BP on display, it's supposed to deactivate the motion sensor triggered "unoccupied mode" for 48 hours. On our last long trip, 2014, I verified that it did in fact last that long for the first 2 days. Then I put it in soft standby again and it was back to normal when we got back. Same thing the next day.

I run room surveillance cameras so I rolled through the video and found mousekeeping turned standby off both days. Oddly enough, I didn't say anything about it but mousekeeping (a different young lady) didn't mess with the thermostat the following 3 days. So maybe mousekeeper A had got the memo and mousekeeper B was new or just didn't care or whatever.

Some real fun can be had with that magicband. The original price tag for the things (before the enormous economy of scale kicked in) was about $35 each. For the record, it is the close proximity rf that you should be worried about. That's where all the magic happens.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Here's a link to the field service manual for the DDC2F, most applies to earlier models.

The 2f model actually makes it easier to change the programming. With a couple connection adapters and a device with a serial terminal, you don't need to do anything so drastic as reprogram the entire chip. Older models required a specific handheld programmer.

There's also a really neat feature that's not being used. The thermostat can be set up so if room is occupied it will light up an infra-red led on the outside of the entry door. Then housekeeping, armed with a little handheld gizmo, can tell if the room is empty or not without knocking or just barging in.

99% of the time, obstructionist electronics can be placate with a couple aligators clip jumpers and a 9volt battery. Never let a machine boss you around.

Me with an alligator clip and a battery is...me with an alligator clip and a battery lol

That is a neat feature for housekeeping. Although sometimes I think they deliberately knock to get you out, especially on check out day, two hours early

Did you ever figure out what setback temp they are using for the AC with the sensors? I figured it was 75.

 

[cobright]

Did you ever figure out what setback temp they are using for the AC with the sensors? I figured it was 75.

We stayed at the carribean beach resort last big trip 2014, and I actually don't remember having problems with the AC. But I may have tuned most of that trip out. I remember twin beds and promising never to come back. It may have had older, non computerized, thermostat. 2012 and 2013 and this year's trip are/were to POR and they had the SensorStat units but not the newer ones that let me peak behind the curtain (so to speak).

I do remember it being much hotter than the set temp. I have some anxiety issues that affect my sleep and this disparity really stood out. 75deg seems like a really high hidden cap, at the time I probably would have agreed but in hindsight I doubt it was much more than 70.

As for nocking houskeepers, that's when you're lucky. I went back to resort room last summer when we visited a Kalahari indoor water park. I had gone for a run that morning so was just gonna take a quick shower then join wife and kids at the pool. Room was empty. Finished my shower and all the towels were soaking wet. No biggie, I remember a beach towels is out on the table. So I step out just as a very surprised housekeeper is exiting the master bedroom. I swear, she was not in there before I started my shower. I actually had to take three steps toward her to get the towel.

We had a laugh about it once I covered my pale self up a bit. I got to practice giving and receiving formal Hmong apoligies.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We stayed at the carribean beach resort last big trip 2014, and I actually don't remember having problems with the AC. But I may have tuned most of that trip out. I remember twin beds and promising never to come back. It may have had older, non computerized, thermostat. 2012 and 2013 and this year's trip are/were to POR and they had the SensorStat units but not the newer ones that let me peak behind the curtain (so to speak).

I do remember it being much hotter than the set temp. I have some anxiety issues that affect my sleep and this disparity really stood out. 75deg seems like a really high hidden cap, at the time I probably would have agreed but in hindsight I doubt it was much more than 70.

As for nocking houskeepers, that's when you're lucky. I went back to resort room last summer when we visited a Kalahari indoor water park. I had gone for a run that morning so was just gonna take a quick shower then join wife and kids at the pool. Room was empty. Finished my shower and all the towels were soaking wet. No biggie, I remember a beach towels is out on the table. So I step out just as a very surprised housekeeper is exiting the master bedroom. I swear, she was not in there before I started my shower. I actually had to take three steps toward her to get the towel.

We had a laugh about it once I covered my pale self up a bit. I got to practice giving and receiving formal Hmong apoligies.

That's so funny. I'm sure they have seen it all!

One stay had to be more than 70, I sleep well in 70 and we had the ceiling fan on.

From now on, when I travel, I'm bringing my room temperature gauge (humidity also). I just need to know what the actual temp is, and I can adjust accordingly. I can probably figure out the setback when we leave the room.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Reviving this ol' thread to report on my recent experiences.

I stayed in three different Disney resorts from 9/4 - 9/14. Each had a different thermostat and different outcome, but the solution for any resort should be the same:

Go to the front desk and tell a manager that your room is too hot and you would like to have your room at a constant temperature of XX. I did this through the concierge at GF RPC since I was staying club level, but it should be no different telling a GSM. Don't call though, actually go to the front desk or ask a concierge if staying CL. When I later came back to my room, the thermostat read just what I had requested and for the rest of my stay the room stayed at a constant 70 degrees and I never even had to touch the thermostat again. Before my request, I would put it at 68 and I couldn't get it to go below 75 all evening and at night.

I can't promise this works everywhere, but it worked for me at the GF. The YC room didn't have a sensor at all, presumably because they haven't replaced the old ones yet because they have a rehab starting very soon, so this room stayed just like I like it. CR had a sensor, but it was different from the GF and I was able to have it at a comfortable temperature without asking for an official override.