Disabling motion detector (PIR) in thermostats in hotels - FlyerTalk Forums (2024)

We all suffered with the same issue at a meeting a couple of years ago at the Intercontinental Hotel in Chicago. The "VIP override" procedure I was able to get out of the maintenance personnel is as follows. I recall it was for an Inncom thermostat, it did work.

- While holding down "display"
- Press "off", then
- Press "Up" arrow
- Release "display" button

This enters the VIP mode which turns off the motion sensor, and allows a lower range of the thermostat so you can get the room really cold.

zkzkz

Join Date: Dec 2007

Posts: 3,607

That would be a start. I've never met one that didn't shut the guest-accessible outlets off. I've seen other people unplug room appliances like the minibar and clock to get access to working outlets.

I've also seen guests rewire the AC to an outlet that doesn't shut off when the balcony door is open so they could use the fan.

However I would still end up sticking some other card in the slot in your system anyways. I don't want to put the door card in the slot because it would just result in me forgetting it. I like to keep the card with me in the same pocket at all times so I always know where it is.

AKSteveB

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Anchorage, AK

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Posts: 227

This thread made my day.

1. It reminds me how much I prefer being American to European, even though I love spending time in Europe. Life is just too damned short to worry about every little green thing. Your home and your temporary home should be as comfortable as YOU are willing to pay for. I noticed on this thread, that almost all Americans agree with that ...most non Americans don't.

2. I really thought I was one of the few who got as pissed off about this issue as I did. I'm from Alaska ..and I also like a room I sleep in to be NO warmer than 63 or 64. The minute I find an issue, it is taken up with the hotel. I don't care if they have to call a maintenance guy in at 2am, there is no compromise. I will check out and dispute the charge with the cc company shall it not (so far I have never needed to).

3. It honest to God never occured to me to look for the override codes. I'll do that in the future (though I actually do enjoy making the more greenie types in hotels uncomfortable).

Thanks guys.

Cholula

Join Date: Nov 2002

Location: Southern California

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Posts: 24,575

I agree.

Post of the year IMO!!

dgwright99

Join Date: Jan 2005

Location: OAK

Programs: AS MVPG 100k

Posts: 3,756

^+1
I used to be a European. This gets to the essence of why I'm now an American.

One factor that exposes the hypocracy of many of those taking the the ""european" position on this - europeans don't seem to have a "green" objection to heating hotel rooms to sauna temperature in winter. So it's hard to escape the conclusion that a green vaneer of self-rightiousness is being applied to justify what in many cases is merely a matter of personal preference.

"Inconvenient Truth" - it's a scientifically demonstrated fact that in general humans sleep best at around 67 degrees. That is the way our bodies are built. If you are willing to sacrifice a good night's sleep for "the planet" then that's your choice. But don't try to force it on me. And when it's freezinmg outside, and you still heat your room to 78 degrees, stop pretending that not using AC in summer has anything to do with "saving the planet".

Last edited by dgwright99; Aug 7, 2010 at 9:44 pm

beckoa

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Location: FAI

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Great point about cranking the heat up in the winter... one can always put more clothes on^

Never thought about rewiring the systems though @:-)

phedre

Join Date: May 2008

Location: YYZ

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What I'm finding entertaining about this thread is the number of "I grew up in a hot climate! Suck it up, it's not that bad!" comments.

I grew up in a very cold climate, one that's surprisingly well known on these boards (shocked the crap out of me, I can tell you), YYR. It's cool and dry in summer, VERY cold and dry in winter. It's nothing for me to wander outside at 40f in a tshirt and no jacket, in fact I find it most comfortable outside when it's in the low 50s to mid 60s.

I have to wonder at how our "OMG it's just a little heat!" friends would react if the tables were turned: dropped into my hometown in winter with a hotel that automatically shut off the heat every time you went to sleep or left the room

And before anyone brings up the "people DIE from the cold!", I'm fully aware of that. People also die from heat exposure. I've been hospitalized for heat stroke in the past, and am extremely sensitive to high heat.

But hey, it's 40f in your hotel room when you get back? Suck it up, it's just a little cold

yamaka

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: Washington State

Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Gold

Posts: 330

I'm with you, and I didn't grow up in Alaska.

My favorite about all this is my relatively common experience in Thailand. I routinely carry extra cards to keep my room tolerable -- and tip the maids to leave the card in. But what I find most odd is when I am in a business meeting, the AC is turned up full so the room is cold, and instead of turning down the AC someone opens a window.

AKSteveB

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Anchorage, AK

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I'm actually one of the relatively few people in Anchorage with A/C. Once in a while when the uber Greenies piss me off ..I'll run the A/C and the fireplace at the same time

beckoa

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: FAI

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Well we did have a week where A/C would have been handy early in the summer. But lately its been and we've even had to turn our heat on to control the humidity

mdj7

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Austin, TX

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If you are staying in a property that has "SensorStat-DDC" on the unit cover (used by Hyatt Summerfield Suites and several other hotels), then you can bypass the motion detector settings for 48 hours.

With the unit on, press "Power" and "Cooler" (down button) at the same time. If it is a successful override, you will see a "bp" displayed -- which stands for bypass. At this point you have 48 hours and the unit will function like a normal thermostat.

If you want to return it to its normal state, press "Power" and "Fan" at the same time. If it is a successful reset, you will see a "ca" displayed -- which stands for cancelled.

keywords: Sensor stat DDC, Hyatt Summerfield

aviators99

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jgreen1024

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Cholula

Join Date: Nov 2002

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Well, I'm guessing the hotel owners and thermostat manufacturers also read Internet BB's.

They may have tweaked the device in some manner to prevent the override.

I'm sure it won't be long until some techie FT'er comes up with a new hack and posts it here.

And the cycle can start all over again.

hbush

Join Date: Aug 2006

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Turning off almost everything except minibar is common for cheaper hotels, probably because all their systems tend to be as simple as possible. For example from my recent experience in Riga, Latvia: every light and power outlet was turned off when taking out keycard in "Slokas OK" Hotel (otherwise quite good and very affordable). However keycard switch there also was very simple, so any card physically fitting into this switch successfully restored all power supply

Better hotels like for example Radisson Blu chain tend to leave at least power outlet(s) near the desk working. That was the case in Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel in Riga. Certainly you need to check it out in each case to avoid your laptop being starved to death by non-working power outlet.

But the most radical solution there was in Radisson Blu Latvia Hotel in the center of Riga. They had keycard switch in the room but there was already a card in it, linked by a small plastic chain to the wall so that it doesn't get lost. There was also information in several languages: "To keep the chosen room temperature, leave card in the switch!"

Hyper-green persons can freely take this card out, leaving it hanging on the chain, therefore switching air conditioner off, and enjoy natural temperature - hot or cold.

Arthurrs

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