Last edit by: jackal
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.
- 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.
Disabling motion detector (PIR) in thermostats in hotels
#46
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#47
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I could have used an override code in Grand Cayman last month.
#49
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This thread is brilliant! Have had the 'all power and a/c off' situation in Spain, Japan, the UK and several places in the US.
I don't like it.
Every time I returned to my room at the L A Downtown Marriott it was blazing hot. I found that the maid was turning up the temp on the thermostat. This room also had a gutted and useless mini-fridge and drapes that the maid insisted on keeping open every day making a hot box.
These auto systems really can't be saving any money, can they?
I don't like it.
Every time I returned to my room at the L A Downtown Marriott it was blazing hot. I found that the maid was turning up the temp on the thermostat. This room also had a gutted and useless mini-fridge and drapes that the maid insisted on keeping open every day making a hot box.
These auto systems really can't be saving any money, can they?
#50
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We recently stayed at the Marriott Bangkok Resort and Spa. We have stayed at many hotels worldwide, this was the first one with the slot just inside your room for your key to activate the electricity and ac.
I didn't realize what it was. I commented to my wife that it was really neat that they put that key slot there to store your key. VERY convenient. My wife did what she does alot: Shook her head and smiled.
I learned the hard war after a day sightseeing when we returned and our room was sweltering.
I felt like an idiot.
I didn't realize what it was. I commented to my wife that it was really neat that they put that key slot there to store your key. VERY convenient. My wife did what she does alot: Shook her head and smiled.
I learned the hard war after a day sightseeing when we returned and our room was sweltering.
I felt like an idiot.
#51
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Augusta, GA, USA
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I worked for a year in Manhattan and stayed at a hotel with those *%$#@ thermostats.
I discovered (after a bit of experimentation) that I could disable the IR sensor by shorting two of the 3 pins that connected it to the main circuitboard. Had to remove the cover, and in the case of this particular model of thermostat, the 3 pins projected from the bottom of the sensor and took a 90 degree turn into the circuitboard. Short the center pin to the right pin and the sensor was bypassed.
A set of RadioShack Mini Clip Jumper Wires did the trick nicely (they come in sets of 2, but you only need one).
I was careful to remove it before leaving the room for the day; it was pretty obvious dangling from the thermostat.
PS. The thermostat cover was usually held on with two hex screws, but a bit of patient wiggling would work the cover loose. Easy to replace, too, with no one the wiser . . .
I discovered (after a bit of experimentation) that I could disable the IR sensor by shorting two of the 3 pins that connected it to the main circuitboard. Had to remove the cover, and in the case of this particular model of thermostat, the 3 pins projected from the bottom of the sensor and took a 90 degree turn into the circuitboard. Short the center pin to the right pin and the sensor was bypassed.
A set of RadioShack Mini Clip Jumper Wires did the trick nicely (they come in sets of 2, but you only need one).
I was careful to remove it before leaving the room for the day; it was pretty obvious dangling from the thermostat.
PS. The thermostat cover was usually held on with two hex screws, but a bit of patient wiggling would work the cover loose. Easy to replace, too, with no one the wiser . . .
#52
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Most of the places (as others have said, not all,) with the card-operated master switch respond quite well to the phoney cards sent by AMEX et al (if not, merely request another keycard.) I use a "Do Not Disturb" sign with the TV set to a sports channel ("Oh, heck, it sounds like there's a guy / guys watching football/ NASCAR / boxing... I'll try next door." just audible if someone approaches the room door close enough to knock or enter, with possibly one light on, as part of my "ad hoc security system" to dissuade anyone bent on theft from entering my room (really, merely deter them to try a room more obviously empty.)
I do try to help with energy savings - I change my thermostat so it does not cool unnecessarily, I do not turn on every light regardless of whether I need it, use only towels I need and do not request changes of bedding and toweling every day - but how I use the electricity (charge items, deter others, etc.) is my choice when I am footing the bill.
I do try to help with energy savings - I change my thermostat so it does not cool unnecessarily, I do not turn on every light regardless of whether I need it, use only towels I need and do not request changes of bedding and toweling every day - but how I use the electricity (charge items, deter others, etc.) is my choice when I am footing the bill.
#53
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Why not just ask for another room key to keep in the slot while you're out? Sometimes not only is the climate control tied to this, but so is the do not disturb indicator. This keeps housekeeping out as well...usually. The key sequence that the OP seeks is probably not a universal one. Interesting workaround PorkRind.
#54
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Posts: 4,045
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. If recall it was for an Inncom thermostat and 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.
- 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.
#55
Join Date: Sep 2007
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I agree. I have stayed in far more hotels where removing the card shuts off everything (including AC) than I have where it only shuts off the TV and lights. I had a very frustrating time at a hotel recently where I couldn't even get my laptop or Ipod completely charged for the return flight home. I was never in the room long enough to give everything a full charge and when I removed the card to leave the room, everything went dead except the mini-bar.
#56
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The keycard in the slot sometimes IS required as I've encountered. Something about the magnetic stripe and coding and what not...in one hotel in Singapore (Raffles The Plaza, I think but may be mistaken), I tried every card in my wallet as well as paper folded up and nothing worked except the key card. Smart system!
#57
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And you inconvenience yourself in this way solely because you want to "game the system?"
Riiiiight...
Anyhow, I'm actually in favor of these energy-saving systems. And it's the wave of the future. Resistance is futile! (I realize that hotels do it to save money, not necessarily because they are as "green" as they would like to claim, but any positive environmental side-effect is welcome.)
#58
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With the rates that hotels charge nowadays...and only likely to increase in the future....let them plant a few trees to offset their guilt in allowing me to be comfortable in my room.
This whole thing is a slippery slope.
First they start with the not changing sheets or towels unless you request it. Next we get this thermostat thing that now seems universal. Next, and you can take this to the bank, hot water will only be available from 6AM until noon so they don't have to keep the boilers running 24/7.
Sound ridiculous? So would have the other "green enhancements" to our hotel room if you'd suggested it 10 years ago.
Don't mean to off-track this thread but, hey, let me decide how green I want to be when I'm staying in a $200/night hotel room.
#59
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I experienced the same thing at a Residence Inn a while back.
This was in the winter and it was around 30 degree weather with snow falling....
I woke up in the middle of the night freezing. The motion detector was aimed at the living room area. I walked over there and the heat came on again for another couple hours. They told me the heater defaults to 66 degrees after 4 hours without any motion... I ended up keeping the fireplace burning every single night that I was there. It was the worst 10 days I've spent in a hotel.
This was in the winter and it was around 30 degree weather with snow falling....
I woke up in the middle of the night freezing. The motion detector was aimed at the living room area. I walked over there and the heat came on again for another couple hours. They told me the heater defaults to 66 degrees after 4 hours without any motion... I ended up keeping the fireplace burning every single night that I was there. It was the worst 10 days I've spent in a hotel.
#60
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I've encountered many hotels with room-keys-for-power setups and I don't recall this system ever interfering with the A/C system. I typically keep my room like an igloo, as I generally sleep better in the cold and fighting jetlag is bad enough without worrying about room temperature.