[ew6082]

This was obviously not a good system design, but a box full of relays and PLC controller cost a whole lot less than the all-in employer cost of an extra employee.

They really should also be able to turn off the lights at the breakers unless they did something exceptionally stupid like put the fire control panels on the lighting breakers.

[GTP]

> but a box full of relays and PLC controller cost a whole lot less than the all-in employer cost of an extra employee.

Why would you need an extra employee just to turn on/off the lights? I think janitors or teachers always did that as part of the job before smart switches came around, no need to hire some "light manager".

[Symbiote]

Exactly: the person who checks the windows are shut, taps are closed, and locks the doors every evening can also switch the lights off.

[mmsimanga]

Having read most of the comments debating the pros and cons of the system this is an astonishingly simple solution! Sometimes I think those of us in technology look for problems to solve.