Question: do any of you see any difficulties or disadvantages to replacing light or fan switches with such?
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Motion Detection Light Switches
When I had a house built in Horseshoe Bend in 2005, I fantasized about motion detection light switches. I had become quite enamored of them at HP. Will they save enough electricity to justify the capital invested replacing existing switches? Probably not, but not having to get up from the couch to turn off the bathroom light is a convenience for the "convenience," as I have sometimes seen toilets euphemized.
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I can think of a couple points to be aware of when replacing switches with motion sensors (or other electronic switches):
ReplyDelete1 - You will need to have a neutral wire available in the electrical box with the switch. If power goes through the switch box to the ceiling box, you are fine. If power goes into the ceiling box and there is a 'switch leg' coming down to the switch box, you may not have a neutral, which can cause problems.
2 - Pay attention to power ratings on motion sensors (and other electronic switches), especially if they are powering inductive loads (fans and other motor-containing items). Make sure they are rated for an appropriate wattage inductive load.
3 - Replacing 3-way or 4-way switch setups with motion sensors is going to be more complicated.
4 - Be careful installing a motion sensor in your bedroom. You really don't want the light coming on just because you or your wife rolled over...
I would not assume it will save money, especially if you have to pay an electrician to install them, but it may be convenient enough to justify the effort.
The problem I always had was that they would turn off at the wrong time if there was no motion. At work, when a number of people are around the lights didn't go off. If I was working late, they would go off regularly.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they could work some places, like a hallway. But if you're sitting at the kitchen table working on taxes - or whatever - will there be enough motion to keep the lights on?
What's all the rage today is WiFi controllable lights. The only problem is that most of them are security nightmares. You can probably find some that aren't, and with careful configuration of routers and security you should be able to fence them off from the public internet. I decided that was too much like what I did for work.
ReplyDeleteI installed one such in a walk-in closet. It worked as advertised, set to a relatively short dwell time.
ReplyDeleteMotion detector is more likely to fail than the actual switch, so at least get one which can be controlled manually also.
ReplyDeleteI would prefer having game switches that can be set to run for up to an hour then stop, to clear smells or clear humid air after a shower. If a motion detector switch can be set like that, it's definitely worthwhile.
I installed a motion detector in my garage (The regular light switch is also part of the circuit). Best thing I have ever done short of the dimmer switch on the Master Bathroom light. The light goes on no matter which door I enter from, or how full my hands are.
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