Interior motion lighting questions.

[FilthyZ]

I'm trying to figure out a way to have lights turn on inside the garage when my garage door is opened. I have the Liftmaster 3800 opener and it came with the "wireless light" that can be moved around but I don't like the looks of it. My ceiling has all can lighting and want to keep it clean. I hate pulling into a dark garage at night or having my wife do the same.

Do they make motion sensors that tie into lighting? I haven't started insulating or sheet rock yet so now is the time for me to finish this all up. I can run new electric and install 4 cans for this very thing, but don't want them kicking on and off whenever I have my main lighting on. (I know I'm asking a lot lol).

Any ideas pop up? Thanks!

 

[Milton Shaw]

They do make a motion sensing replacement switch, they are about $25 at home depot and replace a regular light switch.

 

[FilthyZ]

Ahhh never thought about that. Don't have a HD but do have a Lowes here that sells the same thing. Good thinking I just racked my brain so much over thinking this I guess the obvious didn't hit me.

 

[Aceman]

I'm a big fan of Wattstopper. I've used these in the past with no issues as of yet. Not cheap, but they're good. I want to say our cost was around $100 for the dual technology. If you have a large garage you may want to look at ceiling mount sensors, they'll cover a larger area, and are very simple to install.

Here's the the switches I've used:

http://www.wattstopper.com/products/details.html?id=187&category=39&type=Commercial

 

[darkk]

Don't the Liftmasters come with a motion detector built into the electronic wall switch for turning on the garage light included? Can that switch be wired into the can lighting?

 

[1Garageman]

I'm a big fan of Wattstopper. I've used these in the past with no issues as of yet. Not cheap, but they're good. I want to say our cost was around $100 for the dual technology. If you have a large garage you may want to look at ceiling mount sensors, they'll cover a larger area, and are very simple to install.

Here's the the switches I've used:

http://www.wattstopper.com/products/details.html?id=187&category=39&type=Commercial

I looked that up online $$ wise, and that is a lot of money. I guess you need to decide if a simple $25 one from Lowes won't do the trick for you and save you $75!
http://www.prolighting.com/dw-100-w.html

 

[Teken]

I looked that up online $$ wise, and that is a lot of money. I guess you need to decide if a simple $25 one from Lowes won't do the trick for you and save you $75!
http://www.prolighting.com/dw-100-w.html

I agree as well. There are other products that are comparable in terms of quality, performance, and value to the one listed above.

If money isn't an object go ahead because that is indeed a great unit. Where it excels is in consistency picking up small to large size objects with out falter.

 

[Aceman]

I looked that up online $$ wise, and that is a lot of money. I guess you need to decide if a simple $25 one from Lowes won't do the trick for you and save you $75!
http://www.prolighting.com/dw-100-w.html

It's understandable, it is an expensive switch. I do this for a living, so if I have one callback for a piece of **** $25 switch I could have bought the $100 one in the first place and been done with it.

 

[1Garageman]

It's understandable, it is an expensive switch. I do this for a living, so if I have one callback for a piece of **** $25 switch I could have bought the $100 one in the first place and been done with it.

I understand what you are saying, but You can have one call back on anything you buy in life, and you could of bought something else. I am sure that everyone has had to take something back sometime because it was faulty. Don't buy stuff based on that!

 

[Todd.Brock]

The 3800 comes with a motion detector to turn on the over head light.
A year ago, the relay in my old opener crapped out and would not turn on the lights. I went to Sams, bought a two pack of motion detector switches for about 20 bucks. I put one in the laundry room so the lights pop on when your hands are full and the other in the garage. I only have two light fixtures in the garage so it wasnt a big deal. If you can wire in a separate few cans for just the purpose, I would be doing that. Buy a quality motion detector. Mine arent bad in the laundry room, but I would spend a few bucks for a little higher quality for the garage. Sometimes it doesnt kick on, or if you park on the other side of the garage, there were times the sensor was blocked by the other car already in the garage, etc... At the time, it really just saved me from buying a new GDO. I knew in 6 months or so I was getting a new high lift door and a 3800. I wasnt going to do anything drastic and the $20 Sams solution was fine. I still have that setup and the LM3800 wireless setup as well. That would change with a full garage remodel. Just my .02.

 

[SmokeyDP]

Make sure the motion switch you get has a electronic ballast so that it works with florescent lighting. Even if you don't have any now, you will in the future since this is the way lights are going. The package will specifically say it has an electronic ballast and will work with florescent light. They are around $75, compared to the ones for $25. Here is an example of one from Leviton:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/LE...Switches-_-3AY53&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=3AY53

Last time I checked at Home Depot and Lowes a year ago nigher one offered a motion sensor switch that offered this and worked with these lights.

 

[Falcon67]

What he said - the motion switches at the big box do not work with flo lights.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Agreed on the Flo lights. I had to replace the CFL's in the garage with incandescents. The CFL had this weird purple flicker.

 

[1Garageman]

I use these from Home Depot in my basement with good results.

I think I will get a set of those. I go out to the garage all the time to the freezer or the other fridge to get something or put something away and it would be nice when my hands are full to have the light turn on automattically!

 

[gatchel]

I also have had good success with Wattstopper brand products. The cheapie $20 are ****. They never seem to turn on when the should. I would recommend one of the dual technology units.

 

[Aceman]

I understand what you are saying, but You can have one call back on anything you buy in life, and you could of bought something else. I am sure that everyone has had to take something back sometime because it was faulty. Don't buy stuff based on that!

If you want to buy ****, that's your choice. But if you pay me to do it, I'm buying something quality. We have to warranty what we install for a year, so I'm not going to be happy replacing some POS that works intermittently...

Do it once and do it right.