Motion light switch range of sensitivity

[NUTTSGT]

Anybody have experience with the actual range of sensitivity of wall switches with motion detectors ?

The situation, utility room aka laundry room, where my closet is also located. In my closet is the dog's pillow where he hangs out during the day sleeping away. His food and water are also in here in front of the basement door. There's times he will not eat in the dark but will if the light is on, prima-dogga I guess.

I suggested to the wife, I swap out the regular light switch for a motion detector switch which might be even better for us as well.

So, is the height of a dog, Yellow Lab, high enough to trip the motion sensor or would I be wasting my time installing one ?


I need one in black and Menard's has this one I can order.

Lutron® Maestro® 2-Amp 1-Pole Black Motion Sensor Light Switch

Let Lutron's Maestro Occupancy Sensing Switch turn the lights on and off for you. This sensor is a simple way to save energy and add light automation to any room of your home, turning lights on when you enter the room and off when you exit. It features XCT sensing technology to detect fine...

www.menards.com

 

[kbuhagiar]

Anybody have experience with the actual range of sensitivity of wall switches with motion detectors ?

The situation, utility room aka laundry room, where my closet is also located. In my closet is the dog's pillow where he hangs out during the day sleeping away. His food and water are also in here in front of the basement door. There's times he will not eat in the dark but will if the light is on, prima-dogga I guess.

I suggested to the wife, I swap out the regular light switch for a motion detector switch which might be even better for us as well.

So, is the height of a dog, Yellow Lab, high enough to trip the motion sensor or would I be wasting my time installing one ?


I need one in black and Menard's has this one I can order.

Lutron® Maestro® 2-Amp 1-Pole Black Motion Sensor Light Switch

Let Lutron's Maestro Occupancy Sensing Switch turn the lights on and off for you. This sensor is a simple way to save energy and add light automation to any room of your home, turning lights on when you enter the room and off when you exit. It features XCT sensing technology to detect fine...

www.menards.com

Eric,

It appears that the one in your link can be adjusted for sensitivity, so that may help.

We have a couple of Leviton motion sensing switches and they have adjustments for duration that the light remains on, and also for field of sensitivity, to narrow or widen the 'hot spot'.

Can't speak to how they react to dogs, as we don't have one. But if I remember, the next time my brother visits I'll ask him to bring my fuzzy niece Maggie the Lab with him and see if she can trip the switch, lol.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Thanks, that does help.


Not all the manufacturers, at least that Menards carries, make them in black.

 

[txvwnut]

My sons labradoodle would sometimes trip the motion switch in the hallway. I think for your lab to trip it it will need to be a little closer to the floor.

 

[mikedodge]

Depends on the brand and in general sometimes pets are too small to set them off. Get a dual technology one that looks for heat and motion, it probably has a chance of working better in that situation.

 

[PCustoms]

Can you mount one low, at dog height?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Can you mount one low, at dog height?

No, not in the utility room.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I had used something similar to this (link below) at one time. It worked fine. I had it on the ceiling next to the fixture. I am sure it was not the brand on this link but was similar.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41Y51L4?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[cybrdyke]

Anybody have experience with the actual range of sensitivity of wall switches with motion detectors ?

The situation, utility room aka laundry room, where my closet is also located. In my closet is the dog's pillow where he hangs out during the day sleeping away. His food and water are also in here in front of the basement door. There's times he will not eat in the dark but will if the light is on, prima-dogga I guess.

I suggested to the wife, I swap out the regular light switch for a motion detector switch which might be even better for us as well.

So, is the height of a dog, Yellow Lab, high enough to trip the motion sensor or would I be wasting my time installing one ?


I need one in black and Menard's has this one I can order.

Lutron® Maestro® 2-Amp 1-Pole Black Motion Sensor Light Switch

Let Lutron's Maestro Occupancy Sensing Switch turn the lights on and off for you. This sensor is a simple way to save energy and add light automation to any room of your home, turning lights on when you enter the room and off when you exit. It features XCT sensing technology to detect fine...

www.menards.com

Those sensors, like most all brands, are blind from the bottom of the wall to about 10' out. Depending on how tall your dog is, you can do this to see if he can trip the sensor... Start at the bottom of the wall directly under the sensor and measure 10' out in all directions. This should give you a semi-circle on the floor. You can then draw an imaginary line from anywhere on that semi-circle up to the sensor, giving you a triangle between the wall and floor. If your dog is roughly 24" tall, then he can probably trip the sensor from 5 or 6 feet away from it. Closer than that and he can walk under it without tripping it.
An ultrasonic sensor would work better for this application. It will fill the entire space with sound waves and any disruption of those waves will trigger the sensor. They're very sensitive, so if Fido even rolls over in his sleep, the lights will turn on.
Good luck finding one of those in black.
CD

 

[bronc076]

I tried to teach my dog to turn on light switches one time, but I quickly realized that the bill to repair the drywall in my house would be considerable, so I squashed that initiative! I like the idea of a motion sensing switch for the dog. Hope it works!

 

[no704]

Wag. Maybe you could get a box extension and cut it at an angle. Or get a pir sensor.

 

[dave*99]

How about a small LED night light? Is there a receptacle nearby? There are motion sensing night lights.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I tried to teach my dog to turn on light switches one time, but I quickly realized that the bill to repair the drywall in my house would be considerable, so I squashed that initiative! I like the idea of a motion sensing switch for the dog. Hope it works!

Actually, the light above the kitchen sink, he turns it on all the time. The switch is in the cabinet facing and under the countertop.

He walks by it wagging his tail and hits the switch.

 

[rlitman]

Can you mount one low, at dog height?

This, or an ultrasonic sensor are your best options. The typical thermal motion sensor (both for alarms as well as for occupancy) has a fresnel/mirror assembly that is specifically designed to avoid pets, but aimed correctly they sure can pick up pets.

I have one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093SZRZCV?tag=atomicindus08-20
mounted to the underside of my vanity that triggers a 12V solenoid valve that starts a trickle of water over the floor drain as a water feature / drinking fountain for my cats. Of course, I'm not suggesting you use this specific sensor, but what I'm saying is that one of these "golf ball" sensors on the ceiling should pick up a labrador just fine, and lots of light fixtures now come with these.

 

[jdm5]

Consider a home automation motion sensor paired to a light switch? I use Insteon but ZWave is probably what I’d recommend at this point.

Can position the sensor wherever works.

 

[dave*99]

I'm not a fan of battery powered lights, but they do make motion sensing versions. There are many to choose from. Here is one.

Battery Operated Wireless Motion-Sensing 1 Light White LED Lighting Wall Sconce

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Depends on the brand and in general sometimes pets are too small to set them off. Get a dual technology one that looks for heat and motion, it probably has a chance of working better in that situation.

I believe all 'domestic' presence sensors detect heat only. It took me time to realize that a floor A/C vent was triggering my light sensor in the kitchen, in the winter. I was close to hire Ghostbusters until I figured that out.