Occupancy Sensors

[redpines]

Thinking of using one in my garage to turn on the general lighting. Will use regular switches to control the work area lighting. I want the general lighting to come on the instant I open any door (from the house, service door, overhead door).

My only experience with them is in the building where I work. It seems that you have to open the door, then move 5-6 feet before they are triggered. Or stand inside the door and wave your arms about. Maybe they are inferior quality or poorly placed?

Looking for some feedback from others who have done this.

What brand did you use?
How well does it work?
Reliable instant triggering?
Would you do it again?
Any other options for automatic lighting?

Thanks.

 

[rockwithjason]

we have hundreds of them here and they are not great. if you don't make a large movement in the time window the lights go out. there is usually a 2 or 3 second delay in the lights firing. they fail fairly often. i won't use them in my stuff.

 

[Falcon67]

Also note that if you have CFLs or T8, 5, [insert number here] lights with electronic ballasts that you would have to source a sensor that is compatible with those kinds of ballasts.

 

[Aceman]

I like the Wattstopper brand, I retrofitted an entire library with them. I used the low voltage dual technology ceiling mount type in the main areas with power supply/relays back at the panel. I used the type that replace switches in the smaller areas, bathrooms, cubicles, etc.

I did this a few years ago, as far as I know the occupancy sensors worked out great, I haven't been back. But I did hear from my boss, the ballasts have been failing fairly frequently. We retrofitted the T12 troffers with T8's and ballasts but supposedly they spec'ed the wrong type. The constant on/off kills the regular T8 ballasts I'm told. I haven't looked into it myself, so I don't know the specific type of ballast required to be used with occ. sensors.

I just noticed they have line voltage ceiling sensors now, don't know if they were available back then. This is what I'd lean towards for you. Make sure to read the cut sheet and coverage requirements for the sensors. They usually have a setback distance from HVAC vents as well.

http://www.platt.com/platt-electric...gy/Wattstopper/DT355/product.aspx?zpid=581702

 

[Stuart in MN]

I like the Wattstopper brand, I retrofitted an entire library with them. I used the low voltage dual technology ceiling mount type in the main areas with power supply/relays back at the panel. I used the type that replace switches in the smaller areas, bathrooms, cubicles, etc.

I see quite a few Wattstoppers used as well, they seem to work okay.

 

[redpines]

Thanks for all the input.

Anybody else live/work with these things daily and can comment on how quickly and reliably they trigger?

 

[Aceman]

If you place them right and use the dual technology type, they should trigger as soon as you walk through the doorway.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I tried a few different cheap models, and then bit the bullet and got a 360° (2500W) Ceiling Motion Sensor by RAB. They are $50 each, and I got two.

The good news is I don't have to occasionally wave my arms to re-trigger the lights when I'm working on something where I'm not moving around enough. The bad news is that they're so good, I would like to use more of them. I have five or so motion-triggered circuits in my garage. The lights start switching on as soon as I swing the door open.

 

[redpines]

Do you use the occupancy sensors as the only switch or as a 3 way/ 4 way?

I'm trying to decide if they are reliable enough to use as the only switch. Or am I going to regret not being able to switch the lights "on demand" because the sensor does not always trigger or is slow to trigger.

I have high expectations.

 

[Aceman]

If you're worried, run power through a switchbox by the door and throw a blank on it. If you don't like the occ. sensors it's as simple as adding a switch in the box.

 

[Gary S]

I don't have occupancy sensors, but I did mount a motion sensing outdoor light inside my garage. It turns on instantly whenever I open the door at night. In the daytime when it isn't needed, it stays off because it has a photocell, but in the dark it works as soon as the walk-in door opens.

Strangely, I've used these things outside and never had good results there. They always false triggered in the wind if a tree branch moved, or if a leaf crossed the path of the sensor. Indoors, it works great. Outside, they were mediocre at best.

 

[May Pop]

I recently put one in my daughters garage. So when she gets home and its dark more lights than the one on the opener come on. The rest of the garage lights are on a regular switch.
I used a Leviton brand commercial. We have over 200 of these in the buildings I work in.

Ron

 

[redpines]

I recently put one in my daughters garage. So when she gets home and its dark more lights than the one on the opener come on. The rest of the garage lights are on a regular switch.
I used a Leviton brand commercial. We have over 200 of these in the buildings I work in.

Ron

How quickly/reliably does the Leviton commercial model respond?

 

[redpines]

If you're worried, run power through a switchbox by the door and throw a blank on it. If you don't like the occ. sensors it's as simple as adding a switch in the box.

This is a good idea. Thanks.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Mine go on as soon as the door opens. If it's already open, the light will go on if you walk past it.

 

[ddawg16]

I'm using the Lutron's in the house....my wife and kids have no idea what an off switch is.....love the little beasts.....and they work with CFL's.

They have 3 modes

Turn on on motion....off after set # of min

Turn on when you turn them on by hitting the button....turns off after set # of min

Only turn on on motion if the ambiant light is low....off after set # of min...this is how I have most of them setup....if there is enough light, they do not automatically comeon...but you can turn them on if you want

 

[Falcon67]

Just put one in our laundry room. It's a manual on, auto off unit. Took a while to de-code the bass-ackward 3 way switch wiring. So far, we like it. The only thing I don't like is that the minimum time to off is 5 minutes. 2~3 would be a little better.

 

[67carl]

My plan is to have several lights in the garage and laundry room turn on when I open the big garage door or when I open the man door from the house into the garage (laundry room is attached to garage). The light from the garage door opener is just anemic and doesn't do anything for the laundry room. I want to install a Lutron Occupancy sensor switch but have one concern: in the description it states hot objects or significant temp differentials in the room affect performance. What worries me is that the heat from the engine will prevent the switch/lights from turning off. See the second and third bullet points in the attached pic. Has anyone put one of these in an area that has a hot object, and if so, how well did it work?

 

[rodm1]

Thanks for all the input.

Anybody else live/work with these things daily and can comment on how quickly and reliably they trigger?

The ones at work ****! You have to wave your hands to turn them one. I would like to do something to but I don't think the tech is up to speed yet. You could put a pressure pad on the floor and have it trigger the lights. I think that would be better.

 

[BillK]

RP,
I am just curious why you would want these in a small attached to the house garage ? I can understand them in a large factory environment for energy savings but I guess I just don't see why anyone would want them in a residential situation. Seems from the comments that they would be more annoying than anything

Just curious more than anything,