Ultrasonic occupancy sensors.

[Firebrick43]

Anyone use ultrasonic sensors in thier garage?

I put an IR occupancy sensor in my mothers garage as the lights were always forgotten on maybe 13~ years ago. It works pretty well for average daily use age but sucked if you were doing a project or working on a car for any time. If you forgot to switch it to on you ended in the dark waving your arms.

The newer ultrasonic sensors supposedly can "see" around corners and "see" small movements such as reading and typing according to the sales sheets.

I am thinking about this in my new build 750' garage and my mud room/laundry.

 

[cybrdyke]

the claims of sensitivity are overly optimistic, but the US sensor will perform better if you're not in sight of it, like...under a car or behind a raised hood. Be sure to verify the area of coverage that the sensor provides. You might need 2 of them. Set your delay to a long time, like 30 minutes or more. Every time the sensor picks up motion, the clock starts over again (same with the IR)
The only "con" is that any motion can trip a US sensor, such as a plant moving because of a fan, etc...
Also available are dual source sensors that have both IR and US built in. The advantage is fewer false trips.
Good luck,
CD

 

[txvwnut]

I have one in the hallway, it’s pretty sensitive and has decent range. It will detect any movement by the bedroom door and reaches all the way into the kitchen. If the sensor has any view of a person it will stay on. You can also program how long it stays on after you’ve moved out of range to prevent being trapped in the dark.

 

[starquestMM]

I have a us sensor that I thought was a little too sensitive: false triggering due to walking past the room and sometimes it wouldn't turn off due to the bathroom fan running. I shoved some cotton into it to dull it down some and its been great since.

 

[Mr_fixit]

I'd suggest a unit that uses both ultrasonic and PIR in one.

 

[walta]

Costco sell a WinPlus light fixture with built in sensor. It was radio frequency sensor that sees thru walls and ceilings and floors the sensitivity and time delay are adjustable up to 30 minuets

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=378141

Walta