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#1
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Motion sensing lights in a room?
I know there are motion sensors which detect movement and can turn on
a light fixture. What I was wondering is there a way to do this inside a house? I would need one that would detect a person walking _into_ the room so the light would cut on several feet before a person enters the room. Is there a relatively cheap and easy way to do this? Perhaps I might want to do only one room to see how it would work out? thanks, |
#2
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Motion sensing lights in a room?
Andy writes:
Sure. They cost about 10 bucks at Walmart and are normally used for driveway and outside monitoring. Just buy one and hook it to an electrical cord and place it somewhere to experiment on the coverage..... The biggest drawback I can see is that they probably won't fit in with your decor, but you can hide it behind something that is transparent to infrared, or in the foliage of a fake plant, or something.... The sensors are the same as the expensive ones that is used in stores, except the Walmart versions are mass produced which gets the price really low...... Get one and try it out. Use it to turn on a floor lamp or something and let your imagination run with it..... However, if you fall asleep on the couch at 11pm, expect to wake up with the lights out. Just wave your arms and they will come on. If you toss and turn in your sleep, the damn thing will go on and off and you probably will unplug it.... (grin).... Andy |
#3
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Motion sensing lights in a room?
Sure, there are ones that can be used to replace a wall switch.
To see one example, go to homedepot.com and search for 100396703 My brother has these in his house, though of course when they turn on depends on the location of the switch it replaces. -- Mike S. "BOB" wrote in message ... I know there are motion sensors which detect movement and can turn on a light fixture. What I was wondering is there a way to do this inside a house? I would need one that would detect a person walking _into_ the room so the light would cut on several feet before a person enters the room. Is there a relatively cheap and easy way to do this? Perhaps I might want to do only one room to see how it would work out? thanks, |
#4
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Motion sensing lights in a room?
Check out Smarthome.com
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#5
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Motion sensing lights in a room?
"BOB" wrote in message ... I know there are motion sensors which detect movement and can turn on a light fixture. What I was wondering is there a way to do this inside a house? I would need one that would detect a person walking _into_ the room so the light would cut on several feet before a person enters the room. Can be done, but if you want it to happen -before- someone gets into the room, it's a little more tricky. Problem is, motion sensors don't "see" the target well when the target's motion is directly toward or away from the detector. Since they detect motion by way of a change in heat, and you want to do this indoors which is close to body temp (as opposed to outside), you may well be within arm's length of the sensor before it sees you. It can see you in an instant from 20 feet or more if you move _across_ it's field of view however. You can adjust the sensitivity, but sometimes the thing will be triggering the lights so often that a plain ol' switch would be better. Most flourescent lights won't work with these switches either. |
#6
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Motion sensing lights in a room?
I have a couple of motion sensing night lights I have in my basement
near the cat box. The 5-7W bulbs in them are more then enough light for the cats. |
#7
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Motion sensing lights in a room?
"Bob M." wrote in message ... "BOB" wrote in message ... I know there are motion sensors which detect movement and can turn on a light fixture. What I was wondering is there a way to do this inside a house? I would need one that would detect a person walking _into_ the room so the light would cut on several feet before a person enters the room. Can be done, but if you want it to happen -before- someone gets into the room, it's a little more tricky. Problem is, motion sensors don't "see" the target well when the target's motion is directly toward or away from the detector. Since they detect motion by way of a change in heat, and you want to do this indoors which is close to body temp (as opposed to outside), you may well be within arm's length of the sensor before it sees you. It can see you in an instant from 20 feet or more if you move _across_ it's field of view however. You can adjust the sensitivity, but sometimes the thing will be triggering the lights so often that a plain ol' switch would be better. Most flourescent lights won't work with these switches either. Depends on what type you use. My office building had fluorescent lights working with motion sensors, with no problems at all. This is why the OP should consult an electrical supply place, or he'll be back here asking why he keeps killing switches. |
#8
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Motion sensing lights in a room?
Thanks for all the tips guys. This has given me some ideas to
consider. |
#9
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Motion sensing lights in a room?
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Bob M." wrote in message ... "BOB" wrote in message ... I know there are motion sensors which detect movement and can turn on a light fixture. What I was wondering is there a way to do this inside a house? I would need one that would detect a person walking _into_ the room so the light would cut on several feet before a person enters the room. Can be done, but if you want it to happen -before- someone gets into the room, it's a little more tricky. Problem is, motion sensors don't "see" the target well when the target's motion is directly toward or away from the detector. Since they detect motion by way of a change in heat, and you want to do this indoors which is close to body temp (as opposed to outside), you may well be within arm's length of the sensor before it sees you. It can see you in an instant from 20 feet or more if you move _across_ it's field of view however. You can adjust the sensitivity, but sometimes the thing will be triggering the lights so often that a plain ol' switch would be better. Most flourescent lights won't work with these switches either. Depends on what type you use. My office building had fluorescent lights working with motion sensors, with no problems at all. This is why the OP should consult an electrical supply place, or he'll be back here asking why he keeps killing switches. You can buy a driveway/yard type of light with two sockets and the sensor for about $10 here. Look through the instructions, some have a wire to turn on remote lights. This type has a relay output and you can easily remove the sensor and use it to turn on any light. Put one in my girlfriends garage to turn two old kitchen ceiling fixtures on. Works like a champ. Al Al |
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