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AC_Hacker · 06-21-12, 06:37 PM

I have been investigating occupancy sensing lighting, too.

I had one in the bathroom before and it worked well for a long time. I don't have one right now and I really miss the automatic switch.

I have another one, hacked into providing light to the kitchen sink during the night and also dim days. I am using LEDs for task light in the kitchen... I also have strings of xmas lights on the same circuit, strung casually about.

I found that if I included one small incandescent in the array, it would work fine with all the LEDs.

The first sensor switch was from a thrift store when I got it and it didn't last so long. I bought another, which is working well, so far.

I did notice a noteworthy difference in the two sensor switches I have experienced, they both have sensitivity and duration controls...

One of them has three modes, ON, OFF and AUTO. With this one, if light is needed, but not on, you have to enter into the ON-OFF-AUTO cycle to get it back where you want it when you're done.

The other one is pretty much all AUTO, but smart auto. When you need light and it is not on, you push on and it acts the same as if it was triggered by occupancy, it stays on and its duration is re-triggered each time it senses occupancy. When a non-occupancy event is longer that 'duration', it goes off and re-enters auto mode.

This second switch is much better, in my opinion.

* * *

I have also wished that there was an occupancy switch that had a fairly fast ramp on (one sec. or so) and a slow ramp when it went off (maybe 10 secs or more).

I have looked around, and have found nothing that will do this... with the exception of this amazing instructable.

(* Can you spell A-R-D-U-I-N-O? *)

-AC

06-21-12, 06:37 PM	#19
AC_Hacker Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 4,004 Thanks: 303 Thanked 723 Times in 534 Posts	Occupancy Switch & LEDs & Ramp-On/Ramp-Off I have been investigating occupancy sensing lighting, too. I had one in the bathroom before and it worked well for a long time. I don't have one right now and I really miss the automatic switch. I have another one, hacked into providing light to the kitchen sink during the night and also dim days. I am using LEDs for task light in the kitchen... I also have strings of xmas lights on the same circuit, strung casually about. I found that if I included one small incandescent in the array, it would work fine with all the LEDs. The first sensor switch was from a thrift store when I got it and it didn't last so long. I bought another, which is working well, so far. I did notice a noteworthy difference in the two sensor switches I have experienced, they both have sensitivity and duration controls... One of them has three modes, ON, OFF and AUTO. With this one, if light is needed, but not on, you have to enter into the ON-OFF-AUTO cycle to get it back where you want it when you're done. The other one is pretty much all AUTO, but smart auto. When you need light and it is not on, you push on and it acts the same as if it was triggered by occupancy, it stays on and its duration is re-triggered each time it senses occupancy. When a non-occupancy event is longer that 'duration', it goes off and re-enters auto mode. This second switch is much better, in my opinion. * * * I have also wished that there was an occupancy switch that had a fairly fast ramp on (one sec. or so) and a slow ramp when it went off (maybe 10 secs or more). I have looked around, and have found nothing that will do this... with the exception of this amazing instructable. (* Can you spell A-R-D-U-I-N-O? ) -AC __________________ I'm not an HVAC technician. In fact, I'm barely even a hacker... Last edited by AC_Hacker; 06-21-12 at 06:44 PM..*