Motion-sensing lights that turn on when a car pulls into the driveway or a trick-or-treater skips down the front walk and go out a few minutes later have been used outdoors for years. They are cheap, easy to install, and are a great home accessory for safety, security and energy conservation reasons.

So why don’t we use them inside? Every family has a member who routinely fails to turn off the lights when he leaves a room or one who is too tiny to reach the switch. Stumbling around in a dark hall, especially near a stairwell, or an unfamiliar room is dangerous and they are a God-send for the handicapped or anyone whose hands are full.

Of course even the decorating challenged wouldn’t pick the spot or coach lights that illuminate the yard to hang on their bedroom wall but indoor motion detectors are nothing more than very ordinary looking wall switches that control the operation of existing ceiling fixtures and floor or table lamps plugged into an outlet controlled by the switch. Unfortunately there is usually a maximum of one such plug in any room.

These switches can also be used to switch on the coffee pot when you stumble half asleep into the kitchen or shut down the television when it is playing to an empty room.

A small motion detector lens on the switch detects movement within a 150 to 180 degree radius and turns on the light. The area in square feet covered by the lens varies but will be adequate for a larger than average room although it will not detect motion near ground level so a really tiny child will be unable to control the light. On the other hand, neither will the family cat. The light will switch off after a period of inactivity in the room and you can select and program that time anywhere from 15 seconds to 30 minutes. Many of the switches also can be set like a dimmer for various levels of lighting. Like their outdoor counterparts, these motion sensors do not work above a certain level of natural light.

Read the specifications carefully when purchasing sensors. Most are single-pole but there are 3-pole models available and not all models will operate both fluorescent and incandescent lights.

Motion sensor switches cost from $15 to $50 but the cheaper ones seem to have some durability issues. More expensive models are also more likely to have a larger coverage range and can be better at detecting human motion again a dark background.

A few bucks and a quarter hour with a screwdriver and never again curse the darkness.

Related Electrical Information:

• Energy Efficiency Lighting
• Electrical Safety Tips & Hazards
• Install Programmable Thermostat for Energy Savings
• Home Improvement: Ceiling Fans
• Foul Odor From Shower and Sink
• Replacing Toilets
• Hand-held Shower Heads

Need fast emergency plumbing, electrical, heating, or air conditioning services? Need our services on an evening or weekend? After work? No problem! We're here whenever you need us - 24 hours a day 7 days a week - same low, up front price with no surprises. Call today (800-269-8963) or fill out our online service request.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 13th, 2009 at 2:20 pm and is filed under Electrical . You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.