Re: Low cost PIR to switch room lights on and off?

[Harry Bloomfield]

Bill J pretended :

Can you help? I want to get some PIR sensors to wire into the > light switch in each room in my house. > > So when I go from one room to another the lights will switch > themselves on and off depending where I am. > > Where can I get low cost PIRs which will switch mains? > > Also, I'd like to locate some cheap PIRs which will switch low > power 9 volt equipment. > > Thank you for any info.

Separate PIR's do tend to be very expensive when compared to equipment which includes a PIR. For example - for seven or eight pound you can buy a 500w flood light which includes a PIR, but the PIR alone might cost £20 -£30.

Take a look on the TLC web site for the indoor PIR's.

[Andrew Mawson]

equipment

useable separately.

AWEM

[OG]

PIRs aren't a great idea for rooms anyway because they switch off after a few minutes and you have to jump up and down to switch them back on again.

My brother used them in the stairwell and corridors of a flat/extension he developed and they work well enough there - but for a room you really would do better with a proper switch.

[YAPH]

I've got as many PIR-less halogens as I can shake a big stick at now, having bought them to use their PIRs elsewhere. Mind you they're handy as worklights in the winter when the heat they chuck out is appreciated :-)

[Andy Dingley]

Modern room occupancy PIRs are a _lot_ better for this (ceiling mount domes, 20 quid from TLC / Toolstation).

Recycled outdoor halogen sensors or 10-15 year old indoors PIRs (anyone else get those cheapish ones from Greenweld years ago?) are an absolute pain in the arse. If you sit down on the sofa in a friend of mine's lounge you're doing Nazi salutes every few minutes to keep the lights on.

[PeterC]

We had one in the Gents at work about 25 years ago and that went off at awkward moments. Some one did a cartoon of a man being carried out of the bog on a stretcher, with the caption: 'He shook it so hard trying to keep the lights on he ruptured himself'.