Bathroom occupancy sensor - specific recommendations

[Tim S]

Hi,

It's occurred to me that having a dimmer pull in the bathroom will defeat my attempt to run the fan timer from it (probably - but I cannot see the two systems agreeing with each other).

Can anyone recommend a good occupancy sensor (PIR or somesuch) for ceiling mounting. Preferably volt free contacts that could handle mains and (maybe later) low voltage. This is only to trigger the fan so it doesn't have to be perfectly deterministic, though it would be good if it was directional or adjustable so I could avoid it scanning the door wibbling in the breeze.

Such a thing will be *really* necessary in the other shower room as that's actually got windows so one can't rely on the light as an occupancy indicator anyway...

Cheers

Tim

[Chris J Dixon]

This, which I have, is fine for an extractor:

Can anyone recommend a good occupancy sensor (PIR or somesuch) for ceiling

I have this in my kitchen to switch the lights, and it works well.

for volt-free contacts, it looks like you need

[Lobster]

Hmm. My Mum has one of those things in hers, and when I go to stay the first thing I do when taking the Sunday Times in there for a bit of 'quality time' is reach up and use a bit of bogroll to cover the sensor.

Bloody noise drives me mad otherwise. (The sensor does get unblocked when I leave. Usually.)

David

[Jon Fairbairn]

For that, I'd have thought a humidistat would do the trick. You can get stand alone ones.

[mark]

webcam?

mark

[Andy Dingley]

That's a problem with the fan, not the sensor. Sort the airflow noise out, then it works for both long & short stay use without noise in either.

PIR occupancy sensors work pretty well and reliably, but they cost 30 quid or so (TLC et al, vast range). If you don't want to pay this mych, then by all means hack something up from a tuppeny-ha'penny Lidl floodlight, just don't whine here when it's unreliable.

[Tim S]

Jon Fairbairn coughed up some electrons that declared:

Only if it has a curry detector :)

Loo side effect decontamination function is important too!

[Tim S]

mark coughed up some electrons that declared:

You really don't want to see that!

[Tim S]

Andy Dingley coughed up some electrons that declared:

My fan is an axial in-line a couple of metres away, and an extra quiet type to boot (if the data sheet isn't talking bollocks) so I'm hoping it won't be an issue :)

Cool - 30 quid is fine.

[John Rumm]

I usually go for a humidistat control anyway. Brings on the fan when its needed rather than when the light is on.

If you are worried about venting nasty niffs, then a PIR trigger may be better.

[Rob G]

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My recommendation is using a humidistat fan with a pull cord - the best of all worlds IMO.

Rob

[Jon Fairbairn]

Oh, I thought the shower room was just a shower room, sorry.

I imagine you might be able to get a suitable gas sensor, but it would probably have to be bespoke.

[Owain]

I picked one up in Help The Aged, =A31.20 :-)

Owain

[John Rumm]

Perhaps some sort of spark plug - when you get a really dodgy after curry moment, it just detonates it in a controlled (i.e. blow the windows out) explosion!

[Tim S]

John Rumm coughed up some electrons that declared:

The windoes are cemented glass blocks.

I think the celcon block walls will fall over first!

[John Rumm]

They should be ok up to Vindaloo then ;-)

Especially that narrow one your builder put up! ;-)

[Andy Dingley]

No, the widely available CFC sensors (aircon leak detectors) are also sensitive to sulphides and "curry emissions". This can be a problem when sniffing for CFCs around garlic eaters. I imagine one of those would re-engineer quite well.

LPG sensors (heated wire behind a mesh screen) are also available, but I doubt they're sensitive enough.

[Tim S]

John Rumm coughed up some electrons that declared:

Hmm - needs testing...

Yeah. Pillock. That's gone now. Won't make my replacement fall over :)

[ARWadsworth]

The last one I fitted was a flush fitting version from Timeguard.

one I fitted had volt free contacts. I notice that they also do 2 channel sensors

Adam

[Tim S]

ARWadsworth coughed up some electrons that declared:

They look most interesting - thanks Adam. I like the flush mount ones.

Cheers

Tim