PIR Sensor for Bathroom?

Krav

Hello,

I would like to replace the pull cord switch in the bathroom with an automatic light switch which comes on when someone enters and switches off automatically.

The current pull cord also activates a vent fan (there is another switch above the door controlling whether the fan should come on when the light comes on).

What sort of equipment do I need? Is it something easy to DIY or should I get someone in? Any idea cost wise on materials and labour?

Many thanks.

spadoosh

Ive seen swithed PIR's but dont think thats what your after, essentially you get a PIR and a remote swithch which controls it. Guessing its going to be a DIY were you buy an independent PIR and wire it to your mains would assume it would be like changing a normal switch but with more chance of wires being exposed so will have to make sure there all covered up.

Cant imagining it being too difficult because essentially a PIR is just a switch.

Like the idea, off to research and implement though the whole house!!

Myser

Just make sure you have a permanent live connection at the switch.

Something like this should be fine:

http://www.delightful-uk.com/elkay-ceiling-mounted-pir-timer---occupancy-detectormovement-sensor-4348-p.asp

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMSLW360.html

Both of the above have an adjustable timer which you will need otherwise, the light will keep switching off when you don't move!

Depending on where the PIR sensor is placed, you may need to adjust the sensitivity or mask off the side of the sensor that faces the doorway - to prevent false triggers when someone walks past.

Grimbal

we have something similar to this. What we asked our bathroom fitter to do was to wire up the ceiling lights & fan to a standard switch, but to wire up little LEDs along the plinths of the units to the PIR sensor. Our reasoning was that during the night, we didn't want the main lights & fan coming on & waking everyone up & the PIR driven LED lights were enough to be able to, erm, sort yourself out during the night

works pretty well, except that we positioned the PIR sensor a bit too close to the door & it comes on if someone is just walking by in the hall

ETA: sorry shameless uploading of a pic of our new bathroom. Solely to explain about the LEDs you understand.......

Myser

Grimbal wrote: »

we have something similar to this.

I believe it's the same as the first link I posted except almost twice as expensive!

I'm not sure if that one has a daylight sensor to stop the light coming on when there is sufficient light.

The second one (Timeguard) does have a daylight sensor built-in.

Grimbal

Myser wrote: »

I believe it's the same as the first link I posted except almost twice as expensive!

I'm not sure if that one has a daylight sensor to stop the light coming on when there is sufficient light.

The second one (Timeguard) does have a daylight sensor built-in.

very possibly the same or similar, but as our posts were only a couple of minutes apart, I obviously hadn't seen your link before I posted mine. The one in the link I posted does have a lux sensor.

Trolly_Wally

Krav, be careful, I believe building regs require that only competent persons should undertake electrical work in bathrooms and kitchens. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination if you don't know what you're doing.

The new Approved Document Part F (ventilation) requires that you should have a manual over-ride for the extract fan and if you have no openable window in the bathroom then you should have a 15min over-run. You don't need to improve to current regs, but you need to avoid making the current system any worse.

Spadoosh, I think having your lounge lights on a PIR would drive you mad, you would be forever waving your arms to get the lights back on!

Miss_Ratty

We have a PIR light in the bathroom, which my OH installed himself. It's light sensitive as well, so will only come on when it's dark (you can adjust the settings easily though). The only annoying thing is when you have a bath - stay still too long and you'll be waving about like a mad 'un to get the lights back on, plus you can't have candlelight baths without a wee bit of extra hassle. But its fab - a bit lazy, but I like an easy life :-)

Ectophile

Trolly_Wally wrote: »

Krav, be careful, I believe building regs require that only competent persons should undertake electrical work in bathrooms and kitchens. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination if you don't know what you're doing.

That would be building regs Part P. Any work in a bathroom or kitchen, except for replacing what's already there, is notifiable to the local council's Building Control department. The fee for that is likely to be exorbitant.

Registered electricians would notify the work through their registration body instead.