Motion Activated Light Bulbs B27 (Don't Need Google Home or IFTTT Compatibility)

AlienC on 02/08/2017 - 16:46

Basically need to replace like ten lightbulbs and most of them are in line of sight range so figured might as well get some motion activated ones instead of the standard ones for replacement. Main reason is so that when I get up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night I don't have to turn on 4 light bulbs on and off although the routine is kind of nice, but I like anything automated like I know most of you guys also do so I guess I am liking for recommendations.

Afaik they are all B27 and they will all be used inside the house. Energy savings ones preferred unless motion activated bulbs use like five times the energy then I might not switch to it at all.

Some will be in common areas and some in walkthroughs (dining area, living room etc) so I am wondering if there are motion ones that stay on otherwise the light might go out while we are still on the computer or laptop or reading haha lol or god forbid while eating haha lol.. if motion sensitive ones can't reliably differentiate that then I'll just put some normal ones in there our maybe actually check out IFTTT.

Cheers thanks guys.

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • D C on 02/08/2017 - 17:33

    You know about adapters: https://blog.banggood.com/turn-light-pir-motion-detector-291…?

    Most of the bulbs don't have any adjustments, they stay on for a minute or so. The adapters have the usual sensitivity/time/etc knobs.

    Microwave is a bit better than PIR as they can detect movement behind items; radio waves bounce around corners and go through some stuff while light doesn't. In other words if you're on the couch the microwave might spot you while the PIR won't.

    Of course microwaves can go though your floor so you might find the upstairs dunny light turning on while you walk around downstairs (drop the sensitivity).

    • hhbb555 on 03/08/2017 - 08:04

      Can that kind of adapter works behind glass?

      • D C on 03/08/2017 - 16:39

        Window or fitting?

        PIR usually won't work behind glass, but microwave will go thru it. Might reduce the range a bit though.

        • hhbb555 on 03/08/2017 - 19:50

          Fitting

        • D C on 03/08/2017 - 21:06

          @hendyb: I'd go microwave.

          PIR might work, but glass usually blocks infrared so it won't pick up your body heat.

          Microwave should work, the range might be a little reduced.

          Looking around the microwave bulbs & adapters aren't adjustable which is a little odd. As noted before and by @Euphemistic they can work too well at times. Because they trigger by movement not heat things like curtains blowing in the wind can activate them as well.

          They're fairly cheap (sub $10) off eBay / AliExpress so getting one to play with won't cost too much.

          I've only played with the modules, like: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/220V-100W-Infrared-Module-Bo… which are adjustable. I figured the adapters would be too, but nope. The PIR one are. Weird.

        • hhbb555 on 04/08/2017 - 08:32

          @D C:
          thanks
          i did try to find the one that uses microwave sensor, but it's pretty hard to find one.

          even finding an adapter that has dusk to dawn sensor is pretty hard
          i've seen something like this before https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieJYvfTQkQw
          but no australian store sells something like that.

        • D C on 04/08/2017 - 22:13

          @hendyb: The microwave stuff is fairly new, but it does puzzle me as well why none of the adapters are adjustable.

          They actually use exactly the same electronics as the PIR ones, using the chips etc, even cheaper to make as you don't need the PIR sensor.

          Dunno. Wait until someone starts making them, I guess.

  • AdosHouse on 02/08/2017 - 17:55

    You can get the Xiaomi bulbs with some of the motion sensors too. You will need a gateway to control the sensors though.

  • Euphemistic on 02/08/2017 - 18:05

    I bought an Aldi one. Was so sensitive it would turn on inside the storage room from about 10 steps away, with the door shut and walking on a slab/tiled floor. Would also turn on as you walked down the stairs above it. Gave it away, not recommended.

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