control options for turning off unused lighting?

[Leezygeezer]

Hi,
My family is driving me nuts, they leave everything in the house on, lights, tv's, pc's you name it.

Is there any way I can at the very least control their lighting by having some sort of switch that will detect movement (or the lack thereof) and switch off the lights when unused.

I was thinking photoelectric perhaps but unfortunately I am very much a noob in electronics.

Is it possible to wire some type of PIR system in each room similar to the way alarms operate?

Any advice happily received

Yours electrically challenged

Lee

 

[carbonzit]

Just off the top of my head, seems like PIR (= "motion detector") would be the way to go here. You'd need a fairly simple circuit with 1) a PIR detector, 2) a timer (at least one, maybe more) and 3) logic to coordinate everything.

Pseudocode for such a device might look like this:

if (power on)
{restart-timer: start timer

loop (while timer counts down)​

{ if (PIR sensor activated)​

got restart-timer​

}​

; timer has expired

turn off lights​

}


At least I think that'll work ...

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

You can purchase an integrated motion detector light switch. I see them typically in commercial restrooms. I see one of two implementations. Just use it directly when there is a 1 person rest room involved and with a "night light" of sorts when a larger restroom is involved.

 

[KMoffett]

If you can install a light switch, you can do it with off-the-shelf ones. Probably cheaper than you can make you own.
Google: motion light switch

Ken

 

[Diver300]

There are lots of PIR switches that you can buy. A lot of TVs will now shutdown after a pre-set time with no input from the remote.

 

[carbonzit]

Looks like **broken link removed** (~$26).

 

[Brevor]

My family is driving me nuts, they leave everything in the house on, lights, tv's, pc's you name it.

I have this problem too. My first move was to replace most of the incandescent bulbs with CFL's. They use 20% of the power of an equally rated incandescent bulb.

 

[Leezygeezer]

I already have the low energy bulbs, but just moving round the house after them turning them off is driving me insane!! Buying PIR's individually and wiring them up to each room could be quite expensive, ill check out the other alternatives, and let you know how I get on.

Many thanks

 

[KMoffett]

Green is not cheap.

Ken

 

[MikeMl]

..., but just moving round the house after them turning them off is driving me insane!! ...

Get a life, and don't stress out about it. Or, get a second job to pay the power bill. Either of these will improve your relationship with your family.