This detailed "how to" from Lutron will guide through the steps involved with installing your wall switch occupancy sensor. Be sure to switch the breaker to the circuit you will be working on before performing any work. With a screw driver and hardware supplied with your occupancy sensor switch, you can be on your way to saving energy in only 15 minutes!
It is often difficult to effectively light a kitchen. Traditional methods of lighting use recessed lights, or hanging fixtures. These
methods require more power consumption and light output to illuminate countertop workspace. Many times you can't help but block the light as you are working and upper wall cabinets tend to shade a generous portion of your countertop. There is a very simple solution to this inconvenience that seems to annoy us as we work in the kitchen. The solution is this: Place the light source in front of you and under the cabinets! Under cabinet lighting can come in a variety sources. There are three types of low voltage lighting that range in complexity, price, and function. Each type is a sleek, energy efficient method of lighting the countertop space in your kitchen using LED's. Battery Operated LED Spotlights The most budget friendly method of lighting under cabinet work space is battery operated LED spot lights. These individual lights come in packs of pod lights or in track light assemblies and can me mounted directly underneath your cabinet and spaced out as desired. A benefit to this option is that they can be installed cleanly and simply without wiring. Battery operated under cabinet lighting can either be switched on or off at the source or many times are capable of turning on or off automatically. The Slyvania Golden Dragon kit can be switch to an automatic mode controlled by motion sensor. Using the energy efficient occupancy sensor switch function you will never have to remember to turn the lights off! Other products such as the Lumen LED High Output Spotlights come with a remote control that eliminates the need to reach under the cabinet to find the switch. If you are concerned about changing batteries all of the time, the energy efficiency of LED high output lights is unparalleled compared to traditional incandescent, fluorescent, or halogen light bulbs. This technological advantage combined with features such as occupancy sensor switches is sure to keep your battery changes to a minimum, and more money in your pocket. LED Strip Lights Thin LED strip lights are possibly the most sleek and efficient under cabinet lighting source available. More than convenience this option provides a modern and high-end look to any kitchen. The low voltage transformer plugs into a conventional 12V outlet and provides balanced power to the lighted strips. LED's burn at a very low temperature and consume very little energy making them a safe lighting application to mount right up against your wood cabinets. A main advantage of LED strip lights is that they offer a seamless stream of light underneath a large span of cabinets unlike spotlight or tracklights. When retrofitting an existing kitchen, a sleek installation may involve a little bit of demolition, but once installed the LED's will provide bright, efficient lighting for years that require no batteries or maintenance. LED thin strip lights also come with energy efficient capabilities of dimming and automatic switch settings similar to battery operated options. LED Rope/Ribbon Lighting LED rope or ribbon lighting provides a similar look and functionality of LED strip lighting. One advantage is that the rope can bend and form longer continuous runs of light. A disadvantage at times is that structural composition underneath cabinets may interrupt a clean installation with rope or ribbon. When calculated per length of cabinet, rope lighting can be more expensive but necessary and essential to some custom kitchen designs. Overall, these three types of under cabinet lighting deliver the same exeptional LED light source to an otherwise desperate place in your kitchen. In addition to energy efficiency and convenience, they offer an essential design aspect to any modern kitchen. Wall switch occupancy sensors can be a great value and convenience in many household and office building applications. It is a staple in even the most complex energy efficient lighting setups and can act alone to boost savings in the simplest applications. Passive infrared occupancy sensors detect motion and will turn lights on and keep them on while motion is present in the room and will automatically turn lights off when motion is not detected for a designated amount of time. These three occupancy sensors can be mounted to in a standard light switch junction box and can be easily installed the same as
a normal light switch as well. In addition to having a hi-tech futuristic look, they will offer a lifetime of savings through daily use. Never leave the lights on again! Leviton PR180 for $16.29 Mount on any wall with 180 degrees of detection. This device will sense motion in a 400 square foot area making it perfect for an energy efficient lighting setup in any room. There are many different styles of wall plates to match any decor. Enerlites WOS15-W for $16.72 Turn lights off or on manually just like a normal light switch. Or set it to Automatic and let it do its magic. The off time during automatic mode can be set from 15 seconds to 30 minutes of inactivity. Maxxima 500 Watt for $19.99 This wall mounted occupancy sensor switch has a built in photocell that detects the presence of natural light and will turn off if enough sun light is present. This added bonus feature will help to cut more money from energy costs. |