MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Bit random I know, but we’ve just had a new bathroom mirror installed with a built in LED. The light is controlled by an IR sensor on the side of the unit and the guy who installed it didn’t RTM so it’s too close to the wall for it to work. I’ve found a bodge by using a mirror angled up slightly to extend the beam (I think) but wondered if there were any other suggestions, would quite like to just using a hand like you’re supposed to! We can’t move the unit now.
Cheers
We have 2 mirrors like this and just run our hand over the sensor area at the side. Hadn’t considered a distance was needed for it to work.
I’m struggling to work out why it needs distance to work and can’t sense your hand at a close range.
Going to go play with my mirrors!
Get the guy who installed it to come back and do it correctly?
Yeah I don’t know why there is a certain distance needed either but it’s definitely a thing!
Moving it would mean moving the sink unit as well which we aren’t / can’t do.
If I understand the layout you have described, then could you mount something like this to the side of the cabinet next to the sensor, (but trimmed down to just above the hinge) and angled at 45deg over the sensor to allow it to be activated from the front of the cabinet?
Hmm yes perhaps could try that but I don’t want anything sticking out.
I’m now wondering if a convex/concave lense over the sensor will help.. I may also be talking b*llox 🙂
Swap the mirror for one with the sensor in a different position (ours has the sensor on the bottom). Then sell the original on Facebook Marketplace to minimise your losses.
Can you open up the mirror and move the sensor? Drill new hole in a different location?
Is the supply to the mirror switched elsewhere?
Our mirror, light and extractor switches are all outside the en suite so the mirror is just switched on all the time {at the mirrors and then we use the switch in the bedroom to switch it on and off if we need it.
(It's not the only light source)
Sensor looks to be all built in. And the wiring for it is also enclosed, no switches its permanently on
I've got a couple of brand new Pebble Grey led light, demister, shaver socket mirrors for sale on FB. Never been used, still in all original packaging. 600 x 800mm. If you can't get yours sorted happy to sell a replacement cheap.
I've got three of these mirrors up in my house and no issue with distance for sensor, just wave hand and light goes on.
Further to my above suggestion, I really couldn't live with a botched fix using some mirror contraption and really would have to get a suitable replacement (although the suggestion to open it up and move it surely must be a flyer too).
Remove the IR sensor and install a Raspberry Pi with Google Assistant for voice control of the light.
Those things aren't very reliable anyway IME, I'd be surprised if it being close to a wall makes much difference? Ours has the sensor at the bottom. Sometimes it works, sometimes it triggers twice and turns on/off. Not great.
I've had it apart a few times to check connections and replace the LED driver that failed. They're pretty simple inside.
If the mirror was moved / rotated would there be enough clearance for the sensor to work anyway?
We have a Pebble Grey and it says it needs 10 or 15cm gap between sensor and any walls, I'm not sure it needs this but without that space there's no guarantee it will work. So would you be better off with a rocker switch instead?
Take the mirror off the wall, open up the back, move the sensor to the bottom (you might need to extend the wiring to the sensor a bit and make another hole in the bottom). They're really not complicated inside.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it triggers twice and turns on/off. Not great.
I find that only happens if I stick my hand under and wave a bit as opposed to a proper swipe from left to right (or vice versa).
So the sensor looks to be sealed and hidden in the side of the mirror so moving it won't be easy.
New mirror or mirror near sensor bodge look like the options!
Thanks for suggestions
So the sensor looks to be sealed and hidden in the side of the mirror
Have you looked from the inside of the mirror, or just the outside? They're often much simpler than they look once you open them up.
They’re really not complicated inside.
This. I bought a couple with light/demister/shaver socket and rewired completely (lights and demister separately controlled by smarthome system. All the bits in there are wired together in a very obvious way