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We’ve got two doors into the garage and one light switch. So if its dark and we use the back door we need a torch to find our way to the light switch (by the front door). I was going to install a second light switch, but thought it might be easier to replace the switch with a PIR. Has anyone done this and if so does it work and what are the pros and cons?
only problem with a PIR is making sure you have full coverage - any 'blind spots' mean you end up being plunged into darkness mid brake bleed and end up doing the 'make the light work dance' to try and gain its attention.
You don't need to replace the light switch, just install a PIR between the switch and light.
Depending on how your light is wired, the switch might not have neutral anyway, so you'll need to find that first (will be at the light end).
Dead easy to install a PIR, just get an outdoor one from Screwfix, live/neutral go in, live neutral go out. Then leave the switch on. If you fine that people turn the light off, then you can do away with the switch.
Or you could swap the existing light switch with [url= http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=32372&C=Froogle&U=32372&T=Module ]one of these[/url] (leaving the remote near the back door).
only problem with a PIR is making sure you have full coverage - any 'blind spots' mean you end up being plunged into darkness mid brake bleed and end up doing the 'make the light work dance' to try and gain its attention.
That is the advantage of keeping the switch. Most outdoor PIR switches alow you to manualy override the PIR by turning the light on and off quickly (for one - to reset, turn light off, wait and then back on and 20 seconds).
I would install another switch at the other door so they both operate the same light? Its very simple to do