any californian actually have a motion sensor in the bathroom....

[EdT82SC]

Originally Posted by look 171

Like most people, if you just want general light, that fine. The issues with all of the energy saving lights are that you have no control of bulb angle, can't aim them. For example, in a small bath, we normally install a 15 degree spot light above the sink and another aimed at the wall where a picture or painting will be hung. We narrow the beam just large enough to cover the sink with very little spill over onto the counter. Another flood behind a shower trim just to have some soft light inside the shower. With all the other bulbs, you do not have that choice. You get just light. That's not what most of my clients want. It is all in the design, placement, and the type of lights used that make a room come together nicely. Especially in the bath and kitchen. You want some dark areas in there and light up area where you want attention to be drawn as soon as you walk into the bath. The lighting should be comfortable, bright, but not intense and draw your attention to a certain areas.

If you swap out the big 6" lamps, you might look into the little 4" cans. Halo makes a great HT99 housing that can be use with LED bulb/trim in one. I just think the little 4" cans look much better then the 6" Not as much light output compare to the 6", but do you really need that much in the bath?

Jeff

Thanks, Jeff. I considered that, but by sticking with the 6" cans I don't have to mess with patching the drywall. I'll be swapping out the fluorescent 6" can for the Edison base 6" can so it will be real easy. The Cree lights I am using have the trim built in too just like the Halo you mention. I think both Halo and Cree have a 6" and 4" version.

My wife likes bright light in the bathroom, and pretty much every room for that matter.

[island911]

But at least the motion sense devices are expensive.

We should also have a law that every room will have a flat panel tv. ...for safety, donncha know... for any important messages from our supreme keepers.

[Chuck Moreland]

The motion sensors for interior use required by title 24 are not the type most people are familiar with. They do not turn the lights on - by code requirement they may not turn the lights on.

These devices require you to manually flip a switch to turn the lights on. When no motion is detected for a defined period, they automatically turn the the lights off. By code, they may not contain a manual override to defeat the automatic off feature. The timeout period is adjustable, but may not exceed 30 minutes.

So you are resting peacefully in the tub, on the sofa, or toilet - the lights automatically go off. You can not waive your arms to turn them back on, you have to get up (in the dark) and go to the switch to manually turn them back on.


And before anyone says it's a good thing because it saves energy, that's not the point.

This is the government way overstepping it's bounds. Micromanaging detailed decisions in our lives.

I'm responsible enough to make my own lighting decisions. Really, I am.

If the government can decide what type of lights and switches you must have in your own home, what can't it dictate for you.

[john70t]

Just run an extension cord to a clamp-on light.
That's what faucets are for.

[A930Rocket]

I've read where some have an audio sensor as well. The lights dim before shutting down, but a noise like hand clap resets the lights on.

[Jason Porter]

I use the 10, 20, 30, 60 minute timer switches in both my bathrooms and my wifes closet. Nobody seems to know how to turn those lights off...

[island911]

Originally Posted by Chuck Moreland

The motion sensors for interior use required by title 24 are not the type most people are familiar with. They do not turn the lights on - by code requirement they may not turn the lights on.....

whatchu talkin bout willis

I mean, seriously?

I can't believe anyone would be so ridiculously stupid to implement something so monumentally stupid.

. . . seriously?

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

The light switches in my bathroom have motion sensors built in. After you turn them on and leave, they shut off automatically after a while.

Why not just turn off the lights when you leave the room?

[Evans, Marv]

Well, that's what we do. It's a feature of the switch. I didn't ask for it, the electrician put them in & told me about them later on.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Why not just turn off the lights when you leave the room?

It is a state requirement to have that type of switch in all baths and kitchens remodels or a huge percentage of lighting must be fluorescent (i forget the % needed to be fluorescent). No if or buts.

You are now require to install fluorescent bulbs on all exterior lights, but yard lights. Not yet thankfully.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by island911

whatchu talkin bout willis

I mean, seriously?

I can't believe anyone would be so ridiculously stupid to implement something so monumentally stupid.

. . . seriously?

YOu are in the upper left cost. its coming to you real soon.

[Scuba Steve]

Wow, crazy... this thread reads like something out of The Onion or something. No need for personal freedom or anything, unless it's something that the appropriate government agency has analyzed, routed through committee, rechecked and granted approval for.

The only device like that in a bathroom I'd have any use for is a timer for the fart fan or shower vent so you don't have to come back and shut it off after it's done its job.

[island911]

I am still stunned by Chuck's post.

Originally Posted by Chuck Moreland

The motion sensors for interior use required by title 24 are not the type most people are familiar with. They do not turn the lights on - by code requirement they may not turn the lights on.

These devices require you to manually flip a switch to turn the lights on. When no motion is detected for a defined period, they automatically turn the the lights off. By code, they may not contain a manual override to defeat the automatic off feature. The timeout period is adjustable, but may not exceed 30 minutes.

So you are resting peacefully in the tub, on the sofa, or toilet - the lights automatically go off. You can not waive your arms to turn them back on, you have to get up (in the dark) and go to the switch to manually turn them back on.


And before anyone says it's a good thing because it saves energy, that's not the point.

This is the government way overstepping it's bounds. Micromanaging detailed decisions in our lives.

I'm responsible enough to make my own lighting decisions. Really, I am.

If the government can decide what type of lights and switches you must have in your own home, what can't it dictate for you.

is this progress?

[romad]

California blows in so many ways and levels.

[Burnin' oil]

In a time when public services are being cut to the bone, it is my civic duty to avoid further burdening the system by unnecessarily involving public resources in my private projects.

Or, to put it another way, if the County doesn't have the resources to provide patrol deputies in my area, it sure as hell doesn't have the resources to micromanage what I do with my property.

[look 171]

trees huggers thinks its progress because they don't have to pay for it. Many home owners are upset over this little switch. Right after final inspection,we usually change that out to a normal toggle switch like any normal human would have done. The past two jobs, we install a large fluorescent light to get past final inspection. Once that's done, we go in and install our little low voltage recess lights patch and repaint. Cost people a lot more unnecessary money. We are doing the same thing now for a client.

Just so you know, they are coming to your bed room. In there, you must install a Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) outlet. Beside fire alarms in the hall way and bedrooms, does your state require the installation of a carbon monoxide detectors?

Jeff

[look 171]

In some of these depress God awful older areas, the city has decided they should be historic districts. Instead of allowing the owners to install energy efficient window, they will not approve it unless it was similar or same as the original home. These poor people could not afford to put in custom size wood windows. So they just leave the old leaky window and crank the heat or AC up. It makes no sense.

[vash]

i installed the switch. i have been keeping my inspector(s) happy, and i am going to stay the course.

the switch was $30, and it works decent. i kept my toggle off to the side, and will determine if i switch it out after final inspection. but it works pretty good. i click the button and everything lights up. about 10 mins later, i hear the lights click off.

i got a permit to do my bathroom because my next door neighbor tried to add 600sq feet to his home illegally. they get RANDOM surprise inspections. my odds of getting busted were 100%. i did get checked, and i breathed a collective sigh of relief when i handed him the paperwork. he left without a word. probably to go and hassle the fool next door.

get this, i think the neighbors' contractor reported my work to the city. what a mofo.

sheetrock will be done after i get off of work today. then one more inspection, and i can do the rest and get FINAL. my bathroom is gonna be submergable to 10 feet. i am making it tight!!

[vash]

the inspectors and city is totally effen with my neighbor. i just got word that they now have to tear out their existing room and add a window. when they add the window, they will need to make sure it meets SHEAR wall requirements. the way they attached the new addition to the existing buiding, i am not sure if they made it solid enough to call the new room the shear wall. i dont think so.

then they will need to anchor their existing walls, sheet it..call for inspection for the epoxy anchors..yada yada yada.

if i didnt think they called inspection on me, i could do the calcs and design for them (and stamp the plans)..but i am not touching this one at all..no thanks.

[cstreit]

I think I'm going to start hoarding 100W incandescents. I think if I fill up my shed with them, I can retire in 10 years after they're all gone.