Stairwell and hallway lighting. Motion sensors or timers?

Question

I am wondering how other landlords are handling stairwell and hallway lighting. The building I am working on is a three family with 2 stairwells. Each stairwell has three windows and the lights on each landing are connected to a timer. I am considering adding occupancy sensors with a photocell on each landing as leaving the lights on for 10 hours seems like a waste. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Justin VanDervort · Answer

LEDs are crazy cheap and last a tremendous amount of time before needing to be replaced. Leave them on a timer, the motion sensor has a lot of room for error, and they can become quite an annoyance when they get dirty or need recalibration.

Steve Paduchowski · Answer

Thanks to you both.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

A 10-watt LED bulb can run for 10 hours a day for an entire year and cost you about $4. You've probably spent more than $4 just thinking about this issue.

PJ M. · Answer

I'd use LED lights and keep it on a timer. I wonder what they payback time would be for installing and maintaining motion detectors versus the pennies in energy keeping the lights on for 10 hours.

Stairwell and hallway lighting. Motion sensors or timers?

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