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Learning Center / Solutions / INSTEON & X10
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| Automate Your Bathroom Lights and Fans |
With the high costs of electricity, now more than ever, it makes sense to look at ways to cut consumption and reduce your energy bills. There are many types of devices that can save you money by automatically turning off lights when no one is in the room.
Connect a Timer Switch to Your INSTEON Home Automation System
 The most common rooms needing lighting timers are the basement, garage, and bathrooms. In those rooms, it's very easy just to leave without thinking about the light switch, or in the case of a bathroom exhaust fan, just leave it running. By installing a timer switch, you'll be able to turn a light or fan on and know that it will turn off automatically, even if you forget. Tap the INSTEON SwitchLinc Relay Countdown Timer on, and you'll have five minutes of light. Each additional tap will provide another hour of light. Best of all, if you have an INSTEON lighting network installed in your home, you'll be able to control this switch with any INSTEON-enabled controller. The SwitchLinc V2 Timer will control up to 480 watts incandescent or 13A resistive.
Standalone Timer Switches
 The SwitchLinc V2 Timer functions as a standalone light switch in addition to working with an INSTEON home automation system. But timer switches are also available as standalone-only switches. A popular choice is the Leviton Countdown Timer Switch.
Installing this 600-watt switch is pretty easy, and you don't have to be an  electrician to hook it up. These switches replace your existing mechanical switches. After turning off the power and removing the wall plate, remove the two wires from mechanical switch and attach them to the new Timer Switch. Connect the ground wire in the electrical box to the green wire on the Timer Switch. If you prefer a longer countdown time, try the old-fashioned Spring Wound Wall Switch Timer.
To operate them, simply press one of the buttons and the lights come on. The timer will begin counting down to zero, at which point it turns off the light. Except for a slight "click" sound when turned on or off, the timer is completely silent. Solid-state electronics and high-wattage capacity ensure years of trouble-free service, and each switch is backed by a two-year Leviton warranty.
Motion Sensors With Timers
 If you want to add simple automation to a light, install an in-wall motion sensor. This is an ideal solution for hard-to-reach switches. The Leviton Wall Mounted Occupancy Sensor will detect movement up to 20 feet away with a 150-degree field of view. Once motion is sensed, it turns on up to 500 watts of incandescent (400 watts fluorescent) lighting for a defined period of time. Like the Countdown Timer Switches above, these units also have a countdown timer that will switch off the power after between 15 seconds to 15 minutes (you select the time). In addition, if there is enough light in the room, it won't turn on the lights! If you need a three-way version of the Wall Mounted Occupancy Sensor, order #2523W (white) or 2523I (ivory). It works in place of existing mechanical 3-way switches and will only control up to 500 watts of incandescent lighting.
Just Screw It In, Instead of Screwing It Up
 For the most basic motion-activated option, the Screw-In Motion Sensor Switch goes between the light bulb and the fixture. It has a motion sensor that will turn on the electricity to the light bulb when it sees motion within 15 feet. Four minutes after the motion stops, it turns off the power. This makes a great addition to locations where a fixture does not enclose the light bulb: basements, garages, walk-in closets, and more.
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Last updated: June 13, 2008
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