Leviton PR180-1LW Decora 500W Incandescent, 400VA, Passive Infrared Wall Switch Occupancy Sensor, Single Pole and 3-Way, White
by Leviton
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Leviton PR180-1LW Decora 500W Incandescent, 400VA, Passive Infrared Wall Switch Occupancy Sensor, Single Pole and 3-Way, White
Customer Review: Occupancy Sensor
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought two of these dimmers to use in our powder rooms (1/2 baths). There are small adjustment sliders along the left hand edge of the device, for setting the amount of ambient light below which the device will work (so if you have a window, it won't switch on if it's daylight), and for setting the time delay before the device shuts off automatically (in our case, the fan is on the same switch, so by setting a delay of a few minutes, the fan has a chance to clear the air). After turning the circuit breaker off, I installed the first in a bath with two halogen fixtures, and spent a bit of time with the slider adjustment for time delay. The device will shut off the light if you are not actively moving, so I wanted to make certain that if wouldn't leave folks in the dark. I set it, put back the cove plate, and went on to the next.
The main difference between bath 1 and 2 is the difference in light fixture, where the second is in the cellar and has a ceiling-mount, fluorescent fixture. When I completed the rough installation and put the breaker back on, I discovered that the light would flicker (more like a strobe light in an old disco). I thought perhaps it might be a faulty device, but a few minutes on the web convinced me that the type of fluorescent was the issue, as the fine print in the product spec. says, "Rapid Start Magnetic fluorescent ballast" required.
I would rate this a five, so far, with incandescent (regular filament bulbs or halogen), but useless with (some) fluorescent. Leviton should make the note about which fluorescent a more prominent part of their information. They do make a "commercial grade" sensor switch that does not have the same "Rapid Start..."-only restriction, and that part is Leviton ODS10-ID.
Customer Review: Works But Does Have Flaws !!!!!
Summary: 3 Stars
This produce is great under normal circumstances. I have this installed in a pantry closet, the master closet, and in the laundry room. I would not recommend this for the garage unless you dont mind the lights turning on during the day when the garage is opened. Also, there is a setting for how long it stays on. If you put in a room you stay in for more than a few minutes, it will turn off after the set number of minutes. Mine are all set to 1 minute. However, I am in my closet sometimes for more than a minute and I have to walk back in front of the sensor for it to turn back on. That only happens about 1% of the time. The other 99% of the time it's great not having to worry about turning it on and off.
Here's the big flaw..... If your power goes out and comes back on, you will find that all of the lights connected to motion sensors in your house will be on. They will not turn off until you switch to off, then back to auto. If you go out of town for more than a couple days, it's probably wise to turn it from auto to off just in case your power cycles. (Unless you don't mind having your lights left on until you return).
Customer Review: No florescent bulbs friendly
Summary: 3 Stars
Great idea when you don't want to rely on switches and have a timer set to shut off after you leave the room.
These are the problems I had: 1. No florescent bulb compatible which meant that I had to go buy incandescent bulbs as I have nothing but florescent throughout the house. 2. If you set the sensor to shut off a few seconds or minutes after you leave the room, you find that it shuts off on you if you are standing still in the room. So you better be active or it will shut the light on you. 3. The operation system to set timer is a pain because it is too small and hard to read. You will be spending a lot of time adjusting. So, don't bother to put the face plate on it until you are happy because the settings are under the plate. In my experience it took days before I was happy. The good thing is that you can turn the switch to the ON setting if you need light before it gets dark. Then switch it back to AUTO. I used this product in the kitchen. If you use it the bathroom and you sit still on the toilet, the light will shut on you. I guess all you do is wave at it to bring it back. Good luck
Customer Review: Be careful...
Summary: 4 Stars
This product has a much lower price than some of these switches because it fails to make it clear that it will NOT work with newer compact fluorescent bulbs (you will have horrible quirks if you try it). This can be worked around by adding an incandescent to the circuit this switch controls (if multiple bulbs). If you only have one light on the circuit (like a closet) you will have to just use an incandescent. That being said...
I noticed one reviewer mention if the power flashes off when it comes back on the lights will stay on and you will have to turn each switch on and off. I have not had this issue. When the power goes off and back on, the lights do come on but they go off at the interval you have them set at just as they would if motion had set them off.
I find the sensor on this switch is much better than others I've had experience with (certainly better than the GE). So long as you know upfront about the previously mentioned "catches", you can take advantage and get a good deal on a sensor switch.
Customer Review: Descent Switch, Good Price, Would buy again.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a descent occupancy sensor. The motion sensor works very well. It also has a sensor for light levels. I don't know how well this works because I have mine set to turn on a ventilator so I have it set to come on any time the room is occupied.
The only beef I have with this sensor is the timer. It states anywhere from 15 seconds to 15 minutes but it is very inaccurate. With the unit set on maximum it will keep on anywhere from 3 minutes to 15 minutes. It usually stays on around 15 minutes but at times it just wont last that long which is why I took off a star.
Having said that, unless I find another sensor for close to this price I will be purchasing the exact same occupancy sensor. I'm not willing to shell out another $35 bucks to have a more accurate timer.