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Vacancy switch vs occupancy switch

Dave Farquhar DIY August 4, 2017August 3, 2017kitchens, occupancy sensor

If you’re wondering about a vacancy switch vs occupancy switch, both types of switches have their uses. The basic difference comes down to whether you want the light to turn on when it senses motion and turn itself off after the last time it senses motion, or only turn itself off after the last time it senses motion.

Dave Farquhar

David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.

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Enerlites HOSS: an occupancy sensor switch without ground

Dave Farquhar DIY, Saving money November 18, 2014July 15, 2017curtains, led bulbs, occupancy sensor, red wire, thermal curtains

The Enerlites Top Greener HOSS is an occupancy sensor switch without ground wire requirements, and it’s pretty cheap too, at $12. A Lutron switch costs almost twice as much.

But the HOSS does come with some compromises. The HOSS does require a neutral (white) wire. But most switch boxes will have the whites in there and accessible, so that’s not a big deal. It’s also a bit trickier to wire than a Lutron, and it doesn’t look as nice.

That said, it’s nice to have an option for older houses that may not have a ground connection available. People in older houses need energy savings too. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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My favorite LED bulbs for 2014

Dave Farquhar Saving money September 28, 2014February 21, 2015CFL, extra money, home depot, led bulbs, occupancy sensor, philips

After talking about LEDs last week, a friend asked what my favorite LED bulbs today are. I’m not sure I would say I dislike any of the bulbs that are widely available today, but I do have two favorites.

Dave Farquhar

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My household’s energy usage dropped 19% in 2011

Dave Farquhar Saving money March 18, 2012February 10, 2019caulk, CFL, costco, curtains, home depot, leaks, led bulbs, occupancy sensor, thermal curtains

I got a letter from my utility company Saturday morning. Inside was a chart, comparing our household’s energy usage from 2010 and 2011. It dropped 19 percent.

Considering our total bill for 2011 was over $900, that’s hardly chump change. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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How computer and energy technology don’t relate

Dave Farquhar Saving money March 4, 20121940s, Bill Gates, CFL, IBM, led bulbs, lumens, occupancy sensor, philips

Bill Gates says the rapid advance of computers created unreasonable expectations for the advancement of energy technology. The argument makes sense. And while desktop computers did advance very quickly, I think people have a misconception of even how quickly computers developed–which makes it worse, of course. Some people seem to believe the computer was invented by IBM and Microsoft in 1981. Far be it from Gates to lead people to believe otherwise, but the direct ancestors of modern desktop computing date to the early 1970s, and the groundwork for even that dates to the 1940s, at the very latest.
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Dave Farquhar

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Review: The Lutron MS-OPS2 occupancy sensor switch

Dave Farquhar Saving money February 19, 2012September 10, 20171950s, 1960s, CFL, curtains, incandescent bulbs, led bulbs, occupancy sensor, thermal curtains

I installed a Lutron occupancy sensor switch this weekend. It detects you entering the room, turns the lights on, then turns them off five minutes after it detects nobody is in the room. The timeout period is adjustable. It comes in four models: MS-OPS2-WH (white), -AL (almond), -LA (light almond), and -IV (ivory) and retails for $29.

Installation was surprisingly easy–it took about 15 minutes, which is about how long it takes me to change a regular switch, and unlike most models in its price range it works with modern CFL and LED lighting, but I recommend some prep work ahead of time. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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