Changing columbus switches to pir

[Gary111]

Hi, I have a rental property split into 3 flats I'm wondering whether it's worth changing the columbus switches to normal switches and replacing the lamps to led ones with pir sensors ?

As it would be more convenient for tenants.

Thanks

 

[sparkwright]

It may be worth doing, it may not.

Why would you want normal switches if you have led lights with pir sensors?

It would be sensible to blank of the switches so the feeds to the lights are permanently live, and fit led pir lights with EMERGENCY lights built into them.

A key switch could be fit somewhere to test the emergency part of the lights.

No need to run new cables, you 'should' be able to salvage what is there... we hope.

 

[Gary111]

Thanks, it already has emergency lights., it hadn't occurred to me I wouldn't need switches, I did think I could probably use them to override the pir eg when decorating or tenants moving stuff in or out as some pirs allow this.

 

[sparkwright]

You can get pir switches to go on the wall. You may need a neutral wire for them.

How old are your emergency lights?

 

[Gary111]

One is brand new the other maybe 5 yrs old.

Thanks for your help

 

[sparkwright]

Emergency lights, or their batteries at least, regularly need replacing - you may want to consider replacing these while you are at it.

Have you turned the power off lately to test them, to see how long the emergency light will stay on for?

 

[flameport]

How many lights are there, and how much money do you expect to save by having the lights turned on and off all the time?

It may be cheaper just to have LED lights left on all the time, or just on when it's dark.

Switching lamps often reduces their lifespan.

 

[Gary111]

There are just 2 mini fluorescents, the bulbs are quite old I cant remember replacing one in 7 years I've owned it.
I think they are only 18w each, one does seem a but slow to start though.

I am mainky thinking the old system is inconvenient for tenants

It's a dark area so a daylight sensor wouldn't work.

 

[flameport]

Change them to 2x 10W LED lamps, and normal switches.
If they get left on permanently, it will cost about £20 per year in electricity.
Less if they are switched off some of the time.

PIRs, timers and other nonsense will be broken long before any electricity savings cover the cost of them.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Ask the tenants if they'd like the autoswitching PIR stuff? As above, given the low power consumption of modern lamps you could leave them on permanently or have a low light level permanently on & brighter on the pir.

 

[sparkwright]

I would say DON'T ask the tenants.

Nothing to do with them.

Give them an inch, they take a mile.

 

[SUNRAY]

I would say DON'T ask the tenants.

Nothing to do with them.

Give them an inch, they take a mile.

The cost of running PIR's 24/7 is probably more than running lighting when wanted, that happened in an office block to save money but we were soon asked to remove the PIR's.

Depends on the tenants, I've just replaced NSH's, tenant said they never use one and would prefer the space and asked if they could have a panel heater in the bedroom for instant heat only when needed, as it happens it saved me loads.

 

[Gary111]

What are NSH s ?

 

[flameport]

Night Storage Heaters

 

[SUNRAY]

What are NSH s ?

Night storage heaters, comment aimed at 'don't ask tenant'.