Infrared detector to switch room lights on/off

[Sylvander]

Anyone know anything of such a thing?
Where to get the hardware, and how much?

The idea is that room lights would switch on when the 1st occupant walked into a room [only if it were dark or less than bright?], and off when the last occupant walked out.

[PrntRhd]

Here in the US they are commonly replacement light switches/sensors. They have a button to manually turn on the light included.
We have home improvement stores that carry them.
Sort of like this one:
http://www.espenergy.com/wall_mounted_motion_sensor.htm
This one is using motion and sound sensors, hence a higher price.

another one:
http://www.nextag.com/Leviton-Wall-Mounted-Occupancy-509523785/prices-html?nxtg=54fa0a1c0522-D9DA56F75099937A

Note: Do be careful if you plan to use CFL bulbs or the like, some of those switches dim the lights before turning them off and many CFLs don't take well to that.

[mjc]

Over here in the States, you can get that kind of stuff at just about any hardware or 'home improvement' store...but most of the sensors are designed to be used outdoors. Lighting specialty shops would have a wider selection for use indoors...

Heck, major supermarket chains are starting to install IR sensors on their cooler displays to turn the lights on/off according to people traffic...freaked me out the first time I walked down the frozen food aisle and the lights started going on ahead of me...

[Sylvander]

I found this JQ20 PIR Light Sensor switch (http://shop.eurobatteries.com/product_info.php?cPath=74_75&products_id=1005&osCsid=c7aouffolc5ufe9e3srturm306) supplied by a company with a factory near Bristol, England.

Mind you...
I'm beginning to think of the difficulties in using such as this.
e.g. Most of my lighting in the living room [4 lamps, 2 of which switch on/off by being touched] cannot use something like this, and the ceiling light that would use the switch is seldom used.

Then the switch for the bathroom isn't even inside the room.

Might be ok for the hall and the kitchen.