# Motion sensor light, but sensor is remote - does this exist?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 7, 2023, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688 "2023-05-07T02:33:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/1 "2023-05-07T02:33:00Z")
Allow me to explain. I am looking for a set-up that would turn on my kitchen light when I open my door(s).
In other words, the sensor can be mounted away from the actual light.
I would have thought that this is something that would be readily available, but my search attempts have brought me no joy.
Any thoughts?
mmm
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/2 "2023-05-07T02:42:02Z")
You mean something like this?
> **[Lutron Maestro Motion Sensor Switch | 2 Amp, Single Pole | MS-OPS2-WH, White -...](https://www.amazon.com/Lutron-Maestro-Required-Single-Pole-MS-OPS2-WH/dp/B005WM3ALC)**
>
> Lutron Maestro Motion Sensor Switch | 2 Amp, Single Pole | MS-OPS2-WH, White - Electrical Outlet Switches - Amazon.com
I think the search term you want is “motion sensor light switch”.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/3 "2023-05-07T02:51:41Z")
Hmm, not sure that would work for my purposes. The light switch is in the kitchen, so the motion would not activate it until I am actually in the kitchen.
I am looking for a system where I can put the sensor near the entry door to the house, so opening the door and entering would turn on the light.
Hopefully this makes sense.
mmm
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/4 "2023-05-07T03:06:25Z")
If it’s just a motion sensor, you want it to still “see” you when you are in the kitchen, otherwise, if you stay in the kitchen too long the light will turn off on you.
Yes, I’ve had bad experiences with motion-sensors controlling lights.
But you can move the light switch to anywhere you can run a wire, like to the other side of the wall the switch is on.
Anyway, yeah, what you want is common. My office has them. My electrician wanted to put one in my utility room instead of running a conduit to put a physical switch next to the door. But do think about how it will work in practice. Being stuck in the dark where the sensor can’t see you is really unpleasant. Ask me about the bathrooms in that office building where the sensor only “saw” you as you entered, and couldn’t “see” you when you were in a stall.
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/5 "2023-05-07T03:07:49Z")
Oh, you can also have a switch physically triggered by opening a door. I’ve seen closet lights that worked that way.
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### Author:  [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/6 "2023-05-07T03:38:47Z")
I have something like that in my laundry room, so it will turn on if I enter carrying a load of laundry and don’t have a free hand to turn on the switch. But I don’t think this is what the OP wants. They want a two-piece unit: one part replaces the light switch and controls the light, and the other is the motion sensor which communicates (presumably wirelessly) with the switch unit. I assume they’d prefer something that doesn’t require pulling new wires through the walls. Googling around, I see some requests for this but haven’t found any actual devices like this.
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### Author:  [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/7 "2023-05-07T03:51:37Z")
You can get wireless motion sensors, which communicate with “smart” bulbs and would probably accomplish what you want, but most likely not without wading into a morass of stuff that thinks it is smarter than you (and a poorly lit morass at that).
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/8 "2023-05-07T11:12:55Z")
The more I think about it…
I guess I do not want the motion detector connected to my main kitchen light. I too have had experience at work with motion lights turning off and requiring a hand-waving dance to reactivate.
A small but bright wireless under-the-counter light - activated by the door opening or a nearby sensor - would be ideal.
I see under-the-counter motion-detected lights on Amazon, but they do not turn on until you are near to them.
mmm
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### Author:  [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/9 "2023-05-07T11:23:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> If it’s just a motion sensor, you want it to still “see” you when you are in the kitchen, otherwise, if you stay in the kitchen too long the light will turn off on you.
You could wire two sensors in parallel, so that if either one senses motion, it powers the kitchen light regardless of whether the other sensor sees anything or not.
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/10 "2023-05-07T12:18:39Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> I see under-the-counter motion-detected lights on Amazon, but they do not turn on until you are near to them.
If you can install ordinary under cabinet lights, and have the switch just outside the kitchen, you could use a motion detector.
If you don’t want to run a lot of new wires, you could get “smart” switches. They currently work in one of about 4 incompatible systems, so do some shopping before you pick one. Many of those systems will talk with Alexa and Google home and such, if you also want voice activation.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/11 "2023-05-07T12:55:19Z")
I guess the writing is on the wall. I need to invent a door-activated light switch.
See you on Shark Tank!
mmm
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### Author:  [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/12 "2023-05-07T13:14:37Z")
Am I missing something?
These are [very common](https://www.amazon.com/EverElectrix-Technology-Hard-Wired-Commercial-Industrial/dp/B0799S31FZ/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=motion%2Bsensor%2Bfor%2Blights&qid=1683464341&sr=8-7&th=1).
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### Author:  [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/13 "2023-05-07T13:26:24Z")
Would a voice or sound activated switch suit your need @Mean_Mr.Mustard ?
I found a variety of such switches, for not a lot of money for some of them, on [amazon](https://www.amazon.com/voice-activated-light-switch/s?k=voice+activated+light+switch).
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### Author:  [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/14 "2023-05-07T13:31:45Z")
[Ta Da!](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lutron-Caseta-Motion-Sensor-Occupancy-Multi-location-Works-with-Alexa-and-the-Google-Assistant-White-PD-OSENS-WH/312479961?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D27-027_002_WIRING_DEVIC-NA-NA-NA-SMART-4035595-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-PL3&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D27-027_002_WIRING_DEVIC-NA-NA-NA-SMART-4035595-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-PL3-71700000093390730-58700007789602690-92700070740570989&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmN2iBhCrARIsAG_G2i4jgdw3ebP3-vRDu5S5L75bD9TxqlgtRdrlMP7VuigV1h37U_YqV9AaAuG4EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) Caseta is super easy to install.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/15 "2023-05-07T13:41:45Z")
Looking for a wireless option.
mmm
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### Author:  [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/16 "2023-05-07T13:44:58Z")
Again, lots and lots of wireless motion sensors.
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### Author:  [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/17 "2023-05-07T14:51:34Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> A small but bright wireless under-the-counter light - activated by the door opening or a nearby sensor - would be ideal.
Why bother to switch it? Why not always-on? With LEDs, the power used is infinitesimal.
I installed LED strips under the kitchen cabinets, and originally had switches on them, but after I realized that I never turned them off, I removed the switches. They’re now on all the time. The light is useful even during the day, and at night they’re helpful night lights for midnight snacks.
Or a small plug-in night light, to provide just enough light to get in and switch on the main light by hand?
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/18 "2023-05-07T15:36:17Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#):
>
> Again, lots and lots of wireless motion sensors.
Maybe I’m blind but I am not seeing what I want: a small but bright wireless under-the-counter light activated by the door opening or a near-to-the-door sensor.
> [@commasense](#):
>
> Why bother to switch it? Why not always-on? With LEDs, the power used is infinitesimal.
This may be an option, but I really do not want them on at all times.
mmm
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/19 "2023-05-07T16:21:26Z")
You could use any under cabinet light that is switched, and replace the switch with a wireless thing that talks to your wireless motion sensor.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-light-but-sensor-is-remote-does-this-exist/983688/20 "2023-05-07T17:00:39Z")
That would work but I cannot find such an animal.
Maybe I just have to figure out the proper search terms.
mmm
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