Motion Sensors

Occupancy sensors and vacancy sensors matched to room type and the energy code driving the project, with PIR, ultrasonic, and dual-tech models shipping free on every order. The brand-neutral selection matrix below the products settles technology and mounting style before you filter the grid.

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Occupancy Sensor Selection Guide

Occupancy Sensors vs Vacancy Sensors

Both turn lights off automatically. The difference is how they turn on. An occupancy sensor switches on when it detects entry; a vacancy sensor waits for someone to press the switch, then handles only the off. Codes increasingly favor vacancy mode because auto-on wastes energy on brief pass-throughs and daylight hours when nobody wanted the lights anyway. The practical rule: use vacancy wherever people reliably reach for a switch (private offices, classrooms with projection screens) and occupancy where hands-free operation is the point (restrooms, storage rooms, corridors, loading areas).

Motion Sensor Light Switch or Ceiling Mount?

A motion sensor light switch replaces the existing wall switch in the same box and wires in line with the load. It is the fastest retrofit, needs no controller, and covers the area its lens can see from switch height, typically a few hundred square feet facing the doorway. Furniture, shelving, and door swings all cut holes in that coverage. A ceiling mount sensor sees 360 degrees from above and suits open rooms, restrooms, and any space where the switch location has a poor view. A line-voltage motion detector switch works directly on 120 or 277 volt circuits; low-voltage ceiling sensors wire through a power pack or connect to a lighting control system.

PIR, Ultrasonic, and Dual Technology

PIR (passive infrared) sensors detect body heat moving across their field of view. They need line of sight, ignore HVAC airflow, and are the economical default for enclosed rooms. Ultrasonic sensors flood the room with inaudible sound and read the reflections, so they detect small motions and see around partitions, at the cost of occasional false triggers from air movement. Dual-technology units require both signals to switch on and either one to hold the lights, which is why they own the restroom and open-office use cases where a false-off means someone waving their arms in the dark.

Round out the control package from the same order: Photocells handle daylight-based switching, Wiring Devices cover standard switches and receptacles, and EM Backups keep egress fixtures alive. The full lineup is under Controls and Devices, and for exterior motion-switched floodlighting see Outdoor Security Lights.

Occupancy Sensor Selection by Room Type and Code

The manufacturer pages that rank for this search only show their own catalog. What a spec actually needs is the match between room type, sensing technology, and the energy code driving the project, and that matrix is brand-neutral. Start here, then filter the category by mounting style and voltage.

SpaceTechnologyOccupancy or VacancyWhy
Private officePIR wall switchVacancy (manual on)Title 24 requires occupant sensing in offices 250 sq ft and smaller; manual-on avoids false triggers from hallway traffic
Open officeDual-technology ceiling mountOccupancy, often with partial-off dimmingASHRAE 90.1 automatic shutoff; ceiling coverage clears partitions and monitor arms
RestroomDual-technology ceiling mountOccupancyStalls block PIR line of sight; the ultrasonic side fills the gap
Classroom or conference roomDual-technologyVacancy or partial-onBoth space types are called out in Title 24 130.1(c) and the ASHRAE 90.1 shutoff list
Warehouse aislePIR with aisle lens, high mountOccupancy, dim-to-levelAisle optics read motion from racking-height mounting; dimmed standby keeps travel paths visible
Corridor or stairwellPIROccupancy with dimmed standbyEgress paths usually dim rather than switch fully off

Two citations worth keeping at hand, because electricians and plan reviewers will check. ASHRAE 90.1 Section 9.4.1.1 requires lighting in its listed space types, private offices, classrooms, conference rooms, break rooms, and storage rooms among them, to shut off or drop within 20 minutes of the space emptying. California Title 24 Section 130.1(c) goes further, requiring occupant sensing controls with manual-on or partial-on behavior in offices 250 square feet and smaller, multipurpose rooms under 1,000 square feet, classrooms, and conference rooms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Occupancy Sensors

An occupancy sensor turns lights on automatically when someone enters and off after the space empties. A vacancy sensor only handles the off; a person must press the switch to turn lights on. Vacancy mode saves more energy because lights never auto-fire for pass-through traffic, and several codes, including California Title 24, require manual-on or partial-on behavior in specific room types.

California Title 24 Section 130.1(c) requires occupant sensing controls in offices 250 square feet and smaller, multipurpose rooms under 1,000 square feet, classrooms, and conference rooms, with manual-on or partial-on operation rather than full auto-on. Additional requirements apply in warehouses, corridors, and stairwells. Projects outside California typically follow ASHRAE 90.1 or IECC shutoff requirements instead.

PIR is the economical choice for enclosed rooms where the sensor has a clear view of the whole space. Choose dual-technology anywhere line of sight breaks down: restrooms with stalls, open offices with partitions, or rooms where occupants sit still for long stretches. Dual-tech units need both sensing methods to agree before switching on, which nearly eliminates false-ons without giving up detection reliability.

Yes, but check the minimum load rating. Some older sensor designs needed a minimum wattage to operate, and a single LED fixture can fall below it. Current commercial sensors are rated for LED loads directly; the spec sheet lists the supported load range and type. For dimming control, pair a 0-10V compatible sensor with fixtures that carry 0-10V drivers.

Commercial-grade wall switch sensors are commonly rated 120 to 277 volt, which lets them drop into commercial lighting circuits without a transformer or power pack. Residential-grade units are often 120 volt only. Confirm the voltage rating and the load type (LED, ballast, motor) on the spec sheet before installing on a 277 volt circuit.

Energy codes generally cap the delay at 20 minutes, and that is the safe ceiling for offices and classrooms. Shorter delays save more energy but raise the odds of lights dropping on a still occupant. A common working setup: 10 to 15 minutes in offices, 5 to 10 in restrooms and storage, and dimmed standby rather than full-off in corridors and stairwells.

Low-voltage ceiling sensors do: the power pack converts line voltage, powers the sensor, and switches the load through its relay. Line-voltage ceiling sensors wire directly into the 120 or 277 volt circuit with no separate component. Line-voltage models simplify single-room retrofits; low-voltage systems scale better when several sensors and zones tie into one control scheme.