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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there is no light bulb that can switch itself off after a set time?

49 replies

Namethatchanges · 20/02/2023 07:09

My son has ASD and just can’t remember to turn the bathroom light off. So he’s up late at night and I just want the sodding light off while we all sleep but it’s on every morning. With the cost of living its winding me up. I was even looking for those buttons like they have in blocks of flats in the stairwell. Where they pop out after a time and the light goes off. Any ideas? It’s getting to me and before anyone says, it’s been years of trying to make it a habit for him - nothing works!

OP posts:
QuietlyConfident · 20/02/2023 08:03

Assuming it's an LED, the extra (say) 8 hours a day that it will be running would cost maybe two quid a year - so not really worth spending more than a fiver on any tech solution. Try putting a brightly coloured sign up on the door?

QuietlyConfident · 20/02/2023 08:04

Certainly not worth spending fifty quid on even a cheap electrician.

FrustratedAndFuming · 20/02/2023 08:04

You can get, on Amazon, "clip on" lights for the toilet bowl itself... as if it were a toilet rim cleaner thingy, but has a bulb in it. A few quid from memory

QueSyrahSyrah · 20/02/2023 08:05

I think it's more in the switch than the bulb, but the lights in our office toilets go out after a set period of time.

Otherwise if you know roughly the latest he's likely to be up, set a smart bulb to switch itself off after that. If anyone else comes along to use the bathroom they just switch it back on and off as normal.

Wynston · 20/02/2023 08:15

I work in a shop that has bulbs.
I am sure phillips do a bulb where the actual bulb has a sensor in it.

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2023 08:20

Namethatchanges · 20/02/2023 07:53

ARGGHH I just realised the bulb is encased in a large opaque cover so bet it won’t be able to motion sense through that.

Mine motion sense through our plastic attic hatch so I reckon you'll better ok

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2023 08:21

www.thelightbulb.co.uk/gls-a60-9w-240v-e27-6500k-sensor-light-led-opus/ we have these in garage, attic, utility and downstairs loo

DRS1970 · 20/02/2023 08:32

Just change the switch to a pneumatic light switch. They turn off after a set period of time. You can normally adjust how long they stay in for.

notlottie · 20/02/2023 08:55

We have Phillips hue and sensors in various different rooms. The hallways have sensors so they come on at night for toilet trips.
I also just bought these to put under the fireplace but I've seen people put them under the bathroom cupboard for night

Akynite Indoor Motion Sensor Light 3 Colours Changing, USB Rechargeable Night Light Magnetic Sticky Light, 0.5W LED Sensor Stair Lights, Wireless Night Light for Cupboard Wardrobe Bathroom, 2 Pack amzn.eu/d/aQeRN7w

Witchymcwitch · 20/02/2023 09:07

We had the same. If the window was left open in the summer the room would fill with moths and bugs!
Bought some Phillips Hue bulbs and motion sensors.
Good for security if you’re away too.

sashh · 20/02/2023 09:16

I have a bulb in the bathroom that has a motion sensor, my problem is guests switching it off. My bathroom is totally inside so you need a light on day or night.

I have a battery powered one in the hall.

£3-4 from Amazon.

Aposterhasnoname · 20/02/2023 09:20

We have hive and our bulbs can work with separate motion sensors. I’m sure there will be others that do the same.

CombatBarbie · 20/02/2023 09:23

All our lights upstairs are motion sensor Ed and go off after 2 mins of no activity. Literally its just a smart bulb connected to alexa and a battery powered sensor in the hallway.

notapizzaeater · 20/02/2023 09:27

We've an Aldi sensor light fitting that goes on with movement and switches off after 5 mins for exactly the same reason 😀

OnaBegonia · 20/02/2023 09:46

Sensor light bulb on Amazon £8, we have them in front and back halls, as the light switches aren't right at door, very good and no need for new fittings etc.

KnottyKnitting · 20/02/2023 10:51

We have smart timer bulbs which work with an app. Perhaps you could try something like this

Applesandcarrots · 20/02/2023 10:56

If it's about light itself, some of the solutions from pps are great.
If it is about cost, pp is right. It's minimal and it would cost you WAY more to get it switch off automatically. Return value probably in decade...

GiltEdges · 20/02/2023 10:58

You just need a smart bulb. They're readily available.

GasPanic · 20/02/2023 11:03

Put a sign on the back of the door saying switch the light off.

mogsrus · 20/02/2023 13:11

The pir sensors offered by Amazon are ok but please read the total information before purchase as some will not work with led lights, only normal or low energy, LED lights are a totally different thing

OldTinHat · 20/02/2023 13:13

I use a Philips Hue light set up with a motion sensor on the landing. The light comes on automatically when sensing movement and you can set how long you want the light to be left on after activation via the app.

VikingLady · 20/02/2023 14:32

We just replaced the bathroom light bulb with an extremely energy saving one and it stays on. Costs pennies per year.

TeresaCrowd · 20/02/2023 14:40

We have motion sensors in all the bathrooms. Get a sparky to wire it in (it's a seperate sensor rather than anything clever in the lightbulb) and then you leave the light switch on all the time (we had ours swapped out to a blanking plate)

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