In the last issue, I covered a simple solution for bedside lamp control. In this issue of Frank’s Easy Tech Corner, I will cover a simple solution for nighttime navigation to the bathroom.
Nocturnal Bathroom Visits
This solution deals with the problem of nocturnal bathroom pathway lighting. If someone needs a little guidance taking the actual path to the bathroom on a late-night visit if groggy or has mild cognitive impairment, wouldn’t it be nice if some nightlights directed them to the bathroom?
While battery-operated motion-sensing nightlights are great in that they only operate when it’s dark and can be placed in any needed location, you have to walk into the sensor range to trigger each nightlight.
Another problem with individual motion-sensing nightlights is that they need to be placed close to the bed to be useful when stepping out of bed, making them sensitive to false triggering.
However, when using networked lights, one can be used as a sensor placed under the bed to detect ONLY your feet touching the floor, not random movements while on the bed. That sensor can turn on all the nightlights showing a complete path to the bathroom!
This solution uses battery-operated networked motion lights that are ALL triggered when motion is detected as you get out of bed. This solution provides a guided pathway leading to the bathroom. It also provides a guided pathway back to the bed from the bathroom. And it does all this without an app, hub, Wi-Fi, or Internet connection!
Here is the YouTube video showing it in operation.
Please note that you can use the optional white tape to cover any sensors on motion lights that you need to place close to the bed so that you don’t get false triggering as you toss and turn in bed.
The “sticky dots” provide a means to ensure the lights stay in place while offering easy removal if needed.
Although the path I have shown is very short, I have seen a pathway leading to the bathroom consisting of a right turn, and a left turn, followed by a right turn. You also may find the lighting useful in a long dark hallway to the front door, a garage door, or even a stairway. The great feature here is that you don’t need to step into EACH nightlight sensor’s range to activate it.
Needed devices:
Disclosure: Some of the links below are Amazon affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
· Mr. Beams MBN580 NetBright Technology LED Path and Deck Lights
· Optional- Scotch 35 WHITE Vinyl ELECTRICAL TAPE (May be used to block motion sensor on a light too close to the bed)
· Optional- BUSOHA 350 PCS Double Sided Adhesive Dots (May be used to attach light to baseboard)
Readers: Please provide feedback on which topics are of interest or suggest other topics.
Here is a teaser… An upcoming newsletter will contain a solution for automating the simple lighting solution I showed in the first newsletter. This provides time-of-day lighting for convenience indoors as well as a security measure for outdoor timed lighting.
For those who dislike buying batteries, here is a rechargeable version from Wyze:
https://a.co/d/anIXgtk
If you are a family caregiver who has a family member that wanders in the home at night, you could put a networked motion sensor light near a front and rear door to trigger a networked motion sensor light in your room to let you know they are wandering.