ECOELER Motion Sensor Dimmer Light Switch, in-Wall Electronic Dimmer with PIR Infrared Motion Activated, Occupancy & Vacancy Modes, Single Pole for CFL/LED Bulb, Wall Plate Included, White

Why I installed a motion-sensing dimmer (and where it makes sense)

Carrying a laundry basket into a dark room, fumbling for a switch, and then forgetting to turn the lights off later is a familiar routine. That’s exactly the problem I set out to solve with the ECOELER motion sensor dimmer switch. I started by installing it in a laundry room and a garage entry, then added another to a hallway. The promise is simple: pair a reliable PIR motion sensor with a fully functional in‑wall dimmer so lights come on when you need them and go off when you don’t—all while letting you set the right brightness.

This switch is a single‑pole, in‑wall dimmer with occupancy (auto on/auto off) and vacancy (manual on/auto off) modes, an ambient light sensor with multiple thresholds, and adjustable timeouts from 15 seconds to 30 minutes. It supports dimmable LEDs/CFLs up to 150W and incandescent/halogen up to 300W. It does require a neutral wire and isn’t designed for 3‑way circuits. If that fits your electrical setup, the blend of convenience and energy savings is compelling.

Installation: straightforward if you have a neutral

The unit is Decora‑style and takes a single gang position. The wall plate is included and matches the look of standard white devices. Wiring is conventional for a smart or sensor dimmer: line, load, neutral, and ground. If your switch box doesn’t have a neutral, you’ll need to run one or choose a different product—there’s no workaround that’s code‑compliant.

Depth is similar to other electronic dimmers; it fit fine in my standard plastic and metal boxes, though crowded boxes with multiple splices might require a bit of wire management. The terminals are clearly labeled. Once powered, there’s a very handy 15‑second “test” delay option that makes it easy to confirm coverage before you button everything up.

Programming is done from a hidden control panel: pull off the paddle cover (it’s snug but accessible with a fingernail) and you’ll find simple menu/select buttons and indicator LEDs for each setting. No cryptic DIP switches to decipher. It took me a couple of minutes to set occupancy vs. vacancy, choose a timeout, and set the ambient light behavior.

Motion sensing performance: strong laterally, typical PIR quirks

This is a classic PIR sensor, and it behaves like one. It’s excellent at detecting side‑to‑side movement across its field of view; it’s less sensitive to slow, straight‑on movement toward the switch. In my hallway and laundry room (both narrow and with cross‑traffic), it fired reliably as I walked past. In the garage entry, where movement can be directly toward the switch, I needed to tweak sensitivity to “High” and mount it where it would catch lateral motion from arm swings and torso movement.

• Sensitivity settings: Low, Medium, High. I left hallways and the laundry on Medium; the garage favored High.
• Adjustable timeout: 15 s (test), 1 min, 5 min, 15 min, 30 min. Spaces where I linger at a desk or bench got 15–30 minutes; transit areas stayed at 1–5 minutes.
• Indicator LED: a small green blink on detected motion. It’s useful feedback during setup to confirm range and line of sight.

False offs are the main concern with any motion switch. With a 15‑minute timeout in a home office, I didn’t experience premature shutoffs while typing, but with shorter delays you’ll want to ensure the switch has a clear view of your upper body. If you plan to install it in a restroom or study, position it to see lateral motion, and use the longer delays when people might be still for stretches.

Ambient light sensor: smarter auto‑on

You can choose “Day,” “Dim,” or “Dark,” which determines under what ambient light the switch will turn lights on automatically. In practice:

• Day: Always turns on with motion (I used this in the garage).
• Dim: Turns on only when the room light is modest (great for spaces with windows).
• Dark: Only turns on when it’s genuinely dark (I used this in a hallway with skylight).

This is a real power saver in rooms that get daylight. At dusk, my hallway light came on consistently with motion; at noon with sun spilling in, it stayed off. The thresholds felt sensible out of the box, and I didn’t need to calibrate anything.

Dimming: smooth, quiet, and adjustable minimum

As a dimmer, the switch is quite capable. Two small up/down buttons on the face let you change brightness on the fly. Behind the paddle, there’s a “trim” adjustment so you can set the minimum brightness your particular LED bulbs will tolerate without flicker. That’s essential, because different LED drivers have different low‑end behaviors.

• With a set of dimmable LED cans, I could run them very low without shimmer after setting the minimum.
• With a pendant using a dimmable LED filament lamp, the low end needed a nudge up to avoid a faint flutter—once adjusted, it was stable.
• Incandescent loads dim linearly and silently as expected.

The dimming curve is smooth and MCU‑controlled; I didn’t hear any buzzing from the switch or lamps during operation. Brightness levels are remembered between off/on cycles, and the switch retains its settings after a power outage.

Occupancy vs. vacancy: pick the right mode per room

• Occupancy mode (auto on, auto off): perfect for garages, closets, pantries, hallways—anywhere you rarely want to touch a switch.
• Vacancy mode (manual on, auto off): ideal for bedrooms and media rooms. The light won’t pop on if you move at night, but it still turns off automatically after you leave.

I split my installs by room: occupancy for the garage and laundry; vacancy for a guest room to prevent unwanted night‑time triggers.

Everyday usability and build

The paddle action is crisp, and the front‑facing dim buttons are intuitive for guests. The hidden configuration almost eliminates accidental changes, and there’s no need for a separate remote or app. The housing is rigid thermoplastic with a clean finish; it blends in with other white decorator devices. The included wall plate is a nice touch if you’re matching a single device.

The switch stayed cool in use and didn’t exhibit nuisance triggers from HVAC vents or sunbeams in my tests. It’s quiet—no relay clicks during occupancy changes.

Where it shines

• Hands‑free spaces: laundry rooms, mudrooms, garages, basements, utility closets.
• Mixed‑light rooms: hallways with windows, where the “Dim/Dark” modes prevent unnecessary daytime lighting.
• Energy discipline: families that leave lights on will see immediate wins with the auto‑off and ambient‑aware auto‑on.

Limitations and quirks

• Neutral required: If your box has only line, load, and ground, you’ll need an electrician to pull a neutral.
• Single pole only: It won’t work on a 3‑way circuit without reconfiguring the circuit to single‑pole control.
• PIR geometry: Like all PIR sensors, it’s less responsive to slow, straight‑on movement. Placement and sensitivity tuning matter.
• Not a smart switch: No Wi‑Fi, no app, no voice assistants. That’s a plus for simplicity and reliability, but it won’t fit into a home automation scene without external controls.
• Lighting loads only: It’s a dimmer, so don’t use it on fans or non‑dimmable loads.

Tips for a better install

• Aim for lateral coverage: Mount where typical motion cuts across the sensor’s view.
• Use the 15‑second test mode: Walk the room to verify coverage before you close the wall plate.
• Set a realistic timeout: Offices and bathrooms do better at 15+ minutes; hallways can be 1–5 minutes.
• Trim your low end: Spend a minute setting the minimum dim level to avoid flicker with your specific bulbs.
• Match bulb types: Stick to dimmable LEDs/CFLs within the wattage limits, or incandescent/halogen up to 300W.

The bottom line

The ECOELER motion sensor dimmer nails the basics: reliable motion activation, sensible ambient‑light behavior, and smooth, adjustable dimming in a single in‑wall package. It’s simple to install if you have a neutral, easy to configure without an app, and adaptable to a wide range of rooms through occupancy/vacancy and timeout settings. The PIR sensor behaves as expected—excellent lateral detection, merely decent head‑on detection—so thoughtful placement pays off.

Would I recommend it? Yes. If you need hands‑free lighting with real dimming control, and your circuit is single‑pole with a neutral available, this switch is a strong value. It reduces wasted energy, improves everyday convenience, and gives you fine‑grained control without the complexity of a smart home system. For multi‑way circuits or deep smart‑home integrations, you’ll want a different category of device. For everything else, this switch earns a spot on the wall.