Motion Triggered Bed-to-Bathroom Floor Illumination

If you or your elderly parents belong to those who have to frequent the bathroom by night, and sometimes get disoriented in the dark, this might be worth a try. Like the illuminated floor lane in a smoke filled airplane, the EL wire shows you the way from your bed to the bathroom, triggered as soon as you step out of your bed... (and decent enough not to wake up your partner)

What you need

• https://www.adafruit.com/products/405 (2 x EL wire, 2.5 m, $12)
• https://www.adafruit.com/products/448 (12V inverter, $4.95)
• https://www.adafruit.com/products/352 (12V 5A power supply $25)
• https://www.adafruit.com/products/402 (EL wire splitter, 2$)
• https://www.adafruit.com/products/368 (Screw terminal block 2$)
• http://www.f-tronic.com/produkte_abzweigkasten.php?id=70 (Electronic junction box, $3)
• http://www.amazon.de/Popp-GmbH-Bewegungsmelder-110%C2%B0/dp/B0017VJ43K (Motion sensor triggered switch with adjustable light sensitivity and delay, $38)

Tools

• Pliers
• Some screwdrivers
• MakerBot Thing-o-matic (optional)
• Duct tape

Step 1: Testing the EL Wire

Screw the black/red cable of the inverter to the terminal block. Make sure to connect the red cable to plus (+) and the black to minus (-).

Plug both orange EL wires into the splitter and the splitter into the inverter. Connect the screw terminal block with the power supply.

Plug the cord of the power supply into an outlet. If everything works, the EL wire lights up as shown in the picture and you hear a high pitched sound. This is normal and comes from the inverter.

(If it does not work make sure to unplug the power cord first before you manipulate anything else.)

Step 2: Putting the Inverter Into the Junction Box

Unplug the setup.

Cut holes on both ends of the junction box.

Insert first the screw terminal and then the connector as shown.

Putting the inverter in the box reduces noise and keeps the screw terminal dry (just in case).

Step 3: Connecting the Motion Sensor to the Power Cord

Unlock the screw and push the opposed side to open the base of the motion sensor.

Make sure the power cord is unplugged! Cut it in the middle and prepare he leads as shown.

Pierce a whole into the rubber besides the screw and insert both cut ends.

Connect the big plug (that goes into the outlet) to L (brown wire) and N (blue wire).

Connect the small plug (that goes into the 12V adapter) to LS (brown) and N (blue wire).

You should now have two wires attached to N as shown on the plan and on the picture below.

Close the base of the motion sensor again and screw it in place. Make sure the rubber seal is still in place.

Step 4: Testing the Motion Sensor

The motion sensor acts like a switch between the power outlet and the 12V adapter.

Plug everything together as in step 1, and try to trigger the motion sensor.

The system should work like this (note the timer):

Step 5: Adding a Stand to the Motion Sensor

In order to enable placing the motion sensor close to the floor, it needs some sort of feet or stand.

One way to achieve this is designing a custom add-on with Sketchup and 3D printing it.

Here's my take, feel free to use the files: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:17055

Step 6: Installing the System

Install the EL wire along the walls or under the bed. Take care not to set up a trip wire.

The sensor should be placed such that it's triggered by stepping out of the bed, but not by a low hanging blanket.

That's it! Thanks for reading.