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Product Specifications
Part Number MLC2BC
ColorWhite
Wattage75 watts
Item Package Quantity1
Product Features
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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
Light controls that sense light levels, time and even your touch to turn lights On and Off only when needed. They end coming home to a dark house, simulate home occupancy, deter intruders, add convenience and save money. The AmerTac 75-Watt Indoor Motion Activated Light Control automatically turns on when motion is detected. Light your way safely when you arms are full or the light switch is out of reach. The sensor window allows for 360-Degree of rotation. Perfect for garages or outdoor areas - don't walk in the dark looking for the light!
Product Description
This Light Control automatically turns on when motion is detected. Light your way safely when you arms are full or the light switch is out of reach. The sensor window allows for 360-Degree of rotation. Perfect for garages and basements.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
118 of 119 people found the following review helpful
I bought two of these things and they drove me crazy at first. For years I've used BRK Model PIR720 sensors which are *somewhat* similar. The BRK's only work with incandescent bulbs and I've been switching over to Compact Fluorescents (CFLs) with which the Amertac MLC2BC are supposed to work. (Not that it matters a whole lot, since one function of these devices is to turn off the light if you forget) But the main reason I switched to this device is because Home Depot, which is where I happened to go to get more of the BRK devices no longer had them in the store and had the Amertac instead.
I was hesitant at first because the BRK senses in two directions 180 degrees apart, which makes it a good choice in a hallway where you need the light turned on when approaching from either direction. I tried calling the 800 # on the package while in the store to see if they might have a two sensor version and gave up after waiting on hold for a long time. But one of my locations is over the washing machine which is always approached from the same direction so I got the Amertac anyway.
As the other reviewers reported, I did not get the response expected from either of the two units I bought. I tried them in other locations and finally determined, as they did, that they do not work. Figuring that maybe they had a bad production run I returned them, waited a few months and bought another pair. Lo and behold, same issues. Then it dawned on me what was going on. The Amertacs have a feature that is completely NOT MENTIONED in the manual! Unlike the BRK's, the Amertac devices inhibit operation in the event there is already [some] light in the area.
Apparently what they did is to take the sensor from devices such as outdoor floodlight control and package it into a screw in base. In outdoor floodlamp application you don't want the lights coming on every time someone walks by in the daytime, only at night. That is why the Amertac devices sometimes won't come on until you stick your hand right up to the sensor and block ambient light. So they work fine in a fairly dark area like a basement if they're not facing a window in the daytime, for example. In an area like a pantry where there is likely to be light coming in from the kitchen or in the case like the location of my washing machine where there happens to be a window behind me when I stand facing the machine, the Amertac will not activate in the daytime until you wave your hand in front of it to block the light from the window. It is pretty sensitive to ambient light.
What this device needs to be useable in non area-lighting applications is a) to mention in the manual that the thing has both motion and light sensors and b) to include a switch on the thing to disable the light sensor funtionality for applications where it's problematic.
I may open one of the things up to see if the light sensor is separate from the motion sensor, if so it would be a simple matter to disable the light sensor by sticking a piece of opaque black electrical tape over it while leaving the motion sensor uncovered. In the meantime if you want to make sure the light will activate by motion regardless of existing ambient light the BRK PIR720 is the solution.
Note that the BRK720 is actually sold by First Alert, it is on the First Alert web site as well as Amazon. If you want the light to not respond to motion in the event of ambient light the Amertac is better. Regarding the PIR720 I've had a few fail over the years but I also have some that have lasted many years. They cost about the same as the Amertac devices.
The Amertac light inhibit feature can be good. I now have one of the Amertac devices in a ceiling socket above my workbench, at which I work with an articulated work light. The area doesn't get much light coming in the windows. The ceiling light is inhibited by the work light. When I get up to leave and turn off the work light the ceiling light instantly comes on to light my way out of the area. Perfect for that application, I don't need the ceiling light while at the bench.
Sorry for the long review but there are nuances to understand about the Amertac device about which the manual leaves one entirely in the dark!
I give the device three stars because the manual is incomplete. I would give it four stars if the manual were written properly, 5 stars if the device could also be found on the Amertac web site and if they would answer their phone and if they had a two sensor version and if they had a light sensor disable option.
I was hesitant at first because the BRK senses in two directions 180 degrees apart, which makes it a good choice in a hallway where you need the light turned on when approaching from either direction. I tried calling the 800 # on the package while in the store to see if they might have a two sensor version and gave up after waiting on hold for a long time. But one of my locations is over the washing machine which is always approached from the same direction so I got the Amertac anyway.
As the other reviewers reported, I did not get the response expected from either of the two units I bought. I tried them in other locations and finally determined, as they did, that they do not work. Figuring that maybe they had a bad production run I returned them, waited a few months and bought another pair. Lo and behold, same issues. Then it dawned on me what was going on. The Amertacs have a feature that is completely NOT MENTIONED in the manual! Unlike the BRK's, the Amertac devices inhibit operation in the event there is already [some] light in the area.
Apparently what they did is to take the sensor from devices such as outdoor floodlight control and package it into a screw in base. In outdoor floodlamp application you don't want the lights coming on every time someone walks by in the daytime, only at night. That is why the Amertac devices sometimes won't come on until you stick your hand right up to the sensor and block ambient light. So they work fine in a fairly dark area like a basement if they're not facing a window in the daytime, for example. In an area like a pantry where there is likely to be light coming in from the kitchen or in the case like the location of my washing machine where there happens to be a window behind me when I stand facing the machine, the Amertac will not activate in the daytime until you wave your hand in front of it to block the light from the window. It is pretty sensitive to ambient light.
What this device needs to be useable in non area-lighting applications is a) to mention in the manual that the thing has both motion and light sensors and b) to include a switch on the thing to disable the light sensor funtionality for applications where it's problematic.
I may open one of the things up to see if the light sensor is separate from the motion sensor, if so it would be a simple matter to disable the light sensor by sticking a piece of opaque black electrical tape over it while leaving the motion sensor uncovered. In the meantime if you want to make sure the light will activate by motion regardless of existing ambient light the BRK PIR720 is the solution.
Note that the BRK720 is actually sold by First Alert, it is on the First Alert web site as well as Amazon. If you want the light to not respond to motion in the event of ambient light the Amertac is better. Regarding the PIR720 I've had a few fail over the years but I also have some that have lasted many years. They cost about the same as the Amertac devices.
The Amertac light inhibit feature can be good. I now have one of the Amertac devices in a ceiling socket above my workbench, at which I work with an articulated work light. The area doesn't get much light coming in the windows. The ceiling light is inhibited by the work light. When I get up to leave and turn off the work light the ceiling light instantly comes on to light my way out of the area. Perfect for that application, I don't need the ceiling light while at the bench.
Sorry for the long review but there are nuances to understand about the Amertac device about which the manual leaves one entirely in the dark!
I give the device three stars because the manual is incomplete. I would give it four stars if the manual were written properly, 5 stars if the device could also be found on the Amertac web site and if they would answer their phone and if they had a two sensor version and if they had a light sensor disable option.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
I owned 4 of the similar First Alert models which I payed double the price each of this device. I had one of the First Alert models fail in my indoor garage (enclosed but not heated)... tried unscrewing it and screwing it back in, turning it on and off and it would no longer motion sense... dead in the water. This does EXACTLY the same thing for half the price... only difference being it has a 10 minute timer as opposed to the 5 minute timer on the first alert. Go with this one.
UPDATE: Originally gave this 5 stars, changing it down to 1. Had this Amertac model for about one year and same thing happened. Dead in the water. I don't know if it is the cold garage or what (coldest it ever gets is about 30 or so?), but none of these light sensors seem to make it more than a year or so. For the price, definitely NOT acceptable durability. Looking to go back to regular lights, but add some sort of separate Insteon sensor which runs them. Something like that, because BOTH the First alert sensor and this one, seem to fail in an unheated garage. Have had 3 of these fail now. 2 First alerts and one Amertac.
UPDATE: Originally gave this 5 stars, changing it down to 1. Had this Amertac model for about one year and same thing happened. Dead in the water. I don't know if it is the cold garage or what (coldest it ever gets is about 30 or so?), but none of these light sensors seem to make it more than a year or so. For the price, definitely NOT acceptable durability. Looking to go back to regular lights, but add some sort of separate Insteon sensor which runs them. Something like that, because BOTH the First alert sensor and this one, seem to fail in an unheated garage. Have had 3 of these fail now. 2 First alerts and one Amertac.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
I tried the AmerTac MLC2BC in my pantry closet. I could not get it to work at all. I can't tell you if the motion detector works well or not, because the product just didn't do anything. I tried different types of light bulbs, and tried adjusting the position of the motion detector, but no bulb would light up while I was using it. The product appeared to be brand new in good condition, but nothing we did would get it to work, so I sent it back and got a refund. The only good thing I can say is that Amazon paid for the return shipping since the product wouldn't work.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
not long lasting
This gizmo lasted about 6 months in my closet. I payed over $20 for it at local hardware store. I can't afford 20 something dollars every 6 months. Read more
Published 11 days ago by nkelly
Worked great for about 6 months
Purchased this device about 6 months ago. It worked great in my basement for those 6 months, but it no longer turns off. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Bo
Failed after 1 year
I purchased one of these and after getting the detection area set correctly it work fine for about a year. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gene Fowler
Not what I had in mind
This item is great in theory. Not only do you have to line up the motion window toward the direction there will be motion but it seems the design is made to works in light... Read more
Published 2 months ago by buterflygirl775
love it
great , works like a charm. very happy with them. the dog does not trigger them. helpful when my hands are full
Published 2 months ago by robinasq
Only lasted about 3 months
Worked fine for a few months then made a loud noise and sparked one day. In the trash can now! Ordered the First Alert one. Hope it lasts longer.
Published 2 months ago by Mark Apelt
defective
I purchased two of these but so far only one of the units work as it should but even then if the unit is low enough doesn't work in high ceiling
Published 2 months ago by Morris S. Greene
It will NOT sense movement more than 4 feet.
I bought this to place it just outside my front door. It does NOT detect any movement more than 4 feet away. The claims of 30 ft sensitivity are just ridiculous. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bob Sachdev
Basically useless
Tried one of these in a pantry and a closet and it won't trigger in either unless I move my hand within about a foot of the sensor. Read more
Published 4 months ago by A. Ray
amertac
the amertac mlc2bc 75 watt indoor motion activated light control was installed in the carport. it worked great for about two weeks. it quit working and is now trash.
Published 4 months ago by chuckc34
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