Litter Box Area Occupancy Sensor Activated Exhaust Fan

Question: I want to have a motion sensor installed as part of an exhaust fan installation for a closet that houses cat litter or kitty litter boxes.

• I envision that the motion detector
  • which might be located at cat-height level
  • that would turn on the exhaust fan
  • when cat enters closet

Three questions about this Cat Little Box Project:

1. Does this sound doable and workable
2. What motion sensor do you recommend for an exhaust fan
3. How would you wire for it

Thanks very much.

This electrical question came from: Jackie, a Homeowner from

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Jackie.
Jackie, yes this sensor activated exhaust fan for odor control sounds entirely possible. One great thing about electricity is that there are so many sensors and devices available that creating something such as this is possible with just a little imagination.

How To Install an Automated Litter Box Odor Control System

1. Select an occupancy  sensor or motion detector that will detect the size of your cat.
2. Positioning the motion sensor will be the next key factor in order for the cat to be detected.
3. Adjustments for the number of minutes the unit will be activated on and the fine tuning for sensitivity can be easily made.
4.  Wiring the exhaust fan to the motion or occupancy sensor is pretty straight forward because it is very similar to wiring an ordinary light fixture.
5. A power source will be required at the electrical box of the sensor then a cable up to the exhaust fan location.
6. The size and placement of the exhaust fan will be crucial for maximum benefit.
7. If for some reason the occupancy sensor does not perform well enough then a programmable time switch may be installed instead.
8. For best performance there should be a source of fresh air in order to provide optimal air exchange and displacement.
9. Just to be safe, it may be good if the electrical wiring power source was a circuit that is protected by GFCI or AFCI.

The Following links will assist you with your electrical question:

Bath Exhaust Fan

Motion Detector Wiring

Installing Motion Detector Light Fixtures
Installing motion detector lighting fixtures provide security and energy savings and they can easily replace an existing exterior wall fixture.

wiring bath exhaust fans

Installing Your Bath Exhaust Fan
Answers to all of your questions about installing a bath exhaust fan and your bathroom exhaust fan replacement project.