Landscape Lighting Controller
sft...@hotmail.com
I would like to install an outdoor Motion Detect Floodlight (120V,
150W) with a Timer control such that the floodlight would function only
in the night according to the timer settings.
However, I do not know what is standard or typical way of installing
the timer, and the location of it.
Therefore, I come up with a plan of setting up a new circuit breaker,
wire from breaker to a small "box" hanging in my basement concrete
walls. This box will contain a GFCI outlet, a timer plug into the
outlet, and the timer output wires connect to Floodlight. I thought of
this set up because I could not find any budget timer controller that
allows me to wire to it and out directly. I think of using interior
timer controller (various kinds), and that's why I need to set up a box
with GFCI outlet, and plug the interior timer into the outlet. The
cheapest timer allowing direct wiring cost like $50+ in Lowes!
Now, though this seems logical, but looks a little odd to me. Got a few
questions:
1) How should I hang the "box" in the basement? I am thinking to use
some sort of electrical weather-proof box. Should I hang this box
against a piece of wood panel, then the wood panel against the concrete
wall ?
2) Is there a better or standard set up for timer control ?
Many Thanks in Advance!
Sean
jim.g...@gmail.com
You may be over engineering your solution. Most modern motion
controlled floodlights have a built in photo sensor that detects
whether it is daytime or nighttime.
Additionally, sunrise and sunset change everyday. With a timer,
you'll need to adjust it regularly to correspond with the changes to
day and night. Using one with a built in photo sensor will alleviate
this and other problems associated with using a timer.
-jim
sfton...@hotmail.com
Too bad the motion controlled floodlights of mine do not have photo
sensor. Maybe because I bought it very cheap!
Any idea of the typical household how they have their lighting
controller housed, position and installed ?
Thanks
Sean
rober...@comcast.net
I sell a Leviton 6308 add-on photo-cell transmitter that can be used
with an X10 receiver to enable/disable the lighting circuit. There may
be cheaper solutions out there but this is at least worth considering.
Regards,
Robert L Bass
www.BassBurglarAlarms.com
Charles Sullivan
control and timer. That's probably all you'll need. It can also
be manually turned on/off via X10 power line signals, and can send
X10 signals to control other X10 devices when motion is detected.
(I don't own any of these floodlights myself so can't say how well
they work.)
jim.g...@gmail.com
I'm not on the market for anything like this. The original poster
may be.
-jim
Jeff Volp
news:pan.2005.11.12....@triad.rr.com...
> X10's PR511 motion activated floodlight has integral dawn/dusk
> control and timer. That's probably all you'll need. It can also
> be manually turned on/off via X10 power line signals, and can send
> X10 signals to control other X10 devices when motion is detected.
>
> (I don't own any of these floodlights myself so can't say how well
> they work.)
We've used them at 2 houses. The old one worked perfectly for many years.
But, just before we moved it started coming on randomly any time of the day.
I never did find out the reason why.
We now live in a much warmer climate. The two we have now work well except
for the warmest nights. If they click on during the night we can usually
see a fox or other large animal wandering off.
The only real quirk they have is that they come on multiple times during
lightning storms in sync with particularly bright flashes. Each time they
go off again after the timeout.
The fact that they can also be switched on manually is very convenient.
Jeff