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Any way to improve a floodlight's PIR range?
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D. Dalton
Nov 6, 2011, 4:25:48 PM11/6/11
to
I've fixed a 500w floodlight to the wall of my house. Unfortunately the
effective range of the PIR movement sensor is not quite enough. Its
effective range seems to be about 7 metres and I need it to be at least
10M. Is there anyway I can increase the range of the sensor?
TIA
D. Dalton
John Rumm
Nov 6, 2011, 7:17:31 PM11/6/11
to
the currently uncovered area.
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=2_Way_Switching#Two_way_switching_with_PIRs
--
Cheers,
John.
/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/
Andrew Gabriel
Nov 7, 2011, 6:42:35 AM11/7/11
to
In article <S5-dnTYlV6w1virT...@brightview.co.uk>,
ideal light height is completely different from the ideal PIR height.
If the PIR can be angled separately from the light, you could try
angling the PIR up, but you will probably lose nearby coverage.
Ideally, the PIR wants to be much lower than a 500W floodlamp,
something like 8-10 feet for the PIR, 30 feet for the 500W floodlamp.
500W floodlamps are almost always incorrectly installed much too low down
on homes, where what should have been used are several much lower power
lights. If you use a floodlamp, it should be angled to prevent any light
being emitted horizontally or upwards, i.e. always pointing down.
Ideally, the mounting height should be about the same as the intended
beam spread, but certainly no less than half this. Don't allow light to
spill on to someone else's land or property without their permission.
Don't allow light to spill onto a public path/roadway without ensuring
there's no glare, i.e. the light bulb itself can't be seen by users of
the path/road, and the lighting level isn't too high, either of which
could temporarily destroy the road users' night vision.
--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]
John Rumm <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> writes:
> On 06/11/2011 21:25, D. Dalton wrote:
>> I've fixed a 500w floodlight to the wall of my house. Unfortunately the
>> effective range of the PIR movement sensor is not quite enough. Its
>> effective range seems to be about 7 metres and I need it to be at least
>> 10M. Is there anyway I can increase the range of the sensor?
>
> Stick another standalone PIR sensor further away from the light to cover
> the currently uncovered area.
>
> http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=2_Way_Switching#Two_way_switching_with_PIRs
This sort of light combined with a PIR is a compromise, because the
> On 06/11/2011 21:25, D. Dalton wrote:
>> I've fixed a 500w floodlight to the wall of my house. Unfortunately the
>> effective range of the PIR movement sensor is not quite enough. Its
>> effective range seems to be about 7 metres and I need it to be at least
>> 10M. Is there anyway I can increase the range of the sensor?
>
> Stick another standalone PIR sensor further away from the light to cover
> the currently uncovered area.
>
> http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=2_Way_Switching#Two_way_switching_with_PIRs
ideal light height is completely different from the ideal PIR height.
If the PIR can be angled separately from the light, you could try
angling the PIR up, but you will probably lose nearby coverage.
Ideally, the PIR wants to be much lower than a 500W floodlamp,
something like 8-10 feet for the PIR, 30 feet for the 500W floodlamp.
500W floodlamps are almost always incorrectly installed much too low down
on homes, where what should have been used are several much lower power
lights. If you use a floodlamp, it should be angled to prevent any light
being emitted horizontally or upwards, i.e. always pointing down.
Ideally, the mounting height should be about the same as the intended
beam spread, but certainly no less than half this. Don't allow light to
spill on to someone else's land or property without their permission.
Don't allow light to spill onto a public path/roadway without ensuring
there's no glare, i.e. the light bulb itself can't be seen by users of
the path/road, and the lighting level isn't too high, either of which
could temporarily destroy the road users' night vision.
--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]
NT
Nov 7, 2011, 8:02:14 AM11/7/11
to
On Nov 7, 11:42 am, and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk (Andrew Gabriel)
wrote:
> In article <S5-dnTYlV6w1virTnZ2dnUVZ8smdn...@brightview.co.uk>,
That sounds like a good start for an outdor lighting article on the
wiki. Fancy putting it on there?
NT
wrote:
> In article <S5-dnTYlV6w1virTnZ2dnUVZ8smdn...@brightview.co.uk>,
> John Rumm <see.my.signat...@nowhere.null> writes:
>
> > On 06/11/2011 21:25, D. Dalton wrote:
> >> I've fixed a 500w floodlight to the wall of my house. Unfortunately the
> >> effective range of the PIR movement sensor is not quite enough. Its
> >> effective range seems to be about 7 metres and I need it to be at least
> >> 10M. Is there anyway I can increase the range of the sensor?
>
> > Stick another standalone PIR sensor further away from the light to cover
> > the currently uncovered area.
>
> >http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=2_Way_Switching#Two_way_swi...
>
> > On 06/11/2011 21:25, D. Dalton wrote:
> >> I've fixed a 500w floodlight to the wall of my house. Unfortunately the
> >> effective range of the PIR movement sensor is not quite enough. Its
> >> effective range seems to be about 7 metres and I need it to be at least
> >> 10M. Is there anyway I can increase the range of the sensor?
>
> > Stick another standalone PIR sensor further away from the light to cover
> > the currently uncovered area.
>
>
> This sort of light combined with a PIR is a compromise, because the
> ideal light height is completely different from the ideal PIR height.
> If the PIR can be angled separately from the light, you could try
> angling the PIR up, but you will probably lose nearby coverage.
> Ideally, the PIR wants to be much lower than a 500W floodlamp,
> something like 8-10 feet for the PIR, 30 feet for the 500W floodlamp.
>
> 500W floodlamps are almost always incorrectly installed much too low down
> on homes, where what should have been used are several much lower power
> lights. If you use a floodlamp, it should be angled to prevent any light
> being emitted horizontally or upwards, i.e. always pointing down.
> Ideally, the mounting height should be about the same as the intended
> beam spread, but certainly no less than half this. Don't allow light to
> spill on to someone else's land or property without their permission.
> Don't allow light to spill onto a public path/roadway without ensuring
> there's no glare, i.e. the light bulb itself can't be seen by users of
> the path/road, and the lighting level isn't too high, either of which
> could temporarily destroy the road users' night vision.
+1
> This sort of light combined with a PIR is a compromise, because the
> ideal light height is completely different from the ideal PIR height.
> If the PIR can be angled separately from the light, you could try
> angling the PIR up, but you will probably lose nearby coverage.
> Ideally, the PIR wants to be much lower than a 500W floodlamp,
> something like 8-10 feet for the PIR, 30 feet for the 500W floodlamp.
>
> 500W floodlamps are almost always incorrectly installed much too low down
> on homes, where what should have been used are several much lower power
> lights. If you use a floodlamp, it should be angled to prevent any light
> being emitted horizontally or upwards, i.e. always pointing down.
> Ideally, the mounting height should be about the same as the intended
> beam spread, but certainly no less than half this. Don't allow light to
> spill on to someone else's land or property without their permission.
> Don't allow light to spill onto a public path/roadway without ensuring
> there's no glare, i.e. the light bulb itself can't be seen by users of
> the path/road, and the lighting level isn't too high, either of which
> could temporarily destroy the road users' night vision.
That sounds like a good start for an outdor lighting article on the
wiki. Fancy putting it on there?
NT
here@home.com DerbyBoy
Nov 7, 2011, 10:32:45 AM11/7/11
to
500W floodlamps are almost always incorrectly installed much too low down
on homes, where what should have been used are several much lower power
lights. If you use a floodlamp, it should be angled to prevent any light
being emitted horizontally or upwards, i.e. always pointing down.
Ideally, the mounting height should be about the same as the intended
beam spread, but certainly no less than half this. Don't allow light to
spill on to someone else's land or property without their permission.
Don't allow light to spill onto a public path/roadway without ensuring
there's no glare, i.e. the light bulb itself can't be seen by users of
the path/road, and the lighting level isn't too high, either of which
could temporarily destroy the road users' night vision.
--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]
travel". Then they remain set like that until they eventually fall off the
wall.
Dave Liquorice
Nov 7, 2011, 11:54:45 AM11/7/11
to
On Mon, 7 Nov 2011 15:32:45 -0000, DerbyBoy wrote:
> Most installers seem to favour the theory of " Look how far the light
> will travel".
There is a farm the other side of the valley that has a couple of
> Most installers seem to favour the theory of " Look how far the light
> will travel".
high pressure sodium (or something) lights that send enough light in
our direction to read by! This farm is 3/4 of a mile away and 260'
lower.
--
Cheers
Dave.
Andrew Gabriel
Nov 7, 2011, 4:07:24 PM11/7/11
to
In article <1e638f3b-55b5-49d1...@k38g2000pro.googlegroups.com>,
Yes, I should have some time later in the week.
Tim Lamb
Nov 7, 2011, 5:02:16 PM11/7/11
to
In message <j99hac$vh2$1...@dont-email.me>, Andrew Gabriel
<and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk> writes
Low mounting has already been mentioned but a serious fault of the
standard *close coupled* low wattage fitting is that the PIR unit swivel
adjustment is quite limited. If the lamp is angled down to restrict the
light spread, the PIR cannot be raised enough to give the expected
range.
150 Watts is adequate to illuminate a 20m x 20m yard.
Installers should consider boiler flues and wind blown vegetation as
well as returning after dark to check the operation.
regards
>
--
Tim Lamb
<and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk> writes
standard *close coupled* low wattage fitting is that the PIR unit swivel
adjustment is quite limited. If the lamp is angled down to restrict the
light spread, the PIR cannot be raised enough to give the expected
range.
150 Watts is adequate to illuminate a 20m x 20m yard.
Installers should consider boiler flues and wind blown vegetation as
well as returning after dark to check the operation.
regards
>
--
Tim Lamb
Lyndsay Williams
Nov 8, 2011, 1:33:11 AM11/8/11
to
On Nov 7, 10:02 pm, Tim Lamb <t...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <j99hac$vh...@dont-email.me>, Andrew Gabriel
> <and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk> writes
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >In article <1e638f3b-55b5-49d1-8b15-bceecb3b5...@k38g2000pro.googlegroups.com>,
Not sure if will work with PIRs, but I needed to change the direction
and range of some thermopiles. I used aluminium foil as a reflector.
Lyndsay
http://www.sensecam.co.uk
> In message <j99hac$vh...@dont-email.me>, Andrew Gabriel
> <and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk> writes
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >In article <1e638f3b-55b5-49d1-8b15-bceecb3b5...@k38g2000pro.googlegroups.com>,
and range of some thermopiles. I used aluminium foil as a reflector.
Lyndsay
http://www.sensecam.co.uk
NT
Nov 8, 2011, 6:33:35 AM11/8/11
to
> Not sure if will work with PIRs, but I needed to change the direction
> and range of some thermopiles. I used aluminium foil as a reflector.
> Lyndsayhttp://www.sensecam.co.uk
No harm in trying it. I wouldnt be confident though, due to the way
> and range of some thermopiles. I used aluminium foil as a reflector.
> Lyndsayhttp://www.sensecam.co.uk
the lenses work on PIRs, it might reduce the range.
NT
Ian
Nov 10, 2011, 4:35:34 PM11/10/11
to
"D. Dalton" <dld...@nafx.me> wrote in message
news:9hocas...@mid.individual.net...
which will allow the actual lamps to be as far away as you like.
D. Dalton
Nov 10, 2011, 5:48:59 PM11/10/11
to
"Ian" <i...@henden.co.uk> wrote in
news:KY2dnRzbRY013iHT...@brightview.com:
I think that might be my best option - thanks... (if I can figure out how
to do it). What would probably be most suitable would be a battery-powered
PIR sensor to that sends a wireless signal to the floodlight's switching
device. That's because it's not very practical to have wires going to the
PIR, if I place it close to the target area.I have not been able to locate
such an item, but I'll keep looking...
DD
news:KY2dnRzbRY013iHT...@brightview.com:
to do it). What would probably be most suitable would be a battery-powered
PIR sensor to that sends a wireless signal to the floodlight's switching
device. That's because it's not very practical to have wires going to the
PIR, if I place it close to the target area.I have not been able to locate
such an item, but I'll keep looking...
DD
NT
Nov 10, 2011, 8:29:47 PM11/10/11
to
On Nov 10, 10:48 pm, "D. Dalton" <dld...@nafx.me> wrote:
> "Ian" <i...@henden.co.uk> wrote innews:KY2dnRzbRY013iHT...@brightview.com:
couple of other options mentioned
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Outdoor_lighting
NT
> "Ian" <i...@henden.co.uk> wrote innews:KY2dnRzbRY013iHT...@brightview.com:
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Outdoor_lighting
NT
John Rumm
Nov 11, 2011, 11:18:20 AM11/11/11
to
On 10/11/2011 22:48, D. Dalton wrote:
> "Ian"<i...@henden.co.uk> wrote in
> news:KY2dnRzbRY013iHT...@brightview.com:
>
>>
>> "D. Dalton"<dld...@nafx.me> wrote in message
>> news:9hocas...@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>> I've fixed a 500w floodlight to the wall of my house. Unfortunately
>>> the effective range of the PIR movement sensor is not quite enough.
>>> Its effective range seems to be about 7 metres and I need it to be at
>>> least 10M. Is there anyway I can increase the range of the sensor?
>>>
>> Put the PIR assembly near the target area, use the PIR to control a
>> relay which will allow the actual lamps to be as far away as you like.
>
>
> I think that might be my best option - thanks... (if I can figure out how
> to do it). What would probably be most suitable would be a battery-powered
Standalone PIRs already include the relay... (I posted a diagram of how
> "Ian"<i...@henden.co.uk> wrote in
> news:KY2dnRzbRY013iHT...@brightview.com:
>
>>
>> "D. Dalton"<dld...@nafx.me> wrote in message
>> news:9hocas...@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>> I've fixed a 500w floodlight to the wall of my house. Unfortunately
>>> the effective range of the PIR movement sensor is not quite enough.
>>> Its effective range seems to be about 7 metres and I need it to be at
>>> least 10M. Is there anyway I can increase the range of the sensor?
>>>
>> Put the PIR assembly near the target area, use the PIR to control a
>> relay which will allow the actual lamps to be as far away as you like.
>
>
> I think that might be my best option - thanks... (if I can figure out how
> to do it). What would probably be most suitable would be a battery-powered
its wired a few posts back).
> PIR sensor to that sends a wireless signal to the floodlight's switching
> device. That's because it's not very practical to have wires going to the
> PIR, if I place it close to the target area.I have not been able to locate
> such an item, but I'll keep looking...
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_External_Index/Lighting_Floodlight_Index/Security_Lighting_Index/Spectra_Wireless_Pir/index.html
or
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_External_Index/Lighting_Floodlight_Index/Security_Lighting_Index/Niteguard_PIR_Lighting_Systems/index.html
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