Floodlight - inhibit daytime operation

[DerbyBorn]

I have a 300watt non-PIR floodlight in my back garden. It is on a two way switch (one is 2gang with the kitchen light - the other is next to patio door.) Occassionally someone hits the wrong switch and the light gets put on and is not noticed for a while (wasting electricity).

I could reduce the problem by fitting a LED version which will minimise the wastage - but ideally I would like to inhibit its operation during daylight hours, I don't want PIR as we like to manually put it on to see down the garden.

Any ideas?

[The Medway Handyman]

[Chris J Dixon]

Try a simple photo cell like one of these:

Chris

[DerbyBorn]

"Rod Speed" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

but switching them on and off messes with them. I don't want a PIR feature as I normally use the light when I am not outside!

[Brian Gaff]

There are lots of daylight activated switches around, though the one I have seems a bit reluctant to switch off as day breaks. Brian

[JimK]

/

And their ilk... would that mean that if the troublesome switch was 'on' the photocell would keep the light off until it got dark......

Proper' solution IMHO, split the 2 gang switch, reposition the outside light on a separate dedicated switch & label it.

Jim K

[F]

Flick the switch controlling a PIR on-off-on (or something similar?!) quickly and the device is usually on until you turn it off again.

[JimK]

/ Flick the switch controlling a PIR on-off-on (or something similar?!) quickly and the device is usually on until you turn it off again./q

Not always the case especially with cheaper PIR lamps.

Also I don't think you can get that feature with a standalone PIR?, but at that level of installation it's usually easy enough to wire in a dedicated switch to "force" the light(s) on (as I have here).

Jim K

[The Medway Handyman]

Isn't that what the OP wanted?

"but ideally I would like to inhibit its operation during daylight hours".

[JimK]

/ Isn't that what the OP wanted?

"but ideally I would like to inhibit its operation during daylight hours"./q

What like leave it on all the time if it's dark? Wouldn't have thought so?

Jim K

[Colin Stamp]

Actually, it's very difficult *not* to get that feature with standalone PIRs. Even if it isn't mentioned on the adverts, it's pretty standard. It's quite annoying for me, since I fitted centre-off switches for my outside lights (i.e. Permanent/Off/PIR). Having the PIR try to do a permanent mode too just causes confusion.

Cheers,

Coilin.

[ARW]

Maybe the OP could use the photocell in series with the switch.

[JimK]

/Maybe the OP could use the photocell in series with the switch.

[JimK]

/Actually, it's very difficult *not* to get that feature with standalone PIRs. Even if it isn't mentioned on the adverts, it's pretty standard. It's quite annoying for me, since I fitted centre-off switches for my outside lights (i.e. Permanent/Off/PIR). Having the PIR try to do a permanent mode too just causes confusion.

Cheers,

Coilin. /q

Really?

My old Steinel and new Timeguard don't.

How many types have you tried?

Jim K

[DerbyBorn]

JimK wrote in news:ba27b29e-8c6c-4595-8810- [e-mail]:

It has got me thinking. Currently we sometimes spot it if it is accidentally turned on in the daytime. If it didn't come on because of a photocell then it would come on every night and all night (if we were on holiday then this would be costly) Perhaps another route would be an indicator - but how could I do this with two-way switching and potentially a LED lamp.

[JimK]

/ It has got me thinking. Currently we sometimes spot it if it is accidentally turned on in the daytime. If it didn't come on because of a photocell then it would come on every night and all night (if we were on holiday then this would be costly) Perhaps another route would be an indicator - but how could I do this with two-way switching and potentially a LED lamp. /q

Aha!

K.I.S.S. Easier to put a dedicated 1 gang switch (instead of part of the shared 2 gang) for the o/s light?

Jim K

[ARW]

That's because it's a 300W halogen:-)

I use dusk till dawn lighting - the brightest light being a 35W CDM-T fitting and I just accept that I pay for lighting up the garden all night.

Depends on what wires you have at the switch and what you would call an indicator.

[stuart noble]

I must have missed something here. All the halogen lamps I've had over the years have a motion sensor and a light sensor, so they don't do anything till it gets to the darkness level you have specified.

I fitted a 20W LED version recently, which delivers maybe half the light of the halogen types but enough for me not to fall arse over tip when taking the rubbish out.

[dennis]

Fit a pir and use the override function to switch it on manually or fit an override switch to turn it on.

[charles]

How about a timer switch for over-riding the PIR? Then you know it will turn off after 2 hours (or whenever).