That Floodlight from Lidl

IP X4 means it is proof against water splashing against it from any direction, which is the usual minimum for rain. IP X5 is only needed if it is likely to be hit by a low power jet of water. So, don't put it where a gutter can overflow onto it and it should be fine.

It probably is a PIR.

Colin Bignell

The second 4 means :

"Splashing water - Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect. Test duration: 5 minutes Water volume: 10 litres per minute Pressure: 80-100 kN/m=B2."

So exposed to driving rain is probably outside the spec but sheltered would fit your "just about OK for outdoor use".

Same thing, different words.

Most such lights are somewhere below gutters :-(

Well could be. A PIR senses motion but other devices do TAAAW.

Yes, big spots, especially where 2 hit the same place with hardly any delay, are v. bad. Some hubs I had would stand a lot of rain but the thunderstorm type would start grease coming out.

I did wonder.

TAAAW? That acronynm (if that's what it is) has defeated me, I'm afraid. I'd appreciate a translation.

Many thanks.

Bert

Too, also and as well. HTH

It does, thanks. Though the value of an acronym that requires five letters to express the same meaning as a single three-letter word rather escapes me.

Bert

I would suggest IP44 is adequate for an outside light in most cases. That covers being splashed (i.e. rained on) from any direction.

Protection against water jets is overkill in most cases.

It probably *is* a PIR motion sensor.

However, gutters usually tend to overflow at a low point, rather than along their entire length.

Somehow, I suspect a light from Lidl would use the least cost option.

Colin Bignell

It's an escapee from the shed (uk.rec.sheds) where such linguistic foibles are commonplace.

That's outdone by "www", which has three times as many syllables as the words it's abbreviating.

I think it escaped to the shed from 2eggs ...

Ah, OK. I've never read 2eggs.

I pronounce it "dub-dub-dub".

"wibble" has a long pedigree and even fewer syllables.

Nick

Hmmm. Me likey.

The really good bit is, you can almost always leave the "www." out altogether. Which makes it a whopping *ten* completely superfluous syllables. But people keep saying it anyway.

Thanks folks - I've decided to go ahead and fit it. Alternative sources are from 50% more.

I'm not sure it's *exactly* the same. AIUI, a pure PIR senses the presence of a hot body and stays on as long as that body is in range (plus any built-in time delay). A motion sensor, on the other hand, senses a *moving* hot body. I've got one on one of my outside lights. If I move into range, the light comes on. If I then stand still, while remaining in range, it goes out again. Pain in the arse if you're trying to see in order to do something which doesn't need much movement.

Incidentally, I don't know how bright those Lidl lamps are. I know they use low energy bulbs - and are thus equivalent to conventional bulbs with a higher wattage - but I doubt whether they'd provide any competition for my 500w tungsten-halogen jobbies.