Two PIRs for security light?

jmc160

Hi guys,

I hope this is the right place for this...

When we bought our house, I installed a security light with standalone PIR sensor. It's attached to the shed wall, which is about half way up our (quite long) garden. It's been very handy when coming home in the dark, as we come in through the back gate and walk the length of the garden to the back door. A couple of days ago, I opened the shed door onto the PIR sensor and it now need replacing.

My wife has mentioned that she would like it if I could set it up so the security light comes on when leaving the house via back door and walking up the garden the other way. The single PIR doesn't have the range to do both ends.

So I was wondering if anyone knew if it's possible to install a second PIR on the same system, which I could install near the back door to cover the blind area, and if so, are there any extra wiring considerations I need to know about?

Thanks in advance :beer:

J

timbim_2

Depends on the setup of the light. If you want to be really snazzy, you can get systems which have multiple lights and sensors connected into various zones, with various options for how lighting should be triggered.

Altarf

Yes it would be easy to do, but you are no longer allowed to do it as it will fall under Part P regulations.

fwor

It should be quite easy to do - it should be simply a matter of wiring the two PIR sensors in parallel, so that either will turn the light on.

Interesting to see that it would apparently fail the latest regulations - does this mean that any situation where two switches are wired in parallel will fail?

davester

I posted first as the site went down and I guess it went a stray.

I was saying that maplins have a solar powered Light with PIR sensor with 3 double sizes LEDs, it would get around your need for a qualified electrician to do it under Part P

davester

Hope not cause most house have 2 switched linked to the Upstairs landing light

Altarf

fwor wrote: »

Interesting to see that it would apparently fail the latest regulations - does this mean that any situation where two switches are wired in parallel will fail?

By "you are no longer allowed to do it" I meant that the OP was not allowed to do it, not that a qualified electrician could not do it for them. Part P regulations mean that certain work, such as outside, can now only be done by a qualified electrician.

fwor

Oh - I didn't know that - and I've immediately forgotten it!

I'm one of those people that believes that the general population should be able to make their own decisions about what they are capable of doing, rather than being "regulated" in everything they do.

davester

fwor wrote: »

Oh - I didn't know that - and I've immediately forgotten it!

I'm one of those people that believes that the general population should be able to make their own decisions about what they are capable of doing, rather than being "regulated" in everything they do.

yep you can't wipe your own bum without haveing the regulation accepted toilet paper. :rotfl:

The only recent EU regulation that made any sence was allowing non straight fruit and veg to be sold. Bent fruit and veg have rights to be eatten too.

jmc160

Aaaargh!

I'm getting annoyed with all these new regulations! :mad:

If I could afford to contract a tradesman everytime I wanted to do something like this I would. Instead, I prefer to save my money and research the project properly, then when I'm certain I can do it safely, I do it myself..

I've never undertaken a project I didn't understand first.

So does that mean I'll have to remove my lighting in the garden then? It cost quite a bit or money at the time, as I wanted a reliable system so I'll be pretty annoyed if I now cannot use it.

Anyone know hw much it's likely to cost to get an electrician to check it over for me?

I guess I'll have to get rid of our kitchen too, as I fitted that myself :mad:

davester

no you can keep what you have just anything new needs to be installed by a qualified electrician. It makes that £30 solar powered Maplins PIR and light all the more attractive
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=225015
not super bright but you might find something better elsewhere that will be better, but still you have this option if you can't get an electrician