How to override security floodlight to become dusk till dawn only?

sillygoose

The PIR and timer circuit is inherent to it - the light sensor just inhibits the on function above a certain light level, believe me I am an electronics engineer of 30 years and I wouldn't bother trying to convert it!

just change it.

richardc1983

I cannot find a cheap dusk to dawn floodlight without pir.

Myser

How about this:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Lighting/Exterior+Lighting/100w+Bulkhead+with+Photocell/d220/sd2663/p83449

Or the one from Alert Electrical mentioned above.

Otherwise, you can buy a normal outdoor light and photocell separately if you know how to wire them up.

richardc1983

I was kind of hoping for a flood light type fitting the bulk head ones are not bright enough.

maninthestreet

CFL bulbs are normally incompatible with PIR or Dawn-to-Dusk sensors.

Myser

richardc1983 wrote: »

I was kind of hoping for a flood light type fitting the bulk head ones are not bright enough.

Have you looked at the one from Alert Electrical?

Myser

The other option if you want something bright is a SON lamp:

http://www.lyonlighting.com/acatalog/info_HSF70SON_PC.html

They usually have a slight orange colour like street lamps. More for industrial use though.

Here are some photo cells:

This one will work with both incandescent and compact-fluorescent lamps:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/standalone-night-sensor-photocell/29790

These are standard ones which will work with halogen, GLS and discharge (SON) lamps

http://www.luxurylighting.co.uk/miniature-photocell-1372-p.asp

http://www.luxurylighting.co.uk/photocell-kit-1371-p.asp

You still haven't indicated whether you are competant to wire a separate photo cell?

richardc1983

Myser wrote: »

Have you looked at the one from Alert Electrical?

Thank you. I have had a look but it seems expensive. I have the 500watt halogen fitting at the moment and also have the energy savign bulb to go into it bought from ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380305137305?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

So whats the best way to do this would I have to disconnect the pir sensor and wire in a dusk to dawn sensor?

I will get an electrician friend to wire the photocell in as would need to get up some ladders to do it.

Myser

Depending on how the floodlight is manufactured, it should be easy to separate the wires for just the light from the PIR sensor. Many of those fittings are standard i.e they manufacture them with and without the PIR sensor option so it should be fairly easy to get to the wires.

Make sure the dusk/dawn sensor you purchase can work with compact fluorescent lamps.

The one I mentioned in my previous post can.

I'm not sure that eBay one is producing the equivalent of a 500W halogen!?

The clue may be in the wording/marketing - it replaces a 500W halogen i.e. it has the same fitting. They don't mention equivalent.

The Alert Electrical one is 42W and that is only quoted as equivalent to a 300W halogen.

maninthestreet

richardc1983 wrote: »

Thank you. I have had a look but it seems expensive. I have the 500watt halogen fitting at the moment and also have the energy savign bulb to go into it bought from ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380305137305?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

So whats the best way to do this would I have to disconnect the pir sensor and wire in a dusk to dawn sensor?

I will get an electrician friend to wire the photocell in as would need to get up some ladders to do it.

That bulb will only produce the same light as a 100W tungsten bulb.