Can I run 4 x 400w security lights off a switch?

longwalks1

We have a large corner plot garden and want to illuminate it as bright as possible at night if anyone gets into it, it’s surrounded by tall conifers and not overlooked so we wouldn’t be blinding anyone (except for anyone who shouldn’t be there in the first place)

At present there is a single sized box in the kitchen back door with 2 switches on it, currently powering 1 x old 400w security light on each switch. Both lights are temperamental at best, and rusty and hanging off the wall outside.

Question: could I run 2 x 400w security lights off each switch, instead of 1 off each switch? They’d obviously only be on 3-4 minutes a time

Would I need a higher rated switch to cope? If so, what should I look for?

Thanks everyone

Warwick_Hunt

You should be fine.

chrisw

Probably better off with something like 30w LED security lights. You!!!8217;d then only be using 120w instead of 1600w so saving money as well.

NotSkint

At 400W, each security light will take 1.74A; so all 4 on together you are looking at a current draw of 6.96A.
Now your domestic light switch should be rated at 10A per circuit, so the switch should be fine.
However, what will make a difference is what circuit you are powering these lights from?
A normal lighting circuit should be protected by a 6A MCB so you will likely experience tripping, especially if you have other lights on.

It would be worth looking into LED equivalents, which will take much less power and therefore negate the above issue.

longwalks1

Thanks guys

I did actually buy a 100w LED floodlight (9000lms) to try (i ended up returning it to amazon) and aside from it being as big as a shoe box lid, I actually didn’t think it was as bring/powerful as one of my 400w lamps?

Scrounger

150W LED Floodlight with PIR, 12000lm

A bit pricey at £95.99 [:eek:] - but worth a mention.

Scrounger

ic

You shouldn't be aiming to light the area like a football pitch, as all this means is you wind up with very dark shadows away from the lights in to which its easy to hide.

Personally I replaced one 500W halogen with two 10W daylight LED floodlamps, and find the coverage spot on (the area was the driveway down the side of the house, so longer than wide), and then three 150W lamps around the back of the house over the garden with three 10W daylight LED. The LED was definitely a step up from halogen in terms of brightness, colour and coverage - and they don't need bulbs replacing every year. Plus of course I'll be saving on the electricity.