Front door light

markin

TELLIT01 said:

There are loads of solar PIR lights available.  Our neighbours both have them for precisely the reason the OP want one - to put some light on the front door in order to find the keyhole.  They seem to do the job perfectly adequately.

As the is an open porch the solar panel may not get a lot of light.

TELLIT01

They are cheap enough to give a try.

Section62

markin said:

Id go with a ceiling lamp with built in pir, or a bulb with a pir, Not microwave, They see past doors and around corners.

The OP seems to want the PIR to be unobtrusive - more or less hidden.  The corollary of that is the PIR will have a limited field of view.

Given that PIR's typically work on the basis of movement - the identification of a 'hot' body moving from one detection zone to another - they aren't ideal for use in situations where there is a highly restricted field of view, and/or where the direction of movement is straight towards the unit.  The results can be poor in those circumstances.

The OP may be better off with a presence-detecting sensor, rather than a movement-detecting sensor, and for that they may need to go down the microwave route.

markin

Given the current set up is a wall light being set off be cars and people walking by, A limited view pir pointing down over the door seems the perfect solution for the OP to me, Easier to bump the sensitivity up on a PIR than down on a microwave, I have both in a bulb form. I've not used or seen a stand alone directional microwave, On a quick google they all seem omni-directional.

A ceiling lamp would be completely hidden unless you stand under it and look up.

Chickereeeee

I would not even have a PIR light. They tend to flash in and off on windy nights, at all hours, even if not set off by passing cars, foxes and neighbours. Or, if sensitivity is turned right down, you haave to fumble your way up the drive and get to the porch before it comes on - and ruins your night vision. I find a discreet permanent light (shielded from above to preserve dark skies) that comes on at sunset and turns off at around 11:30pm is MUCH better.

Slinky

So glad the OP raised this question, electricians coming to do first fix electrics tomorrow, and I'd forgotten about outside lighting.

markin

Chickereeeee said:

I would not even have a PIR light. They tend to flash in and off on windy nights, at all hours, even if not set off by passing cars, foxes and neighbours. Or, if sensitivity is turned right down, you haave to fumble your way up the drive and get to the porch before it comes on - and ruins your night vision. I find a discreet permanent light (shielded from above to preserve dark skies) that comes on at sunset and turns off at around 11:30pm is MUCH better.

I don't think the wind alone can set them off, Trees and Cloths flapping in the wind yes but not wind alone, The only thing that sets off my flood at the garage doors is the cats.

MarvinDay

If you are still undecided, I highly recommend one of these lights:
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LTUSF30MCW.html

They come in 3 different sizes and there is no visible sensor (it's built into the light). All of the adjustments (movement sensitivity, ambient light sensitivity and length of time it remains on) and all set up using a small remote control supplied with the light.
I've had 2 of them for a couple of years and they are still working perfectly.

wallofbeans

Thanks all - lots of food for thought that I've been looking up, and jumping around between different ways of dealing with this.

The ceiling light is potentially good idea, especially as I've found a very simple outside light with hidden built in sensor that could work. It's too big (35cm diameter) to go on the wall but could work on the ceiling. It's just running the cable further up the wall that will be a faff I think. But could be a relatively simple solution.

Here's the light I was thinking: https://www.lights.co.uk/sensor-wall-lamp-umberta-2-x-e27-in-black.html

Other than that, I think spending more on a light for the wall with hidden in built sensor is the easiest option. The Philips Hue option is a great idea, but I think once you add in all the costs (I think I would need the bridge too) then it's as expensive, if not more, than paying for the fancy light below:

https://www.lights.co.uk/aqua-legendo-mini-sensor-wall-lamp-anthracite.html

I've asked an electrician about these options and will see what he thinks as well...

BUFF

before I got my  light that fits under the transom (I'll maybe try to get a photo for you) I was looking at this https://www.saxbylighting.com/products/product-detail/78623-rond-microwave-ip54-12w-cool-white which you should be able to buy for ~£25 & is 210cm diameter & low profile (48mm high)