want to fit a motion sensor to lights

A

April Raine

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I have external lights at back and front of my house and want to fit a motion sensor to them so that the light will come on when someone approaches the house. The front one would also be convenient for me

Is this a big job and would it cost much?
 
I used to use Halogen lights which were set to come on with motion, but the cost of running them was prohibitive. However I changed to using Sodium lights which come on when getting dark (on time switch) and turn off very early in the morning.
 
April Raine said:
I have external lights at back and front of my house and want to fit a motion sensor to them so that the light will come on when someone approaches the house. The front one would also be convenient for me

Is this a big job and would it cost much?
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Not a big job if you know what you are doing, i.e. happy to wire up domestic lights etc. (And more importantly, know what is safe to do, especially dealing with outside).

You can buy PIR sensors from electrical shops, e.g. Dwyers Electrical in Cork, or probably B&Q etc.

They are wired to act like a switch for the lights, turning them on when they detect motion.

Or you could replace the lights with models that have built in pirs. The advantage of the first solution (seperate PIRs) is that you can place them where they are most useful as opposed to under the light.

Also use 150w bulbs, 500w (which is more common) is way too bright for normal domestic use.
 
Buddyboy said:
Not a big job if you know what you are doing, i.e. happy to wire up domestic lights etc. (And more importantly, know what is safe to do, especially dealing with outside)
Click to expand...

You can buy PIR sensors from electrical shops, e.g. Dwyers Electrical in Cork, or probably B&Q etc.
Click to expand...
What is PIR?

They are wired to act like a switch for the lights, turning them on when they detect motion
Click to expand...
That is what i want

Also use 150w bulbs, 500w (which is more common) is way too bright for normal domestic use.
Click to expand...

Would this be expensive?
 
However I changed to using Sodium lights which come on when getting dark on time switch and turn off very early in the morning.
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But they are on all the time not just on detecting motion? I want ones that weil turn on when someone including me approaches the house and stay on a few mins long enough to open door go in.

Thanks
 
April Raine said:
But they are on all the time not just on detecting motion? I want ones that weil turn on when someone including me approaches the house and stay on a few mins long enough to open door go in.
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You get what you pay for with PIRs (I believe they were an Irish invention). Steinel http://www.steinel.de/en are supposed to be the best. I put one up a few months ago and it is only switching on the light when someone goes near it, unlike another 'standard' one which goes on every few minutes on a windy night. The only problem with Steinel models is they cost 4 or 5 times as much as standard DIY Shed offering.
 
Towger said:
You get what you pay for with PIRs (I believe they were an Irish invention). Steinel http://www.steinel.de/en are supposed to be the best. I put one up a few months ago and it is only switching on the light when someone goes near it, unlike another 'standard' one which goes on every few minutes on a windy night. The only problem with Steinel models is they cost 4 or 5 times as much as standard DIY Shed offering.
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Is the Steinel available in ireland?
 
I used TLC Direct in the UK, the expensive lights are Steinel :[broken link removed]

I good electrical wholesaler may have them.
 
Go for the better ones, ours flick on with a gust of wind or a leaf blowing by and would drive you to distraction so we leave them off all the time now.
 
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