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OK, we tried the motion switch outside light for security and energy savings. I work rotating shifts so I come home at different hours all thetime. The motion switch sensor cracked after much exposure to the afternoon sun. We tried a digital wall light switch timer. It worked unless you used a fluorescent bulb. Just received a new product I ordered. It's called AutoChron. You install two AA batteries, unscrew the bottom screw of the light switch cover plate, put the device over the light switch, use the included screw to attach it to the cover plate. You set the timer and it slides the light switch up or down. You can set one program for all days, one program for weekdays, one program for weekends, or a different time for each day of the week. No wiring or drilling new holes.
We're doing this for security and energy savings. The most efficient way is the motion sensor switch but it didn't work for us.
I work rotating shifts so I come home at different hours all thetime.
My neighbor's wife had a job like that.
He used the guts from an old garage door opener to control the outdoor lights by way of the remote control kept in her car.
I imagine there's something commercial that would do this too.
I want my security alarm to wake me. Not assure the intruders don't trip over a garden rake.
And I don't want my wife nor I to come home in the dark not seeing a mugger hiding by the door. We already have an alarm that wakes us up,...a very alert dog.
My neighbor's wife had a job like that.
He used the guts from an old garage door opener to control the outdoor lights by way of the remote control kept in her car.
I imagine there's something commercial that would do this too.
I did this in our first house. I rigged a wire from the garage door opener to the light on the front of the garage. Being a detached garage it was great because the light would come on as soon as the door started to open and stay on until the timer for the internal light went off. Gave us plenty of time to get in the house.
Location: Went around the corner & now I'm lost!!!!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sailordave
OK, we tried the motion switch outside light for security and energy savings. I work rotating shifts so I come home at different hours all thetime. The motion switch sensor cracked after much exposure to the afternoon sun. We tried a digital wall light switch timer. It worked unless you used a fluorescent bulb. Just received a new product I ordered. It's called AutoChron. You install two AA batteries, unscrew the bottom screw of the light switch cover plate, put the device over the light switch, use the included screw to attach it to the cover plate. You set the timer and it slides the light switch up or down. You can set one program for all days, one program for weekdays, one program for weekends, or a different time for each day of the week. No wiring or drilling new holes.
We're doing this for security and energy savings. The most efficient way is the motion sensor switch but it didn't work for us.
Have you tried the solar motion detector lights? My brother & sisters has a couple and seem to like them. I haven't bought any...yet.
I have designed and worked with lighting systems with automatic controls. It is now required by some jurisdictions. Bathrooms: good application. Offices: maybe. Corridors: no. It looks ridiculous to enter a corridor with minimal lightning, then it illuminates as you enter.
I installed two pairs of motion sensing flood lights outside & have had a headache trying to get those things set right.
Sometimes they just come on & stay on even when its set only to come on for 5 or 10 minutes. Other times they will just go haywire like they have a mind of their own. I've pretty much come to the conclusion they are picking up the body heat from those buzzy bugs that fly around it at night & come on periodically during the night.
I like dusk to dawn lights. Even if you didn't want them on all night, you can simply hook it up to a timer so that it shuts off after a certain time, but mine runs from dusk to dawn.
Lights which come on when there is motion detection are useless to us. The deer, coyote, rabbits, etc. set them off.
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