photocell for deck lights

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Discussion

Trustmeimadoctor

Original Poster:

12,579 posts

155 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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Want somthing to turn the deck lights on automatically and I thought photocell but what do I need to look for?

cashmax

1,106 posts

240 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KECQQTI/ref...

I have used lots of these. Very simple and very reliable as well as being easy and flexible to install. Plenty of grunt for decklights too.

hairyben

8,516 posts

183 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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http://www.screwfix.com/p/standalone-photocell/113...

Or something like the above as it's already encased (and easy to replace if need arises

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-standalone-night-sen...

Where's this one gives you adjustable dusk-on level rather than waiting until late it's pitch dark and also gives you adjustable time-out so I'd suggest is more suitable for feature lighting

V8RX7

26,827 posts

263 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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I'd only buy one with a timed function too or just a timer - photocells are incredibly unreliable IME

GSXRMovistar

31 posts

190 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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hairyben said:
I'd recommend one of those, I've had one running in my garden for a coupe of years and works flawlessly.

kriggi

84 posts

223 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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The problem with all the above photocells is that they're dawn to dusk so will be on all night.

If you want to have the lights on for a limited time try the Steinel Nightmatic 3000 which can be programmed to stay on for a number of hours before switching off so they're not on all night.

Buzz84

1,140 posts

149 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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kriggi said:
The problem with all the above photocells is that they're dawn to dusk so will be on all night.

If you want to have the lights on for a limited time try the Steinel Nightmatic 3000 which can be programmed to stay on for a number of hours before switching off so they're not on all night.
The second link HairyBen posted didn't seem to work but presumably should be:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-standalone-night-sen...

This one also comes with a timed mode and is a lot cheaper than the Steinel. I had one fitted to the porch lights on my previous house and had it set to come on at dusk and stay on for 5 hours. worked really well. It is a relay output so will work with LED lights too.

kriggi

84 posts

223 months

Tuesday 26th July 2016
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Agreed it is cheaper but it appears to have a fixed on period. Meaning in winter when it gets dark at 4pm you set the lights to be on for 7 hours and they go off at 11pm. However in summer it gets dark at 9pm and the timers set for 7 hours so they go off at 4 am (just when it's getting light). The result is you have to go out every month to adjust the time on period.

The Steinel Nightmatic 3000 is intelligent so it learns the time of year by reading the amount of daylight ensuring the light always goes off at the same time throughout the year. Plug and play!

Zoon

6,689 posts

121 months

Tuesday 26th July 2016
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Or get some solar ones with a remote panel.

Trustmeimadoctor

Original Poster:

12,579 posts

155 months

Tuesday 26th July 2016
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I went for the lap one seems to be working well if I have to change it's setting 4 times a year so be it smile