Getting 2 outside PIR lights to work together

[Bill]

We have two outside lights that I plan to replace with some with sensors, but they would be better coming on together as the PIR at the far end from each direction is shielded so it would come on too late to be useful. IYSWIM???

So how do I get the far one to come on when the near one is triggered?

[kiethton]

Single sensor, two output cables (or split the output) to the two lights.

[Bill]

The lights are round the corner from each other so I don't think a single sensor would do it. Plus extra wiring is a faff. They're currently wired to come on together from a single switch.

[Baldchap]

Sounds like a smart solution where they can be grouped is what you want. No idea whether it exists, but likely fairly easy to set up with some of the smart home frameworks about these days.

The old fashioned way would need a sensor at each side, wired to activate both lights, but you don't want wires, so you're limited to my first point.

[Mr Pointy]

Can the sensor be near the current switch & how are the two lights wired now? is there a cable from the switch to each or does it go from the switch to the first light & loop to the second.?

The difficult bit is going to be having the sensor at the far end away from the switch.

[Bill]

Baldchap said:

Sounds like a smart solution where they can be grouped is what you want. No idea whether it exists, but likely fairly easy to set up with some of the smart home frameworks about these days.

The old fashioned way would need a sensor at each side, wired to activate both lights, but you don't want wires, so you're limited to my first point.

Yeah, I can't see a way that doesn't involved a load of wiring which is a PITA! I think the answer is a smart switch timed to come in at dusk and go off at 8.30ish. should cover all usage and coupled with a couple of led bulbs won't cost much to run.

[HeartsinNotts]

It might not be what you're looking for, but we have a run of lights from Mr Beams that are all activated when any one is triggered - the units are equipped with switchable RF transmitters/receivers so you can set them to talk to each other (or not). We use them down one side of our house where the wheelie bins are kept. Open the gate at the back, triggering the rear light and all three come on. Open the gate at the front, triggering the front light and all three come on. Works round corners too.

Only snag is they're battery powered (4 x D-cell) rather than wired. Not exactly cheap either at £70 a pair - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beams-MBN352-Networked-Te...

[Evoluzione]

Why do you want your house lit up when you're in bed?

[Bill]

Mr Pointy said:

Can the sensor be near the current switch & how are the two lights wired now? is there a cable from the switch to each or does it go from the switch to the first light & loop to the second.?

The difficult bit is going to be having the sensor at the far end away from the switch.

Only a single pair to the switch which is on an internal wall, but in a single story extension with no loft boards at that point so presumably accessible.

[Bill]

HeartsinNotts said:

It might not be what you're looking for, but we have a run of lights from Mr Beams that are all activated when any one is triggered - the units are equipped with switchable RF transmitters/receivers so you can set them to talk to each other (or not). We use them down one side of our house where the wheelie bins are kept. Open the gate at the back, triggering the rear light and all three come on. Open the gate at the front, triggering the front light and all three come on. Works round corners too.

Only snag is they're battery powered (4 x D-cell) rather than wired. Not exactly cheap either at £70 a pair - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beams-MBN352-Networked-Te...

Brilliant, that's the kind of thing we want, albeit mains powered.

ETA they do some path/flower bed lights that might work. How long have you had them and how well do the batteries last? And how sensitive are the PIRs?

Edited by Bill on Friday 2nd December 11:27

[HeartsinNotts]

Bill said:

HeartsinNotts said:

It might not be what you're looking for, but we have a run of lights from Mr Beams that are all activated when any one is triggered - the units are equipped with switchable RF transmitters/receivers so you can set them to talk to each other (or not). We use them down one side of our house where the wheelie bins are kept. Open the gate at the back, triggering the rear light and all three come on. Open the gate at the front, triggering the front light and all three come on. Works round corners too.

Only snag is they're battery powered (4 x D-cell) rather than wired. Not exactly cheap either at £70 a pair - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beams-MBN352-Networked-Te...

Brilliant, that's the kind of thing we want, albeit mains powered.

ETA they do some path/flower bed lights that might work. How long have you had them and how well do the batteries last? And how sensitive are the PIRs?

Edited by Bill on Friday 2nd December 11:27

We got the first two almost exactly four years ago and they're still going strong. The third one in the run I bought a year later, along with another couple of their products. All still working fine, bright enough for our needs. Battery changes are about once a year. PIR sensitivity is good, they always pick us up as soon as we're in line of sight. Easily activated by the local cats too. I have ours mounted high and beaming almost straight down, so the PIR sensor has pretty much a 360 view.

[DonkeyApple]

Bill said:

We have two outside lights that I plan to replace with some with sensors, but they would be better coming on together as the PIR at the far end from each direction is shielded so it would come on too late to be useful. IYSWIM???

So how do I get the far one to come on when the near one is triggered?

I use smart bulbs in the outside lights and an outdoor camera. Inexpensive stuff from Kasa. The camera detects motion and then the bulbs turn on as programmed. I've even added a nightlight on a Kasa plug in the upstairs TV room so that just comes on so you know when something has come up the driveway and through the arch to the property. Having done all that I just get stored video of hares, pheasants and delivery drivers during the day and at night, warnings of assaults from badgers, foxes, rabbits, deer and myself staggering back from the pub and once upon a time, two blokes trying to nick my pressure washer.

[Caddyshack]

Bill said:

HeartsinNotts said:

It might not be what you're looking for, but we have a run of lights from Mr Beams that are all activated when any one is triggered - the units are equipped with switchable RF transmitters/receivers so you can set them to talk to each other (or not). We use them down one side of our house where the wheelie bins are kept. Open the gate at the back, triggering the rear light and all three come on. Open the gate at the front, triggering the front light and all three come on. Works round corners too.

Only snag is they're battery powered (4 x D-cell) rather than wired. Not exactly cheap either at £70 a pair - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beams-MBN352-Networked-Te...

Brilliant, that's the kind of thing we want, albeit mains powered.

ETA they do some path/flower bed lights that might work. How long have you had them and how well do the batteries last? And how sensitive are the PIRs?

Edited by Bill on Friday 2nd December 11:27

If you have power then it’s easy enough to convert battery powered stuff to mains with a transformer.

[DSLiverpool]

Go on the GJD website, plan a system it’ll last years. Mines on 14 years with only new floods and 1 pir (out of 8)

[Up_North]

We’ve also got the Mr Beams Netbright lights and work well for us. Not sure if it’s still available but they also made a Netbright sensor (without the light) which could trigger the lights but without actually needing a light at the trigger location.

But you can’t control their duration or sensitivity, there are no controls at all on them other than switches to group them together.

[skwdenyer]

The OP’s problem is easy to fix with extra cable.

2 standalone PIR switches (each with timer controls). Wired analogously to 2-way light switches on your stairwell - essentially in parallel. Output from those two runs to both lights.

But long cabling runs potentially (unless you can get enough cores on a single cable). Diagram below - just connect 2 lights in parallel rather than the single in the diagram.

Smart solution would be more elegant. But when inevitably one part fails, you’ll probably have to replace the lot as the kit becomes obsolete so fast these days.