Motion activated smart switch

54and56

Hi all,

Apologies if this is a stupid question but I have some external lights controlled by a regular internal wall switch which I'd like to be able to control by setting a daily schedule (on from 19:00 to 23:00) and to be motion activated outside those hours.

Is there a way to do this and in particular is there a way for a below average DIY'er to do it? I have some basic electrical experience installing replacement sockets etc but that's about it.

Would appreciate your suggestions.

DublinDilbert

What sort lights? What sort of bulb?

Depending on the bulb type, One option would be to swap for smart bulbs and fit a smart pir, not sure if the hue pir is rated for external usage.

54and56

DublinDilbert wrote: »

What sort lights? What sort of bulb?

Thanks DublinDilbert.

I want to implement the same solution back and front of the house. Out front there are 4 external LED's fitted into the roof of a canopy over the front door. They look like but are not specifically these:-



At the rear of the house I have 3 external lights with screw in LED bulbs similar to this type of fitting:-



Both the front and rear sets of lights are controlled by standard internal on/off switches located near the front and rear doors and I'd like each to be replaced with an ability to set on/off schedules AND outside of the hours when they are scheduled to be on I'd like them to be motion activated for both security and convenience for family members approaching in the dark.

antiskeptic

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Thanks DublinDilbert.

I want to implement the same solution back and front of the house. Out front there are 4 external LED's fitted into the roof of a canopy over the front door. They look like but are not specifically these:-



At the rear of the house I have 3 external lights with screw in LED bulbs similar to this type of fitting:-



Both the front and rear sets of lights are controlled by standard internal on/off switches located near the front and rear doors and I'd like each to be replaced with an ability to set on/off schedules AND outside of the hours when they are scheduled to be on I'd like them to be motion activated for both security and convenience for family members approaching in the dark.

Wonder could you do something with a central heating controller with 2 independent channels (eg heating and hot water) - the controller mounted in the place of the light switch.

The two channels are independently controlled via timers. The one channel would power the lights on the timer direct down the existing cable. The second to power a 240V PIR. The outfeed of the PIR connected to the light cable.

I dunno if there'd be a problem back feeding 240V to the outfeed of the PIR when in timer-light mode. But don't suspect so.

I'm assuming you can run a cable from the existing switch out the wall to outside and mount a PIR there.

54and56

Hi antiskeptic, (Is an anti skeptic someone who believes everything at face value unless it is factually disproven??)

antiskeptic wrote: »

Wonder could you do something with a central heating controller with 2 independent channels (eg heating and hot water) - the controller mounted in the place of the light switch.

The two channels are independently controlled via timers. The one channel would power the lights on the timer direct down the existing cable. The second to power a 240V PIR. The outfeed of the PIR connected to the light cable.

I dunno if there'd be a problem back feeding 240V to the outfeed of the PIR when in timer-light mode. But don't suspect so.

I'm assuming you can run a cable from the existing switch out the wall to outside and mount a PIR there.

The piece in Italic's terrifies me and is way above my DIY pay grade.

The piece in bold is do-able all right.

DublinDilbert

Simplest thing is philips hue or one of the other smart lighting systems, they even have an outdoor pir, battery powered with 2 years life from 2xAA batteries.

https://huehomelighting.com/could-a-philips-hue-outdoor-motion-sensor-be-coming-soon/

IKEA also do smart light bulbs too.

For both of these solutions you just change the bulbs and leave the switches turned on, so it’s pretty much diy. Plus also you get control from an app too, so if ya hear something outside you can turn on the lights.

54and56

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Simplest thing is philips hue or one of the other smart lighting systems, they even have an outdoor pir, battery powered with 2 years life from 2xAA batteries.

https://huehomelighting.com/could-a-philips-hue-outdoor-motion-sensor-be-coming-soon/

IKEA also do smart light bulbs too.

For both of these solutions you just change the bulbs and leave the switches turned on, so it’s pretty much diy. Plus also you get control from an app too, so if ya hear something outside you can turn on the lights.

Thanks DublinDilbert, they look like great options. It looks like the Philips Hue outdoor PIR isn't launched yet (that I can see) but could be an ideal solution.

The IKEA range looks great value for money but seems limited in two ways which won't suit me:-

1. The bulbs are screw in only which means they won't work with the recessed LED set up I have over the front door canopy.

2. Whilst they will (I think) work with the three wall mounted external lights on the back of the house they are warm white 2,700k light at just 1,000Lm whereas I use Day White 6000K, Super Bright 2500Lm bulbs and would like to stick fairly close to that with smart bulbs but IKEA don't seem to have anything similar in their current range.

I think you've put me on the right track though so thanks again.

antiskeptic

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Hi antiskeptic, (Is an anti skeptic someone who believes everything at face value unless it is factually disproven??)

The name arose out of the forum activity I mostly (well, used to mostly) engage in: Christian apologetics. The skeptics I encounter generally (and often unknowingly) ground their arguments on philosophies such as empiricism and rationalism. There is no proof that such philosophies provide solid groundings for the suppositions which follow, for example: if you can't measure it, touch it, smell it etc, then it can't be real/can be simply dismissed (empiricism).

It's not that I'm anti-empirical or rational - they have their place. But I am anti the idea that such philosophies are anything other than faith-based. Which puts them on a par with the religion the objectors are objecting to

The piece in Italic's terrifies me and is way above my DIY pay grade.

If you ain't comfortable with electrics then for sure, leave well alone.

DublinDilbert

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Thanks DublinDilbert, they look like great options. It looks like the Philips Hue outdoor PIR isn't launched yet (that I can see) but could be an ideal solution.

The IKEA range looks great value for money but seems limited in two ways which won't suit me:-

1. The bulbs are screw in only which means they won't work with the recessed LED set up I have over the front door canopy.

2. Whilst they will (I think) work with the three wall mounted external lights on the back of the house they are warm white 2,700k light at just 1,000Lm whereas I use Day White 6000K, Super Bright 2500Lm bulbs and would like to stick fairly close to that with smart bulbs but IKEA don't seem to have anything similar in their current range.

I think you've put me on the right track though so thanks again.

Ikea have a smart GU10 blub, if your downlighters are mains powered they are more than likely GU10's. Ikea also do a range of adapters to bring the E27 screw in bulb to bayonet fitting.

Ikea also have a motion detector, i'm not sure how water proof it is, but if your in a bungalow you could probably mount it high under the roof over hang where it won't get any rain.

54and56

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Ikea have a smart GU10 blub, if your downlighters are mains powered they are more than likely GU10's. Ikea also do a range of adapters to bring the E27 screw in bulb to bayonet fitting.

Ikea also have a motion detector, i'm not sure how water proof it is, but if your in a bungalow you could probably mount it high under the roof over hang where it won't get any rain.

Hi DublinDilbert,

I finally sussed out that the bulbs I have are the GU5.3 standard and went out to IKEA yesterday but they didn't have any of the motion sensors in stock which is possibly just as well as I don't think they offer GU5.3 standard bulbs, certainly not ones which will work with a GU5.3 fitting.

Maybe I'm better off steering clear of a "smart" solution at the moment and just going with a standard PIR like this one which I could wire into the exiting internal switch, leave the switch turned on and hopefully bob's your uncle, the external canopy lights come on as the PIR detects someone approaching the front door.

Correct? Sound like the most pragmatic plan?

I'd like to go all "smart" but as things stand I don't see a smart solution which isn't overkill given the simplicity of the application. A Philips Hue bridge would cost €60 or so, the new outdoor sensor another €50 or so and even then I haven't seen any GU5.3 bulbs which are Philips Hue compatible so I'd have to change the recess lighting to the GU10 standard.