Hello,
I’m wondering what to do. We are currently building a semi-detached house and will soon start planning the electrical installations.
What would you do for the outdoor light—constant power or a toggle switch inside?
Should we simply get a smart outdoor light with a motion detector and light sensor? Do such products even exist?
Or just have an indoor toggle switch to turn it on and off (plus motion detector)?
We might also want to add a Wi-Fi outdoor camera with light (for example, Netatmo) later on (or maybe not).
For a camera with a light, a toggle switch would be pointless.
What would you do? I’m leaning towards no indoor switch if there is a lamp with both light and motion sensor.
I’m wondering what to do. We are currently building a semi-detached house and will soon start planning the electrical installations.
What would you do for the outdoor light—constant power or a toggle switch inside?
Should we simply get a smart outdoor light with a motion detector and light sensor? Do such products even exist?
Or just have an indoor toggle switch to turn it on and off (plus motion detector)?
We might also want to add a Wi-Fi outdoor camera with light (for example, Netatmo) later on (or maybe not).
For a camera with a light, a toggle switch would be pointless.
What would you do? I’m leaning towards no indoor switch if there is a lamp with both light and motion sensor.
P
Peter Pohlmann7 Apr 2022 15:55For the outdoor light, I would always recommend installing a switch in between.
How do you want to turn the light off? If there is a motion sensor connected, you won’t be able to switch the light off manually. The motion sensor then acts as the switch. However, from experience, those are hard to reach. That wouldn’t be ideal.
If you want to install a camera, you’ll need to run a 5-core cable. Light + motion sensor live wire + switch, and a constant power supply for the camera.
How do you want to turn the light off? If there is a motion sensor connected, you won’t be able to switch the light off manually. The motion sensor then acts as the switch. However, from experience, those are hard to reach. That wouldn’t be ideal.
If you want to install a camera, you’ll need to run a 5-core cable. Light + motion sensor live wire + switch, and a constant power supply for the camera.
Hi,
I would always recommend making outdoor lights switchable from inside. They don’t need to stay on all night for every passing hedgehog or cat. That can disturb many small animals looking for food in your garden at night. In other words, if you keep them constantly powered, you’d probably need a “smart” system to program different operating times anyway. That’s too much hassle for me. Besides, there will be times when you leave for a trip in the middle of the night and stand in your pitch-dark garden, cursing that your lights don’t turn on...
I’m a big fan of gadgets myself, but when it comes to outdoor lighting: keep it simple! A switch is all you need!
Best regards,
Andreas
I would always recommend making outdoor lights switchable from inside. They don’t need to stay on all night for every passing hedgehog or cat. That can disturb many small animals looking for food in your garden at night. In other words, if you keep them constantly powered, you’d probably need a “smart” system to program different operating times anyway. That’s too much hassle for me. Besides, there will be times when you leave for a trip in the middle of the night and stand in your pitch-dark garden, cursing that your lights don’t turn on...
I’m a big fan of gadgets myself, but when it comes to outdoor lighting: keep it simple! A switch is all you need!
Best regards,
Andreas
I forgot that the exterior light in front of my front door is mine (not the one for the garden).
If I don’t have a switch, then the camera/light needs to detect when it is dark and when there is movement.
This way, the light only turns on when it is dark (so not during the day) and only when there is movement. A camera could even recognize whether it’s an animal, like a cat, or a person, so the light would only turn on for people.
If I don’t have a switch, then the camera/light needs to detect when it is dark and when there is movement.
This way, the light only turns on when it is dark (so not during the day) and only when there is movement. A camera could even recognize whether it’s an animal, like a cat, or a person, so the light would only turn on for people.
We also have an indoor switch for the outdoor fire pit area, where the traditional exterior porch light was originally planned.
Instead, we installed a light with a house number that basically functions as a standby light—the house number is illuminated and the light dims to about 20% before increasing to 100% when motion is detected.
The indoor switch has been left ON for over 10 years.
Instead, we installed a light with a house number that basically functions as a standby light—the house number is illuminated and the light dims to about 20% before increasing to 100% when motion is detected.
The indoor switch has been left ON for over 10 years.
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