OK, this is far from my normal more attempted approach at intellectual questions but has anyone found an exterior motion sensor light unit they really like and works well? The ones I’ve bought from the Big Boxes seem to be poor as they never work properly and our local electric supply house doesn’t carry them as they’re a “fixture” (huh?)
Anyone know of a good brand I can buy online? (Leviton, Cooper, etc.) I’m tired of spending $30-60 on a unit that a year down the road is false tripping or doesn’t work at all!
Thanks
Mike
Replies
What kind of light?
The main problem that I have found is getting the right location for the sensor. Unfortunately that is not allways where you want the light.
I don't know if they are still available, but yeasrs ago I got one with a sensor separate from the control. I have that controlling lights on a covered walk way for years.
You might want to look at this line, have not read the specs to see if any are designed for outdoor use. I think that they are mostly indoor.
http://www.sensorswitch.com/linevoltagesensors.htm
Sorry, I've only had bad luck with them, too. Eventually let the bulb burn out and heck with it.
One thing to watch out for is the Watt rating of the detector. I had two 500 Watt halogen lights, and I had to special order a 1000 W detector from the electrical supply house. I think the brand is Hubbel, but I'm not positive. I agree that none of them seem to last.
The Heath brand has worked well for me. I have three of their units and they have operated reliably for 5+ years with standard 75W outdoor PAR lamps.
Have you considered using the X-10 controlled lamps? Several types of wireless motion sensors and remotes are available, and you can control one lamp from multiple sensors.
http://www.x10.com/automation/ms14a_s.html
http://www.x10.com/security/dm10a_s_str_ps12.html
I always mount the sensors in a separate location from the lights. Usually, ten or more feet from the lights themselves. Sometimes, 30 feet away. Remote tripping, if you will. This allows for better sensor locating for the task at hand, hopefully being able to locate such that false triggering from fluttering bushes or tree leaves in the line of sight or from traffic or pedestrians is avoided and prevents the attraction of moths fluttering in front of the sensor from tripping it all night long. A moth right in front of sensor is as large as an elephant walking across the lawn 50 feet a way. Sometimes, location and pointing requires aiming the unit so that you are only catching your human target from the waist down or similar. The occasional cat or dog can still trip this type of arrangement, but it helps avoid false trips from trees, bushes, etc.
About 15 years ago, Heath-Zenith marketed some really excellent sensors. Available all over the place ane comprised of two pieces....one was the sensor and the other the switch unit. Long lasting, easy to adjust and almost zero false trips. I have two of these units here and they're still in everyday use. However........as per normal....manufacturers cannot leave a good thing alone and the same was true here. They changed the sensors and not for the better. The new ones are much more prone to false triggering. Having discovered this some years back when mounting lights for a couple of clients, I immediately went off in search for some of the older units. Found a couple and they reside in my basement awaiting failure of one of my current units. (No, I'm not parting with them) ;-)
Unfortunately, I can't recommend a readily available unit for a difficult situation as it's been a few years since I did any new installs of these. I'll bet one exists out there somewhere and thinking maybe contacting a security system guy would lead to info concerning which one(s) are good these days.
Those false trips drive me nuts, but much of the potential for this depends upon the location of the sensor unit, how well it can be pointed and how much of what kind of stuff is out there in the field of sight to cause those false trips. The readily available units, remotely located, will work okay in the easy situations (may require some "sight-shielding" via various means).....but the more demanding situtions will probably still require that better unit.
Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
Edited 4/19/2005 11:55 am ET by GOLDHILLER
Heath-Zenith marketed some really excellent sensors
Yep, those were nice. You could actually "do" things with them, like adjust sensitivity, and responce times, and the like.
None of that with the plastic-cased, ahem, "stuff" presntly available.
"The light will motion respond on until it is off" is what the destructions for the last sensor I got says.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Thanks for the input guys. Some good info and at least I know I'm not the only one frustrated by some of the pieces of "less than desirable electronic craftmanship" I've purchased.
Mike
Mike, Couple notions here that may prove useful at one time or another.Various situations require different approaches, but I usually find that some manner of remote sensor location will get the deed done. Sometimes it takes a custom metal bracket so that the sensor can be mounted and pointed such that it can take in the desired field of view. I've found from experience that it's necessary to get that bracket really rigid or high winds out in the country can flex/shudder the unit and this is interpreted as motion in the field of view. False triggering results.If at all possible, I try to mount the sensor unit so it's "under roof" (under the soffit) so that it can't be rained on. Rain drops running down the face of the lens can also be interpreted as motion by the sensor. A couple units I mounted couldn't be mounted under roof while still taking in the desired field of view and so I built the mounting bracket with its own little sheet metal roof to avoid rain on the lens. (Heavy fog can also trip the sensors, but there isn't much you can do about that.)
The sensor's field of view can frequently be narrowed by simply applying some foil tape to the perimeter of the sensor lens.........or wherever necessary. That foil tape should last for many years out in the weather. Does for me anyway. You'll have to test the field of view afterwards of course to make sure it can still see what it should.Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
Edited 4/19/2005 10:38 pm ET by GOLDHILLER
I put four on the corners of our shack and they all seem to have different personalities. They were big box purchases and have been doing well for at least five years. One looks down on a heat pump compressor/cond. when it completes a defrost cycle it lights off (pun intended), very high winds and blowing rain will also trigger them. IIRC they were around $20at HD back in 1998.
"they all seem to have different personalities"I have no trouble believing that. <G> Ain't it fun? LOLAll manner of "stuff" can trigger these things. Heat pump could surely do that. Damn frustrating sometimes.......but it keeps the noggin' active tryin' to foresee potential problems. Good excercise for the gray matter and also a good excuse to reach for a brewski while pondering the possible causes of "errant" behavior.Those old Heath-Zeniths are the most reliable units I've ever used. Why, oh why, couldn't they leave a good thing alone?Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
Edited 4/20/2005 12:10 am ET by GOLDHILLER
I was just at the elec supply house and they were featuring RAB units. The website is http://www.rabweb.com
Check it out.
F