Beta-32 wrote:
I have been trying for a while now to figure out a wall-mounted outdoor
light that looks the way I want it to look, and that does what I want it
to do. And, since I cannot seem to find the light that has all the
features that I want (and don't want), I have an idea of how I may be
able to configure something that will work.

Here what I want and don't want:

I want a wall-mounted outdoor light looks okay as a front porch light
and that is not a flood light type of light. It will be the outdoor
front porch light above the door on a two-unit apartment building that I
rent out. I want the tenants to be able to turn the light on or off as
they choose, but if it is turned on or left turned on, I want it to be a
dusk-to-dawn light that will go on at dusk and off at dawn. But, if it
is turned off, or left turned off, I want it to work as a motion sensor
light that will automatically come on if someone approaches the front
door when it is dark out.

I know there are wall-mounted outdoor lights that are supposed have
these features, but all of them that I have found so far that combine
the dusk-to-dawn feature with a motion sensing feature are "programmed"
lights -- which means for the occupants to turn these features on and
off, they have to do some gyrations like flip the switch off for 1
second and then back on, etc. It's too complicated and no one can
figure out what the settings on the light really are. That might work
in a house that I own and live in myself because I can eventually learn
how to use it and make sure I set it the way I want it. But, with a
house occupied by others, that won't work.

Here's my idea about how I may be able to get what I want and I am
wondering if this will work:

1) I buy a light that looks the way that I want it to look and that is
just a dusk-to-dawn light without the motion sensing feature. I've seen
an inexpensive one at Lowes and/or Home Depot that is wall-mounted, that
is strictly dusk-to-dawn with no motion sensing features, and which uses
a plug-in type fluorescent bulb that will last a long time, uses much
less electricity, and the bulb is not compatible with indoor lights so
tenants won't have a tendency to steal the outside bulb to put in one of
their indoor lights when their inside light bulb goes out. With this
light, when the switch is on, the light is on, and when the switch is
off, the light is off -- except that with the switch on, the light will
only operate from dusk to dawn, so the light will not be on all day long
and look stupid.

2) I buy a motion sensor and wire it so that it is connected across the
same switch that controls the dusk-to-dawn light. So, when the light
switch is on, the light will be on (from dusk to dawn) and the motion
sensor will have no impact on the circuit because the switch circuit is
already closed. But, when the switch is off, and the switch circuit is
open, if someone walks by the motion sensor it will close the circuit
and the light will come on (as long as it is dark outside due to the
dusk-to-dawn feature of the light itself).

Will this work? I don't really know how a motion sensor device is wired
and whether it can be wired to be in parallel with the light switch so
that EITHER the light switch OR the motion sensor will close the circuit
to make the light come on. But, it seems like it would work as far as I
can tell.

I suspect that you are correct, but really the only way to try it is to
get a motion sensor and a photocell and have at it. You'll have to pull
a 3 conductor cable out to the light so you will also have an always hot
feed for the motion sensor; at least unless the existing fixture is not
wired with a switch leg.

Actually I would be interested to hear how you make out with this
experiment because I've thought of doing something similar myself - say
someone is supposed to come over so you flip the porch light on - it's
already light when you leave for work the next morning so you don't
notice it's on - light stays on for days. Likewise if you don't plan to
be out after dark so you don't turn on the lightbut are delayed a motion
sensor would be nice so you can find the keyhole without fumbling.

nate

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