Hi all,
I installed a remote controlled automatic sliding gate last year which has a
240v output feed for a courtesy light which is latched on for approx 15
minutes after operation of the gate, either closing or opening.
I have bought myself a couple of bulkhead lights to connect up to this but
the missus wants them wired up so that they only operate during the hours of
darkness.
Can anyone please give me some advice as to the best possible way to do
this.
Thanks for any input,

Franko.

On Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:16:38 +0100 someone who may be "Franko"
wrote this:-

Hi all,
I installed a remote controlled automatic sliding gate last year which has a
240v output feed for a courtesy light which is latched on for approx 15
minutes after operation of the gate, either closing or opening.
I have bought myself a couple of bulkhead lights to connect up to this but
the missus wants them wired up so that they only operate during the hours of
darkness.
Can anyone please give me some advice as to the best possible way to do
this.

Connect the switched live for the courtesy light to a photocell, a
variety are available from the usual suppliers. Connect the output
of this to the lights.

You will need to work out what additional connections are needed for
your particular photocell. Certainly neutral and earth, but you may
also need a permanent live to the photocell.

Alternatively, bulkhead lights with built-in photocells are
available. These are wired up in the obvious way, the output of the
courtesy light is connected directly to the bulkhead lights.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

On 16/10/2007 16:16, Franko wrote:

Hi all,
I installed a remote controlled automatic sliding gate last year which has a
240v output feed for a courtesy light which is latched on for approx 15
minutes after operation of the gate, either closing or opening.
I have bought myself a couple of bulkhead lights to connect up to this but
the missus wants them wired up so that they only operate during the hours of
darkness.

take the courtesy light output of the gate controller and feed it to a
dusk sensor, e.g.
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ERPEC1000.html
then run the light(s) from that

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
...
On 16/10/2007 16:16, Franko wrote:

Hi all,
I installed a remote controlled automatic sliding gate last year which
has a 240v output feed for a courtesy light which is latched on for
approx 15 minutes after operation of the gate, either closing or opening.
I have bought myself a couple of bulkhead lights to connect up to this
but the missus wants them wired up so that they only operate during the
hours of darkness.

take the courtesy light output of the gate controller and feed it to a
dusk sensor, e.g.
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ERPEC1000.html
then run the light(s) from that


Thanks for the replies but the line in the description of this sensor
"Pre-calibrated to allow for a 10 minute warming up period for sodium or
mercury lighting" leads me to believe that it wouldn't work quickly enough
to switch on the bulkhead lamps immediately the feed becomes live ...or am I
missing some point ?
Cheers,
Franko.

On 16/10/2007 19:25, Franko wrote:

Thanks for the replies but the line in the description of this sensor
"Pre-calibrated to allow for a 10 minute warming up period for sodium or
mercury lighting" leads me to believe that it wouldn't work quickly enough
to switch on the bulkhead lamps immediately the feed becomes live

plenty more to choose from if not sure

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...s_1/index.html

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
...
On 16/10/2007 19:25, Franko wrote:

Thanks for the replies but the line in the description of this sensor
"Pre-calibrated to allow for a 10 minute warming up period for sodium or
mercury lighting" leads me to believe that it wouldn't work quickly
enough to switch on the bulkhead lamps immediately the feed becomes live

plenty more to choose from if not sure

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...s_1/index.html

Thanks Andy,
as I have never used standalone sensors before, I'm a bit flummoxed - do you
think that any of these would be more suitable than the other for my
application, i.e. instant power to my lights during the hours of darkness ?
Cheers.

On 16/10/2007 19:59, Franko wrote:

as I have never used standalone sensors before, I'm a bit flummoxed - do you
think that any of these would be more suitable than the other for my
application, i.e. instant power to my lights during the hours of darkness ?

the instruction sheets for them are downloadable, I'd go for the
"dumbest" one avalable, I notice that some of them need to stay on for a
a full night's cycle to "gauge" the darkness levels when they are first
reset, you don't want one that thinks it's been reset everytime you
power it up by opening the gate, I've only used a combined PIR/dusk
sensor, but that's generally left powered on ...

Franko wrote:

Thanks for the replies but the line in the description of this sensor
"Pre-calibrated to allow for a 10 minute warming up period for sodium or
mercury lighting" leads me to believe that it wouldn't work quickly enough
to switch on the bulkhead lamps immediately the feed becomes live ...or am I
missing some point ?

I think that simply means it will switch on 10 mins sooner than it
otherwise would based on detection of dusk alone. That way discharge
lamps have time to get up to brightness before they are actually needed.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

"John Rumm" wrote in message
...
Franko wrote:

Thanks for the replies but the line in the description of this sensor
"Pre-calibrated to allow for a 10 minute warming up period for sodium or
mercury lighting" leads me to believe that it wouldn't work quickly
enough to switch on the bulkhead lamps immediately the feed becomes live
...or am I missing some point ?

I think that simply means it will switch on 10 mins sooner than it
otherwise would based on detection of dusk alone. That way discharge lamps
have time to get up to brightness before they are actually needed.

--
Cheers,

John.

Ah! Thanks for that John.

Franko wrote:
Hi all,
I installed a remote controlled automatic sliding gate last year which has a
240v output feed for a courtesy light which is latched on for approx 15
minutes after operation of the gate, either closing or opening.
I have bought myself a couple of bulkhead lights to connect up to this but
the missus wants them wired up so that they only operate during the hours of
darkness.
Can anyone please give me some advice as to the best possible way to do
this.
Thanks for any input,

Franko.



Listen to Owain, he's got the best solution. I agree that for best
results, the dusk/dawn sensor needs to be permanently powered.

Or, you could hack the gate controller box. If the gate controller box
has a relay for the courtesy light, then just feed this relay from the
switched live on a dusk/dawn sensor and connect your courtesy light as
normal.

"Rumble" wrote in message
...
Franko wrote:
Hi all,
I installed a remote controlled automatic sliding gate last year which
has a 240v output feed for a courtesy light which is latched on for
approx 15 minutes after operation of the gate, either closing or opening.
I have bought myself a couple of bulkhead lights to connect up to this
but the missus wants them wired up so that they only operate during the
hours of darkness.
Can anyone please give me some advice as to the best possible way to do
this.
Thanks for any input,

Franko.



Listen to Owain, he's got the best solution. I agree that for best
results, the dusk/dawn sensor needs to be permanently powered.

Or, you could hack the gate controller box. If the gate controller box
has a relay for the courtesy light, then just feed this relay from the
switched live on a dusk/dawn sensor and connect your courtesy light as
normal.

Cheers Rumble, this is all going a bit over my head now with talk of hacking
the relay in the controller box, it was hard enough just getting the gate
motor set up with the limited space for wiring and the very poor instruction
manual ..... I think it all worked by luck in the end - the wiring diagram
is even worse but I think I may have a pdf of it on my pc at home so I'll
try to post an image somewhere when I get home and hopefully some kind
person can identify if this idea is workable.
ps. I may sound like a numbskull and some of you may be wondering if I
should be attempting something I have no knowledge about but I am very
careful around electricity and will not attempt it unless I understand the
logic behind it.
Thanks for everyones patience,
Franko.

Franko wrote:
"Rumble" wrote in message
...
Franko wrote:
Hi all,
I installed a remote controlled automatic sliding gate last year which
has a 240v output feed for a courtesy light which is latched on for
approx 15 minutes after operation of the gate, either closing or opening.
I have bought myself a couple of bulkhead lights to connect up to this
but the missus wants them wired up so that they only operate during the
hours of darkness.
Can anyone please give me some advice as to the best possible way to do
this.
Thanks for any input,

Franko.



Listen to Owain, he's got the best solution. I agree that for best
results, the dusk/dawn sensor needs to be permanently powered.

Or, you could hack the gate controller box. If the gate controller box
has a relay for the courtesy light, then just feed this relay from the
switched live on a dusk/dawn sensor and connect your courtesy light as
normal.

Cheers Rumble, this is all going a bit over my head now with talk of hacking
the relay in the controller box, it was hard enough just getting the gate
motor set up with the limited space for wiring and the very poor instruction
manual ..... I think it all worked by luck in the end - the wiring diagram
is even worse but I think I may have a pdf of it on my pc at home so I'll
try to post an image somewhere when I get home and hopefully some kind
person can identify if this idea is workable.
ps. I may sound like a numbskull and some of you may be wondering if I
should be attempting something I have no knowledge about but I am very
careful around electricity and will not attempt it unless I understand the
logic behind it.
Thanks for everyones patience,
Franko.


By all means put the wiring diagram up and we'll see what we can come up
with.

"Rumble" wrote in message
...
Franko wrote:
"Rumble" wrote in message
...
Franko wrote:
Hi all,
I installed a remote controlled automatic sliding gate last year which
has a 240v output feed for a courtesy light which is latched on for
approx 15 minutes after operation of the gate, either closing or
opening.
I have bought myself a couple of bulkhead lights to connect up to this
but the missus wants them wired up so that they only operate during the
hours of darkness.
Can anyone please give me some advice as to the best possible way to do
this.
Thanks for any input,

Franko.



Listen to Owain, he's got the best solution. I agree that for best
results, the dusk/dawn sensor needs to be permanently powered.

Or, you could hack the gate controller box. If the gate controller box
has a relay for the courtesy light, then just feed this relay from the
switched live on a dusk/dawn sensor and connect your courtesy light as
normal.

Cheers Rumble, this is all going a bit over my head now with talk of
hacking the relay in the controller box, it was hard enough just getting
the gate motor set up with the limited space for wiring and the very poor
instruction manual ..... I think it all worked by luck in the end - the
wiring diagram is even worse but I think I may have a pdf of it on my pc
at home so I'll try to post an image somewhere when I get home and
hopefully some kind person can identify if this idea is workable.
ps. I may sound like a numbskull and some of you may be wondering if I
should be attempting something I have no knowledge about but I am very
careful around electricity and will not attempt it unless I understand
the logic behind it.
Thanks for everyones patience,
Franko.
By all means put the wiring diagram up and we'll see what we can come up
with.

Thanks Rumble, I've had the document hosted at
http://www.mooload.com/new/file.php?...tation.pdf&s=t
it is a pdf document of about 123kb so not too large.
After looking through it, I now realise that the light is actually only
activated for 2 minutes so that is not really a long enough time as opposed
to being too long. Could your method give me a bit more control over the
actions that are available to me now ?
Thanks again,
Franko.