Disconnect the black wire going from the house to the light fixture.Ĭonnect one black wire on the photocell to the black wire that comes from the building. Those black wires need to be tapped in to the black wire that runs between the light fixture and your structure’s main power. You should see two black wires on the photocell. You may want to document how it comes apart with photographs so that you can easily put it back together. Double check that the power is off by flipping the switch to the outdoor light to make sure it doesn’t turn on.ĭisassemble the housing that contains your exterior light. If you do not know which breaker powers your light, turn off all breakers in the building to ensure that power is cut off. Turn off the circuit breaker to your outside light. This project requires some electrical work, so if you do not feel confident or safe performing these tasks, you should contact an electrician to install the photocell for you. The following steps will guide you through the installation of a photocell sensor. How to Install a Photocell Sensor for Outdoor Use While a motion sensor might be useful to keep stray animals away from dumpsters and garbage cans, for example, a photocell can keep a parking lot safely and consistently lit for long periods of time. However, photocell sensors and motion sensors typically serve different purposes. Many outdoor lighting setupsuse motion sensors. As they sense the amount of light rather than operating at a set time, they don’t need to be adjusted when sunrise or sunset shifts with the seasons. Photocells work all year round, activating at dusk and turning off at dawn, even when the days are longer in summer or shorter in winter. The photocell acts similar to how a light switch would-as such, photocell sensors are also sometimes called photoelectric switches. With no user input required, there’s no concern about setting timers or forgetting to turn the lights on. This technology is convenient for all types of outdoor locations. As more light hits the plates, the resistance (the amount of current that travels through the resistor) changes, turning the light on and off. The photocell is made up of a resistor attached to photosensitive plates. Once the photocell detects low enough light levels, the light turns on or conversely, rising external light levels will turn the light off. Automatic lighting, such as streetlights, often uses photocell sensors-also known as photoeyes-to sense how much ambient light there is.
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