Types of Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights & Few Installation Tips
Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights as the name suggests is meant only for exterior applications primarily due to the Ingress Protection Standards that they adhere to. Ingress Protection Rating or the IP Code as it is commonly referred to plays a pivotal role in qualifying an outdoor motion sensor light suitably for external applications. It classifies the level of protection the device has against elemental intrusion of water, moisture, dust, human touch etc. as a result of which the mechanical and electrical enclosures should imperatively have the required protection.
Quite obviously, the Light Fixture has other components as well which must satisfy the I.P.Ratings as per the statutory guidelines established. For example, the Motion Sensor housing, Electrical Wiring both within the enclosure and the leads entering the fixture for the supply feed, the Light module enclosure protection and finally the structure on which the whole contraption is mounted. The structure needs to be galvanised, electroplated, chromed or powder coating as the case may be. The selection of Ferrous material too is very important whether it is stainless steel, Aluminium or engineering plastics that are fire retardant and structurally robust to withstand external influences. To give an example of a water immersed light fixture e.g. Swimming pools, ponds etc., the IP rating should be IP 65 or IP 66 as the case may be depending on the depth at which it is being mounted. As the depth increases the pressure on the fixture increases proportionately which too needs to be protected against.
External Applications for the Outdoor Automatic Lights can be quite elaborate. Independent Houses, Commercial Premises and Apartment Blocks all require different types of Intelligent Lighting – to put it in perspective, the Independent houses in the Western Countries need to have perimeter protection against any intrusion attempts as one of the major applications for security and surveillance. These Smart Lights need to provide general illumination but also spontaneous illumination to assist the operation of the CCTV camera as a result of which the Passive Infrared Motion Sensor integrated in the light fixture needs to be receptive to human motion obviating any unsolicited motion of the trees, leaves and even PET. Some suppliers call these Outdoor PIR Motion Sensors as Pet Immune. These PIR Motion Sensors must also be temperature stabilised so that they do not get influenced by extreme temperatures which may affect their detection range affecting the overall security apparatus.
A manual bypass is essential to circumvent the automatic motion sensor operation especially when there is a party or a get together in the premises. No guest wants the lights to go on and off when there are guests in the vicinity – it can get annoying and serves no real purpose of preventing intrusion or energy savings. The automatic Photocell operation which detects ambient light intensity and parameterises the operation of the light fixture to suit the lux threshold is pivotal in energy harnessing.
The Light dependent resistor ensures that the light fixture operates only if the threshold programmed in it gets breached which is mostly observed in the evening allowing the light fixture to operate with the PIR motion sensing operation The security based outdoor sensor lighting fixtures, also have a CREEP zone. Simplistically put, a creep zone does not allow any intruder to walk consciously or deliberately perpendicularly below the light fixture with a view to bypass the motion sensing range. There is a PIR Sensor placed on the bottom face of the light fixture to obviate any intrusion attempt.
The other application relates to House Number Light which displays the House Number to any approaching visitor. This light fixture is available in both the LED and the Non-LED version. However, in contemporary time, the LED has been combined with a Non – LED version to provide a more versatile light fixture, something that illuminates not just the display plate containing the House Number but the immediate surrounding area as well. This is actuated by a Passive Infrared Sensor and is a Wall Mount Fixture which all outdoor sensor lights in general are supposed to be.
The other common application is for Gardens, Porches, Driveway & Pathways. These are available as a floor mounted and a wall mounted fixture. But interestingly, Steinel launched the Solar LED Lamps with an integrated Motion Sensor. This is very unique as it does away with any external wiring requirements. Moreover the LED and the Motion Sensor ensures maximum energy savings for the end user.
Installation techniques are different for different types of outdoor motion sensor lights. Primarily, there is a 230V input feed which needs to be provided for. The insulation of the wires needs to conform to the required guidelines that are prescribed so that there is no short circuit or any accidents to the residents or occupants. Some of these light fixtures have an additional switching output which can be wired to another peripheral device like an alarm indicator.
The Range of Detection in PIR Sensors is a little tricky to manage. Steinel has introduced protective shrouds that mask off the areas of approach that do not need to be detected thereby avoiding any false or non-essential triggers. This is made from a plastic material that is mounted on the PIR Sensor module and cut to size depending on the end user. The Lux detection has been alluded above, but it plays a stellar role in ensuring that the light fixture harnesses energy at a sublime level for the home owner. It can be set via a potentiometer available on the control panel of the light fixture and adjusted to suit the ambient light level condition at which the home owner wants the light fixture to start operating in the evening and stop functioning in the morning hours after the advent of sunlight.
Quite obviously, the Light Fixture has other components as well which must satisfy the I.P.Ratings as per the statutory guidelines established. For example, the Motion Sensor housing, Electrical Wiring both within the enclosure and the leads entering the fixture for the supply feed, the Light module enclosure protection and finally the structure on which the whole contraption is mounted. The structure needs to be galvanised, electroplated, chromed or powder coating as the case may be. The selection of Ferrous material too is very important whether it is stainless steel, Aluminium or engineering plastics that are fire retardant and structurally robust to withstand external influences. To give an example of a water immersed light fixture e.g. Swimming pools, ponds etc., the IP rating should be IP 65 or IP 66 as the case may be depending on the depth at which it is being mounted. As the depth increases the pressure on the fixture increases proportionately which too needs to be protected against.
External Applications for the Outdoor Automatic Lights can be quite elaborate. Independent Houses, Commercial Premises and Apartment Blocks all require different types of Intelligent Lighting – to put it in perspective, the Independent houses in the Western Countries need to have perimeter protection against any intrusion attempts as one of the major applications for security and surveillance. These Smart Lights need to provide general illumination but also spontaneous illumination to assist the operation of the CCTV camera as a result of which the Passive Infrared Motion Sensor integrated in the light fixture needs to be receptive to human motion obviating any unsolicited motion of the trees, leaves and even PET. Some suppliers call these Outdoor PIR Motion Sensors as Pet Immune. These PIR Motion Sensors must also be temperature stabilised so that they do not get influenced by extreme temperatures which may affect their detection range affecting the overall security apparatus.
A manual bypass is essential to circumvent the automatic motion sensor operation especially when there is a party or a get together in the premises. No guest wants the lights to go on and off when there are guests in the vicinity – it can get annoying and serves no real purpose of preventing intrusion or energy savings. The automatic Photocell operation which detects ambient light intensity and parameterises the operation of the light fixture to suit the lux threshold is pivotal in energy harnessing.
The Light dependent resistor ensures that the light fixture operates only if the threshold programmed in it gets breached which is mostly observed in the evening allowing the light fixture to operate with the PIR motion sensing operation The security based outdoor sensor lighting fixtures, also have a CREEP zone. Simplistically put, a creep zone does not allow any intruder to walk consciously or deliberately perpendicularly below the light fixture with a view to bypass the motion sensing range. There is a PIR Sensor placed on the bottom face of the light fixture to obviate any intrusion attempt.
The other application relates to House Number Light which displays the House Number to any approaching visitor. This light fixture is available in both the LED and the Non-LED version. However, in contemporary time, the LED has been combined with a Non – LED version to provide a more versatile light fixture, something that illuminates not just the display plate containing the House Number but the immediate surrounding area as well. This is actuated by a Passive Infrared Sensor and is a Wall Mount Fixture which all outdoor sensor lights in general are supposed to be.
The other common application is for Gardens, Porches, Driveway & Pathways. These are available as a floor mounted and a wall mounted fixture. But interestingly, Steinel launched the Solar LED Lamps with an integrated Motion Sensor. This is very unique as it does away with any external wiring requirements. Moreover the LED and the Motion Sensor ensures maximum energy savings for the end user.
Installation techniques are different for different types of outdoor motion sensor lights. Primarily, there is a 230V input feed which needs to be provided for. The insulation of the wires needs to conform to the required guidelines that are prescribed so that there is no short circuit or any accidents to the residents or occupants. Some of these light fixtures have an additional switching output which can be wired to another peripheral device like an alarm indicator.
The Range of Detection in PIR Sensors is a little tricky to manage. Steinel has introduced protective shrouds that mask off the areas of approach that do not need to be detected thereby avoiding any false or non-essential triggers. This is made from a plastic material that is mounted on the PIR Sensor module and cut to size depending on the end user. The Lux detection has been alluded above, but it plays a stellar role in ensuring that the light fixture harnesses energy at a sublime level for the home owner. It can be set via a potentiometer available on the control panel of the light fixture and adjusted to suit the ambient light level condition at which the home owner wants the light fixture to start operating in the evening and stop functioning in the morning hours after the advent of sunlight.
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