Are Lighting Motion Detectors completely waterproof??

[treimers]

Hi everyone -

I'm getting ready to install one of the below motion detectors:

I'm wanting to wire it into a lamp I have on a rock post at the top of the steps
leading up from my parking area.
I don't want a dawn to dusk sensor there, I want a motion detection light.
Apparently, you cannot buy a motion detecting lamp that is post mounted.
You can buy dawn-to-dusk post mounting, or you can buy motion detecting
lights that are designed to mount on your house.

Most pictures show the motion detecting lights up under the eave of your house, protected from direct weather.

I'm going to rig up some way to have that motion sensor
connected through the base of my existing post mounted lamp.
I've done this before for existing lights on my porches, but haven't done it
for a light that's completely exposed to the elements.

Can the sensors for these be in direct weather, with snow and rain landing directly on the sensor?


http://www.lowes.com/pd_247582-85538-SH-5316-BZ_0__?productId=3027893&Ntt=sh-5316&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dsh-5316&facetInfo=

If the link doesn't work, just enter SH-5316 in Lowes search, if you want to.

The user manual is here:
http://pdf.lowes.com/useandcareguides/016963531673_use.pdf

 

[rockwithjason]

those are designed to be mounted to a jbox. the jbox can be recessed in the wall or surface mount on what ever you want. the fixture is exterior rated and can be mounted anywhere outside. the only caution i have is to avoid having your sprinkler system spray directly on it for long periods of time.

 

[treimers]

So I'm going to check and see how I can mount the thing onto the base of the lamp.
I'd put it inside,but the glass on the lamp would interfere for sure!

If I can figure out how to mount the thing, I will also look to see how
I can make a shade of sorts out of sheet metal
...

This is going to be ugly no matter how I do it, since the rock post is very old,
the wiring isn't that great, but was concreted into place decades ago.
No conduit or anything like that, else I'd make some sort of "brass" ring
and re-mount the entire lamp on that, and put a window for the sensor into the base.

I'd tear down the whole thing, but I don't want to turn a 'change the lamp' into a "start with a hole in the ground" sort of thing...