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motion activated dusk to dawn light?

BLUE72CAMARO

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Jan 1, 2014
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IL
I am trying to find a security light that is motion sensing to put over the door of my second pole barn. I have an area light similar to this on my front shed that is closest to the back of the house and it lights the back yard up just fine for my every night needs. But the driveway running back to the other shed is extremely dark at night especially when trying to back a trailer in. So I want to add a motion sensing light because I think two area lights in such a small area is overkill and I really dont need to light up over an acre around the clock but that kind of coverage on a motion sensor would be nice so I could see surroundings at night when backing a trailer in. As is I cant see anything on the trailer or around it until it is inside the lighted shed as is.

So whats available for this? I have been searching but either I am using wrong terms or there really isnt anything like this out there. Also would prefer LED just for longevity at this point.

Here is an overhead shot of my place so you get an idea of how a light on the front of the front shed does absolutely nothing for the back building.
 

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Tractorsellr

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Home Depot has some in the store, more will be online. Just search LED motion flood light.
 

Hubmonkey

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Not sure if this is something you would consider or not. I have one of these on the front of our Home shop and it throws pretty decent light. It has a couple things that I liked and that is you can set it Dusk to dawn with a reduced output (30% if I remember right) of light until there is a Motion Event, Then it goes to 100%. You can also turn this off where it is off until there is a motion event. It is all configured via an app on you phone with bluetooth.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant...-Outdoor-Security-Light-DFI-5985-WH/205937594

Hub
 
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BLUE72CAMARO

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Not sure if this is something you would consider or not. I have one of these on the front of our Home shop and it throws pretty decent light. It has a couple things that I liked and that is you can set it Dusk to dawn with a reduced output (30% if I remember right) of light until there is a Motion Event, Then it goes to 100%. You can also turn this off where it is off until there is a motion event. It is all configured via an app on you phone with bluetooth.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant...-Outdoor-Security-Light-DFI-5985-WH/205937594

Hub

Wish they had a photo showing the lighting pattern as I need some light outward but I need straight below covered as well and this light will be 14' above the driveway. Thats why I like the way my area light lights up everything but I just dont want it on all the time. Also I dont think I really need the bluetooth stuff for where this light is going as it will be set once and never touched again until it quits working. But I could see a light like this being very useful up closer to the house.

Also solar powered is a no go as its on the north side of the building and has a lot of large oak trees around it as well.
 

Hubmonkey

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The heads are adjustable and they can be angled down and outwards. Mine is at least 12 feet above the ground.

Hub
 

Bretny

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Whats wrong with a $20 box store motion sensencing light with two screw in bulbs? That should run you roughly $35-40 with two 120w LED lights.

Depending on where your going to place that light i would use spot bulbs. If you want it to pickup motion from the house and back barn if its mounted on the front barn that could get tricky.
 

Red 17

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Oct 25, 2018
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Pasadena CA
I have two setups. One is on a photo cell, with a motion at the light fixture. The other is on an adjusting timer. The timer adjusts the off and on based on your location, and has an automatic DST change, although that has changed. Close enough. I have that for my gate/driveway lights that are on every night all night. I branched off it for the trash can area, again with a box store light as described in pose 7.
 

dogdog

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I like motion activated so I can track the movement of critters. Works great for backing in equipment. I just bought 6 more of these last week.

https://www.costco.com/Sunforce-Solar-Motion-Security-Light.product.100475926.html


Second this one... it's on sale this week as well....

I have 3 older solar power ones running at parents since 2017-ish.... still strong.. 3 hard wired ones (non-solar , but not dust till dawn, just motion, and it's on a timer)....


and 3 hard wire ones (non-dust to dawn, just motion ) at home, it's been great... and price is right...

I have tried the other box store brands and they **** or finicky, a simple programmed timer on a switch with just the motion sensor lights is better.

This brand is what I have at home... works great... might be older model, it was $29.99 on sale.. bough extra as backup..


https://www.costco.com/Home-Zone-LED-Motion-Sensor-Security-Light.product.100354462.html
 
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BLUE72CAMARO

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Whats wrong with a $20 box store motion sensencing light with two screw in bulbs? That should run you roughly $35-40 with two 120w LED lights.

Depending on where your going to place that light i would use spot bulbs. If you want it to pickup motion from the house and back barn if its mounted on the front barn that could get tricky.

To be honest they would probably work but I was hoping to find something that would give a wider less concentrated coverage. It does not need to pick up motion from any other location, although it would be nice if it could pick me up walking to the entry door on the side of the front shed. That should be in the ball park of 60 ft straight ahead from the front of the back shed so probably right on the ragged edge and not absolutely necessary.
 

chrismenke

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It is worth getting one that ramps up/down if you'll have any exposure to it from your home. The immediate on/off can get really annoying, but the ramp up is far less so.
 
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BLUE72CAMARO

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I am not to concerned about the instant on and off to be honest as I wont use this light that much. I think the more critical thing for me is a decent detection circuit that is reliable as it will be a pain for me to work on this thing once it is up.

Here is a picture showing the area and even though it isnt dark you can see how the area light is lighting up pretty much the whole back yard in front of the front building. Also helps show how the doors to my buildings are laid out.
 

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cybrdyke

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Low cost outdoor motion sensing equipment is so flimsy and unreliable that it's not worth the hassle. Considering that modern LED wallpacks only draw 30 to 50 watts, it makes more sense to ditch the sensors and let the light stay on all night.
CD
 

road_king

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Dec 17, 2018
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Eastern USA
Look into the RAB Stealth line of outdoor lighting. I have 2 mounted 20 ft up on corners of my garage and they work better than any other product I've purchased at box stores. They cost more but are worth it. Rarely any false on from wind etc.
If you want LED capable may require purchasing a separate sensor as most of their complete units are par38 incandescent capable only.
Call their 800 number. They are very helpful over the phone. (888) 722-1000
 
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BLUE72CAMARO

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Look into the RAB Stealth line of outdoor lighting. I have 2 mounted 20 ft up on corners of my garage and they work better than any other product I've purchased at box stores. They cost more but are worth it. Rarely any false on from wind etc.
If you want LED capable may require purchasing a separate sensor as most of their complete units are par38 incandescent capable only.
Call their 800 number. They are very helpful over the phone. (888) 722-1000

It looks like they have an LED line of motion lights as well.
 
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