motion detecting landscape lights

[Revin]

I would like to line one side of my driveway with landscape lights and have them come on when a car comes down the driveway.

My driveway starts about 1000' from house, I figure only about 1/4 the way to the house is where I want them. ( don't want planes landing)

So..
Can I place a motion detecting sensor at the far end of driveway and have the transformer on the opposite end on the side of the house?

MD --lite---lite---lite----lite----lite ----Transformer

The low voltage wire is 2 strand but I think I need a 3rd wire for the MD?
How to do this?

Any help? Can it be done? low cost of course

 

[checkthisout]

Yes, exactly how you said. You just need a 12v motion detector or 300' of 110 wiring.

 

[matt151617]

You would have to have the transformer next to the house- then run a wire all the way down the driveway to the motion detector, then go from the motion detector back up the driveway to each light. You would essentially be making a big U shape. No need for 3 wires, the motion detector will control the power to the lights. No need for 110 wire, just plug the transformer into an outside outlet (with the proper in-use cover).

 

[turbowoodworker]

I just thought of this. Maybe put the MD at the transformer and duct tape a 3x rifle scope to the MD and aim it at the driveway 1000' away. Saves all that wire. Would that work?
I know, I'm not much help.

 

[Falcon67]

I just thought of this. Maybe put the MD at the transformer and duct tape a 3x rifle scope to the MD and aim it at the driveway 1000' away. Saves all that wire. Would that work?
I know, I'm not much help.

IIRC, most work off heat/infrared not light.

 

[greenbikemike]

I have some solar powered and a battery powered lights that work great, easy set-up, check it out....

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Mr-Beams...Sensing-LED-Spot-Light-3-Pack-MB393/205403781

Greenbikemike

 

[Revin]

You would have to have the transformer next to the house- then run a wire all the way down the driveway to the motion detector, then go from the motion detector back up the driveway to each light. You would essentially be making a big U shape. No need for 3 wires, the motion detector will control the power to the lights. No need for 110 wire, just plug the transformer into an outside outlet (with the proper in-use cover).

So it can be done with 2x the wire needed huh. That way does make since to me... now to find a good deal on wire. lol

12V MD huh will look that up as well.

No solar for me, just cannot tolerate them.

thanks guys!

 

[checkthisout]

So it can be done with 2x the wire needed huh. That way does make since to me... now to find a good deal on wire. lol

12V MD huh will look that up as well.

No solar for me, just cannot tolerate them.

thanks guys!

Like this Revin

You only need 3 wires total. Like this:

View media item 58810
Then use this sensor:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HLWXCHI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If the sensor can't handle the amps your lights will draw, then use it to control a 12V relay that can.

 

[dw1]

Like this Revin

You only need 3 wires total. Like this:

View media item 58810
Then use this sensor:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HLWXCHI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If the sensor can't handle the amps your lights will draw, then use it to control a 12V relay that can.

+1

 

[Revin]

WOW

I have "Check THAT Out" and that is the best answer I have ever got!!!

I was wanting something simple like that.
even though the long u shape mentioned before,was about to get done.....
yeah this works!
I ordered the sensor as well!
Thank You my friend CTOv

 

[dogdog]

I think the relay between the red and the gray then the motion sensor to drive the relay from the red would be better.... this way you can have a motion sensor at each end or even a motion sensor the middle of that 1000' drive way with 3 sensor 3 relays.... and plenty of lights in between.... that was my plan for my parent's 100' driveway... just have to order up those sensors and relys and lights... not sure what's a good brand. Post some pic of what you choose please... would like some ideas on the light selections.

 

[matt151617]

So it can be done with 2x the wire needed huh. That way does make since to me... now to find a good deal on wire. lol

12V MD huh will look that up as well.

No solar for me, just cannot tolerate them.

thanks guys!

Check supply houses, they may be able to get you a big roll. Also look at lamp cord, or speaker cord, sometimes it's cheaper and is exactly the same thing.

 

[bzinsky]

I think it's a little more complicated with your situation.

1000ft is a long ways to run at 12v, well 2000ft at your last light. I'd run 110v from the house and put the transformer and the motion sensor at the start of the gate.

A basic online calculator says 1000ft of 10gauge wire at 12volts, 1 amp load will cause a 16.67% drop in voltage.

At 110volts, same everything, but 14 gauge wire, will cause a 4.59% drop in voltage.

To achieve a 4.17 voltage drop @ 12volts/1amp, you will need to run 1000ft of 4 gauge wire.

So however you slice it, you're going to need to spend a lot more on wire if you run 12volts from the house.

 

[bzinsky]

http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023903&p_id=3846&seq=1&format=2

fyi, this is what I use for the couple of light systems I've done, it holds up great.

It's got a PVC jacket, and in-ground wire is pvc insulated, so figured it would work the same, have had 0 issues with it on systems up and running for 2 years now.

 

[matt151617]

I think it's a little more complicated with your situation.

1000ft is a long ways to run at 12v, well 2000ft at your last light. I'd run 110v from the house and put the transformer and the motion sensor at the start of the gate.

A basic online calculator says 1000ft of 10gauge wire at 12volts, 1 amp load will cause a 16.67% drop in voltage.

At 110volts, same everything, but 14 gauge wire, will cause a 4.59% drop in voltage.

To achieve a 4.17 voltage drop @ 12volts/1amp, you will need to run 1000ft of 4 gauge wire.

So however you slice it, you're going to need to spend a lot more on wire if you run 12volts from the house.

That's a good point. The OP said he wants the lights to start 750ft from the house. So he's looking at 3 1000' rolls of #14 THHN, and 75 sections of conduit and connectors. Coming back up, he'll need at minimum #8 wire due to the voltage drop.

OP, you may want to bite the bullet and do solar- it'll be massively cheaper and easier. You could always install a wireless driveway sensor also, and put a motion light on the side of the house. If you're dead-set on that system, then a stand-alone solar system with a battery box may be your best option. That would supply 12v without the need for a transformer, although you'll still have the voltage drop problem.

 

[csp]

Motion sensor in the ground that triggers a wireless relay, similar to how motion detectors work in automatic gate openers.

I'm not sure what you do for a receiver to receive signal from the motion detector, but there's bound to be electronics out there to work as a receiver to trigger the lights.

 

[Revin]

Yeah after a price look-up. I may have to shorten the run or *gulp* go solar.

Wonder if this will work better, http://www.house-alarmsystem.com/se...t_wall_for_courtyard-103134.html#.Vui__U32bcs
just need to see if the 1000mAh receiving terminal would trigger the LV lights.

 

[matt151617]

Another cheaper option to consider- mount some 120v motion/flood lights on the driveway, either on trees or posts. You could do 3 lights (with 2 65w bulbs per light), for a total of 500 feet, and get away with #12 wiring.

 

[greenbikemike]

No solar for me, just cannot tolerate them.

Yeah after a price look-up. I may have to shorten the run or *gulp* go solar.



Solar has come a long way and would be a breeze to do,just wondering why the hate for solar? I have some..... mount them and forget them,once in a while I'll wipe the panels off,but really,they give a lot of light.Try one and see if you like it,it could surprise you.

Greenbikemike

 

[Revin]

Well not "hating " on the solar's so much as I may have implied, but the ones I have used be it cheap Wal-Mart ones work "ok" sometimes on sometimes not. biggest factor is the sun would be blocked by the very large oak trees lining the driveway and a satellite solar cell ones would look kinda out there on it's own. solar is still a last resort for me for now.

 

[bzinsky]

Yeah after a price look-up. I may have to shorten the run or *gulp* go solar.

Wonder if this will work better, http://www.house-alarmsystem.com/se...t_wall_for_courtyard-103134.html#.Vui__U32bcs
just need to see if the 1000mAh receiving terminal would trigger the LV lights.

Why not just go 110volt from house. Put your transformer out a ways. That's what I'd do.

They make very small transformers, like smaller then your fist.

Personally I say ditch the motion and just line both sides with 1 watt led's. Won't use much energy at all and will likely look amazing