Sensor Lights Outside

[hellywelly4]

I would light lights at my front door and back door which light up when someone approaches. I already have ordinary lights there, but they have to be switched on from inside. Can I buy light bulbs to fit in their sockets or will I need brand new fittings?

[donny48]

I don't quite undersand your question. Are you asking if there is a bulb that will fit in your existing lamp that will detect movement ?

[gingejbee]

The motion sensors are not in the actual bulbs....so I don't think you'll find that simply changing bulbs will make them "automatic"...new fittings I think!

[donny48]

The existing lamps and bulbs will be ok, you need to fit a sensor (PIR) in the line between your switch and lamp.

[bhg481]

Do you mean this sort of thing?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=motion+activated+bulb&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=103125813051&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12011526637439826952&hvpone=&;hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007049&hvtargid=kwd-26809983763&ref=pd_sl_72k1p70xis_b

[donny48]

bhg, I have learned something new, I did not realise that such a bulb existed. The only problem that I have found with lamps with an inbuilt sensor and with these bulbs of course is that sometimes the lamp or bulb is not in the correct place for the movement.

[hellywelly4]

donny48 - yes. I used to have sensor lights where I lived before, but they were special units. I will look into what a PIR is and also investigate the bulbs in your link bhg.
Many thanks everyone. I'm just trying to save the expense of having an electrician round to fit them.

[gingejbee]

I think that the bulbs in the above link are for indoor use only...they probably won't work in an outside fitting....

[trt]

i have had 2 of these for the past 2 years, no probs at all.

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[donny48]

A PIR is just a sensor. If you took the cable that now goes to your lamp and pass it through the sensor then on to your lamp then you can place the sensor in the optimum position. The " auto" bulbs are quite expensive to buy and replace, a separate sensor for about £10 lasts in my porch 12 yrs and still going. Any competent DIY should be able to do it.

[bhg481]

I mustsay I would be cautious about having the bulbs "out in the weather" and putting them inside a waterproof housing would probably stop the infra-red bit operating, but having them under cover, say under a canopy, would probably be alright.

[hellywelly4]

I'm feeling a bit daunted. They would both be outside in the weather, so I will contact an electrician. I don't think you can wire anything into existing circuits these days without being qualified.

[bhg481]

trt's recommendation would work out a lot cheaper than getting an electrician in. In any case, you can do more to electrical circuits now than you could a few years ago - Google electric regulations.

[donny48]

TRT solution costs £8 . Buy one and try it out and if it does the job Then it may well be the cheapest solution, You could hang or fix it anywhere as a test, if it does not suit then you lose the £8 if it is ok then you could buy another.

[hellywelly4]

Thanks for your help everyone.

[237SJ]

If you don`t mind a light being on all night you could just put a low energy dusk to dawn bulb in the existing light