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[JoKer]

Hello,

I have a dilemma with my floodlight motion sensors (model PR511):  I want to get X10 codes from detected motion 24/7 but having the floodlights coming on during the day just wastes energy!  Apparently, even though the units have photocells for dusk/dawn operation, there is no way to configure the units so the floodlights will kick on only after dark while sending X10 motion codes at any time.

Question 1:  Is there any special way to configure the units to "work around" the problem so they will turn their floods on only after dark, but send the motion codes all the time?  (If so, how?)

Question 2:  If the answer to Question 1 is "no", then is there any field modification for the sensors that would allow night-only operation of the floods while still sending the X10 motion code(s) all the time - even if it would require an external trigger of the unit's base code to turn the floods on and off, as via a macro?  (If so, how?)

Question 3:  If the answers to Questions 1 & 2 are both "no", then what is the best alternative that would allow the sensors to send their motion codes all the time, and allow floodlights to operate in response to the motion but only at night?

The first option that comes to mind would be to wire the floods to a separate X10 relay module.  (Preferrably, it would be some module type that could be installed at the floodlight location, to avoid having to run another AC circuit out to the location).  What would be the best module to use?

Or, is there some better way to suppress these daytime floodlight energy-wasters?

Thanks in advance!

[dave w]

There are a couple of work arounds.

The first you have already hit on. I installed a second outdoor box connected to the box that the PR511 is mounted to. The second box held a WS467 wall switch which fed the lights on the 511. The PR511 would send motion detection HCUC to my home control system and it would send a HCUC "ON" at night, to the seperatly addressed WS467. This depends on a home control system to apply the conditional logic of "is it day or night?".

However the genius "Dave HA" has a much simpler work around. Get a couple "Dusk to Dawn" light control sockets (the smallest you can find) and install them in the PR511 fixtures...that Dave HA is pretty smart.

[JoKer]

There are a couple of work arounds.

The first you have already hit on. I installed a second outdoor box connected to the box that the PR511 is mounted to. The second box held a WS467 wall switch which fed the lights on the 511. The PR511 would send motion detection HCUC to my home control system and it would send a HCUC "ON" at night, to the seperatly addressed WS467. This depends on a home control system to apply the conditional logic of "is it day or night?".

However the genius "Dave HA" has a much simpler work around. Get a couple "Dusk to Dawn" light control sockets (the smallest you can find) and install them in the PR511 fixtures...that Dave HA is pretty smart.

I take it there is nothing that can be done with (or to) the PR511 units, then?  (Seems like that's a rather glaring functional omission!)

Anyway, what sort of electrical box do you use that protects the wall switch unit enough for outdoor use?  I considered using WS units, but thought I might get into trouble because they aren't rated for outdoor use.  I also was not sure they would handle the floodlight loads, because I've had some modules that failed while controlling loads that were not even 75% of their rated loads!

When you mentioned "D-to-D light control sockets", are they a sensor that attaches to the fixture box, and both floodlight lampholders get wired to it, or are they a screw-in device, where one device is required for each floodlight bulb?  (Sounds like it might get expensive for half a dozen, or more, locations).

I'm all for simple, but economics also come into play.  It's all so darned frustrating that the PR511 units themselves don't provide this "obvious" functionality, instead of requiring some add-on stuff.  It would make life so much simpler (and less costly) if they had provided this capability.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[dave w]

1. Nope, nothing you can do at the PR511.
2. I used an outdoor box with a "switch cover".  http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Outdoor-Switch-Covers/.
3. In the tight enclosure I would de-rate the WS467 to 300W or 350W. I used two 150W PAR floods with no problems.
4. Nope they are the screw in type like this, http://www.amazon.com/Dusk-Light-Socket-Photocell-White/dp/B000HOSZNS but you would need outside use units.

[JoKer]

1. Nope, nothing you can do at the PR511.
2. I used an outdoor box with a "switch cover".  http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Outdoor-Switch-Covers/.
3. In the tight enclosure I would de-rate the WS467 to 300W or 350W. I used two 150W PAR floods with no problems.
4. Nope they are the screw in type like this, http://www.amazon.com/Dusk-Light-Socket-Photocell-White/dp/B000HOSZNS but you would need outside use units.

2.  Have you noticed any issues with that type of cover?  (I've had a lot of trouble with moisture seepage into the so-called weathertight outdoor outlet boxes/covers - and I'm sure that would not do the WS any good.  It may be that it is a problem that's specific to the receptacle boxes, though).

3.  Hmmm;  I'd better check that because it seems like some of mine are running 300W floodlights (although I may be thinking of 150W x 2 = 300W, rather than actually 300W x 2).

4.  I take it there is no problem fitting those screw-in dusk controllers into the floodlight lampholders?  (I once tried to screw a SocketRocket into one of those lampholders, but it would not fit, so it makes me wonder about similar devices, too).  The other thing I'm curious about is whether there are any issues with the light from the floodlights causing the sensors to think that it is daylight, and causing some sort of on/off oscillations.  (I saw something of that nature once when I tried to use the dusk-dawn mode of a PR511).

Anyway, I just thought I'd try to clear up the questions before diving in!

Thanks.

[bkenobi]

You could install a hard-wired dusk-to-dawn on the fixture(s) instead of the screw in type if that would improve the setup.  This one is bigger than what I've seen in the store, but this one is weather-proof.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202188719&storeId=10051

Depending on the fixture, these can be easier or harder to use.