Two motion sensors on one circuit?

jjohnson · 01-03-2007, 01:54 AM

Greetings all, what a great forum, I just discovered it.

I have a walkway row of three outdoor post-mounted lamps on one circuit. Each takes a single bulb of max 100 watts. It was recently installed by a contractor with a simple day/night sensor so that all lamps go on at dusk and off at dawn.

Here's my question: I'd like to avoid having the lamps on all night - it makes the walkway look a little too inviting at 3am. Can I install a motion sensor at each end of the row of lamps, so that whether a person is coming or going, either of the sensors can turn on the lamps for 5 minutes or so?

Thanks much for any thoughts or advice on this,

JJ

jwhite · 01-03-2007, 06:23 AM

It would be a really cool set up to have the two motion sensors. In order to get them to control all three lights, you will need a bit of relay logic to isolate the load side wires of the different sensors.

Unless someone knows of a brand that does not have this problem, my experience is that the motion floods do not like being backfeed.

And easier solution might be to look into X-10 compatable controls. You would need the two motion transmitters, and a reciever at each light. With an extra push button transmitter at the house you could have an override switch handy. With a couple more components you could get very fancy.

redline · 01-04-2007, 08:39 PM

I believe that they have post mount sensor lights. Install the motion sensor lights on each post and allow the post (light) to be activated as needed indepently.

jjohnson · 01-06-2007, 05:06 AM

thanks jwhite and redline. The x10 idea sounds very interesting. If its allowed on the forum can you recommend a good resource? I know nothing about x10 but I have a decent engineering aptitude...

jwhite · 01-06-2007, 07:22 AM

Here are two links to web sites with these products.

http://www.smarthome.com/

http://www.x10pro.com/

Since you are good at engineering, you should be able to sort out all the details about designing something that will work for you.

jwhite · 01-06-2007, 07:27 AM

I found a good explaination of almost exactly what you originally asked.

http://www.smarthome.com/4087.html

01-03-2007, 01:54 AM	#1
jjohnson Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2	Two motion sensors on one circuit? Greetings all, what a great forum, I just discovered it. I have a walkway row of three outdoor post-mounted lamps on one circuit. Each takes a single bulb of max 100 watts. It was recently installed by a contractor with a simple day/night sensor so that all lamps go on at dusk and off at dawn. Here's my question: I'd like to avoid having the lamps on all night - it makes the walkway look a little too inviting at 3am. Can I install a motion sensor at each end of the row of lamps, so that whether a person is coming or going, either of the sensors can turn on the lamps for 5 minutes or so? Thanks much for any thoughts or advice on this, JJ

01-03-2007, 06:23 AM	#2
jwhite Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 682	Two motion sensors on one circuit? It would be a really cool set up to have the two motion sensors. In order to get them to control all three lights, you will need a bit of relay logic to isolate the load side wires of the different sensors. Unless someone knows of a brand that does not have this problem, my experience is that the motion floods do not like being backfeed. And easier solution might be to look into X-10 compatable controls. You would need the two motion transmitters, and a reciever at each light. With an extra push button transmitter at the house you could have an override switch handy. With a couple more components you could get very fancy.

01-04-2007, 08:39 PM	#3
redline Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,083	Two motion sensors on one circuit? I believe that they have post mount sensor lights. Install the motion sensor lights on each post and allow the post (light) to be activated as needed indepently.

01-06-2007, 05:06 AM	#4
jjohnson Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2	Two motion sensors on one circuit? thanks jwhite and redline. The x10 idea sounds very interesting. If its allowed on the forum can you recommend a good resource? I know nothing about x10 but I have a decent engineering aptitude...

01-06-2007, 07:22 AM	#5
jwhite Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 682	Two motion sensors on one circuit? Here are two links to web sites with these products. http://www.smarthome.com/ http://www.x10pro.com/ Since you are good at engineering, you should be able to sort out all the details about designing something that will work for you.

Two motion sensors on one circuit?