looking for "IS THE SUN SHINING?" sensor

[BirdingPix]

Hi everyone,
 
I'm looking for a "IS THE SUN SHINING" sensor to connect to a Leviton (HAI) OmniPro2 controller home automation system... so I can automate a Solar Screen over a large window.   I've looked online for a sensor I could interface to the controller but so far no luck.
 
Any suggestions/part numbers etc and how you connected it would be a great help! 
 
Thanks
Dave
Huffman, TX
 

 

[LarrylLix]

A simple MS with some sunscreen applied to desensitise it?

 

[ano]

It should be pretty easy to make if you have any electronics skills.  For example, start with one of these robot light sensors.  http://stores.ebay.ph/Emartee-Electronics/Wrobot-Sensor-Brick-/_i.html?_fsub=2868854014
Now these seem to run on 5 volts, so you may need a 5v regulator to power it from the panel's 12v.  You could also just put a photoresistor ACROSS a zone, but this will take some experimenting as well.
 
The sensor puts out an analog voltage of 0 to 5v depending on the light level. You can feed that into any +zone input, and set the zone to "temp sensor" NOT "Extended Temp Sensor."  Now check the "tempurature" of the light sensor. The "tempurature" will read higher the more light there is. You may have to experiment a bit, but you can test if the "tempurature"/light level is above or below a certain level. 
 
This works because the Omni has a very basic analog to digital converter on each zone, this is how a temp sensor works, but you can use it with a light sensor as well, you just need to figure out what light level reads what "tempurature."
 
This way you are not locked into a certain light level, rather you can test for a sunny day, a cloudy day, etc.
 
Update:  Thanks to China, there also seems to be many 12V light controlled switches on eBay. These look like they cost about $3, but you may need to add a 12V relay, and then connect the contacts to any zone. BUT the light level doesn't look adjustable.

 

[pete_c]

Here I still utilize a Hobby Boards 1-wire light sensor for UV calculations.  I also have used a DIY of putting a 1-wire temperature sensor in a sealed jar which sits in the sunlight.
 
You could do some sort of analog solenoid switching with the 1-wire stuff and connect it to the OPII panel if you wanted to.
 
You could maybe utilize the same methodology of the sealed jar and utilize an HAI remote temperature sensor and utilize the numbers for sunlight rather than temperature.  I have HAI remote temperature and humidity sensors outside that have been working fine here for many years.  If the sun hits a sealed jar with an HAI temperature sensor numbers will be high.  You can then utilize these numbers for a line of code on the OPII panel to do just about anything you want.  You can test it out very reasonably priced fashion.  I used a little glass jar with a plastic lid here and put the 1-wire sensor at the top of a piece of PVC tubing.  Test the values you see when its sunny, cloudy or night time.  That said using the 1-wire Hobby Board sensor I got numbers from zero to 700 and made myself a little chart / excel spread sheet and then did a best guess numbers calculations using local UV values.
 
Unrelated but sort of related mostly here utilize analog sensors (1-wire and Weather station) for irrigation ET numbers. Which utilize UV values for calculations.   It is a mixture of a variety of sensors there. 
 
It's really a best guess but it is local to your geographical position. 
 
IE: I utilize a digital rain sensor here which uses the same methodology to detect rain on your windshield to turn on your automobile wipers.  (it detects when its foggy outside). 
 
Have a look here relating to sun / UV sensors.

 

[giansiro]

Hi everyone,
 
I'm looking for a "IS THE SUN SHINING" sensor to connect to a Leviton (HAI) OmniPro2 controller home automation system... so I can automate a Solar Screen over a large window.   I've looked online for a sensor I could interface to the controller but so far no luck.
 
Any suggestions/part numbers etc and how you connected it would be a great help! 
 
Thanks
Dave
Huffman, Tx

I would recommend you to contact this sensors manufacturing, probably they can help 
 
[email protected]

 

[NeverDie]

Hi everyone,
 
I'm looking for a "IS THE SUN SHINING" sensor to connect to a Leviton (HAI) OmniPro2 controller home automation system... so I can automate a Solar Screen over a large window.   I've looked online for a sensor I could interface to the controller but so far no luck.
 
Any suggestions/part numbers etc and how you connected it would be a great help! 
 
Thanks
Dave
Huffman, TX

How about this?
 

http://www.amazon.com/Woods-59408-Outdoor-Hardwire-Photocell/dp/B003Z4ECKC
Amazon carries many variations on the same concept.

 

[drvnbysound]

Does the OPII not have that built as part of the clock for sunrise / sunset?
 
Separate from sunrise / sunset, Elk offers a condition within the rules engine that deals with light and dark. For example, my back yard floods will automatically turn on when the back door is opened AND it's dark outside. My front yard floods turn off when it's light outside. I have no idea how Elk calculates when this is, but it seems to work very well for me and doesn't require any additional sensors.

 

[pete_c]

Here I utilize the built in stuff (OPII) and my outdoor combo wired Optex sensors include light sensors.  (IE analog is PIR and night/day zones). 
 
I do the same as drvnbysound for some lighting and get specific using the Optex sensors for other outdoor lighting.
 
I would personally use what is built in and add an additional light/dark analog specific sensor for solar screen use.