Can you recommend a good exterior motion sensor light that interacts with most security systems? I haven't picked the HA/security system yet but am leaning toward the Omni Pro. I'm trying to minimize the amount of exterior electrical boxes on the outside of the house so I'd like to have everything in one unit rather than separate light and motion sensors. Also, if they are available, can you manually throw a light switch and have the light come on or are they all motion activated only?
Motion sensor lights that work with security systems?
- Thread starter devsd2
- Start date
Steve
Senior Member
Well, Dan here has hacked a standard Zenith type motion/lamp and the post is around here somewhere. I'll look for it and post it here if I come across it.
But my $.02 is if you are just building you may be better off with a separate light that can be controlled via whatever lighting technology you choose, and separate motions that can be wired direct into the OPII. My opinion is that wherever the light is may not be the ideal place for the motion anyway, or you may want 2 or more motions to control the light, or a single strategically place motion to control 2 or more lights. So I like to separate the motions and lights if you have the choice. You don't need a separate electrical box for the motions, its just a low voltage 22/4 wire. You can pull them out from the eave or through the wall or whatever depending on your construction.
EDIT: This is the thread I was referring to above.
But my $.02 is if you are just building you may be better off with a separate light that can be controlled via whatever lighting technology you choose, and separate motions that can be wired direct into the OPII. My opinion is that wherever the light is may not be the ideal place for the motion anyway, or you may want 2 or more motions to control the light, or a single strategically place motion to control 2 or more lights. So I like to separate the motions and lights if you have the choice. You don't need a separate electrical box for the motions, its just a low voltage 22/4 wire. You can pull them out from the eave or through the wall or whatever depending on your construction.
EDIT: This is the thread I was referring to above.
pipeman
Active Member
The links on the old post are broken.
I've had one of those Home Depot - Heath/Zenith units laying open on my desk for a couple months now.
I figure the best automations oversee dumber devices so I wanted to hack:
The LED, either electrically or optically, that should give me 24hr motion detection back at my ELK.
The output, but at a low voltage before the triac, that will tell me when the light is on.
The input to the triac to allow me (ELK) to manually control the light.
I would prefer to keep all the original functions of the device autonomous.
Sonny
I've had one of those Home Depot - Heath/Zenith units laying open on my desk for a couple months now.
I figure the best automations oversee dumber devices so I wanted to hack:
The LED, either electrically or optically, that should give me 24hr motion detection back at my ELK.
The output, but at a low voltage before the triac, that will tell me when the light is on.
The input to the triac to allow me (ELK) to manually control the light.
I would prefer to keep all the original functions of the device autonomous.
Sonny
Neurorad
Senior Member
HAI sells HLC light switches/dimmers that would integrate well with the OPII, in theory. I've never used HLC, so I don't know for sure.
The easiest way to integrate lights would be to use an automated lighting system, integrated with the alarm control, although using relays to switch the high voltage lights is another option.
I think that you would replace your exterior light switches with automated ones. The motion detectors would signal the alarm controller, which would then tell the lighting central controller to turn on specific lights. Local lighting control at the switch would be preserved.
That's basically it, in a nutshell.
The easiest way to integrate lights would be to use an automated lighting system, integrated with the alarm control, although using relays to switch the high voltage lights is another option.
I think that you would replace your exterior light switches with automated ones. The motion detectors would signal the alarm controller, which would then tell the lighting central controller to turn on specific lights. Local lighting control at the switch would be preserved.
That's basically it, in a nutshell.
