Remote IR sensor for MH lamp...
#1
01-27-15, 01:16 PM
Remote IR sensor for MH lamp...
I bought a second really excellent MH flood lamp pretty cheaply on Amazon (RBF-175-MH-4T). The first one I wired at my business for Sunset-to-Sunrise really blows out a ton of clear white light compared those dull yellow Sodium lamps I had before... But, now I want to use this second lamp at home.
I have a garage for my tractor about 300' up the lane from my home. The side of the garage is inline with the driveway. I would like to put the IR sensor toward the front and then have the lamp (unseen when walking/driving in) hang off the back/rear corner so it floods the lane between the tractor shed and house when someone passes.
The Sunset/Sunrise switch at my business is a simple common Home Store item and shows no signs of turning into 'resistance wiring', so I assume (always trouble..) the IR switch I bought (rated for 500w) should be Ok...
The big question .. can I simply wire this with the common white jacketed, 3-wire cable from the Home Store? ..even if there is about 20' between the parts.
I'd dearly love to have a true remote that would trigger a relay turning on the lamp without hard wire, but that is well past my pay grade. Thanks.
Jim
I have a garage for my tractor about 300' up the lane from my home. The side of the garage is inline with the driveway. I would like to put the IR sensor toward the front and then have the lamp (unseen when walking/driving in) hang off the back/rear corner so it floods the lane between the tractor shed and house when someone passes.
The Sunset/Sunrise switch at my business is a simple common Home Store item and shows no signs of turning into 'resistance wiring', so I assume (always trouble..) the IR switch I bought (rated for 500w) should be Ok...
The big question .. can I simply wire this with the common white jacketed, 3-wire cable from the Home Store? ..even if there is about 20' between the parts.
I'd dearly love to have a true remote that would trigger a relay turning on the lamp without hard wire, but that is well past my pay grade. Thanks.
Jim
#2
01-27-15, 01:19 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
I'm trying to understand where the three wire cable is needed ?
The light is outside.... where is the sensor going to be located ?
You only need two wires from sensor to the light.
I'm trying to understand where the three wire cable is needed ?
The light is outside.... where is the sensor going to be located ?
You only need two wires from sensor to the light.
#3
01-27-15, 06:49 PM
Member
I would like to put the IR sensor toward the front and then have the lamp (unseen when walking/driving in) hang off the back/rear corner so it floods the lane between the tractor shed and house when someone passes.
BTW, if you had a yellow light at your business before that would have been a low pressure sodium fixture, but I don't think any low pressure sodium lighting has been used in this country, except for some tesing, since the early '80s although it is widely used in Europe. You probably had orange high pressure sodium lighting which is more energy efficient than metal halide, but not as pleasing.
#4
01-28-15, 02:53 PM
Thanks C-J and Max... Yes prior lamp was yellow/orange. Pleasing was not the issue ..visible lumens. This fixture is a ton brighter. I do not have a security system at my business but lots of illumination.
At home, I do not want to simply leave any outside light on.. I have 25ac and frankly leave no lights on even inside other than some on a few appliances. I like living in the woods and sleeping in the dark. Many people seem to enjoy, or are in fear if not, living in what looks like the parking area at Walmart.
Therefore, I need an intruder alert other than the audio types. I am not too concerned about how many cycles nor the time to full illumination. I simply want a large light at the rear of anything/anyone who would venture too close to the house. I am ex-Army so know how to defend the home; I just want any intruder to feel very exposed and backlit. ..when minutes before they were safe in darkness.
Max.. I'll look at the diagrams again. Maybe it was ground I was thinking of as the 3rd. ..not like 220v. Thanks. I'll keep this updated (when it gets a little warmer!) Cheers.
Jim
At home, I do not want to simply leave any outside light on.. I have 25ac and frankly leave no lights on even inside other than some on a few appliances. I like living in the woods and sleeping in the dark. Many people seem to enjoy, or are in fear if not, living in what looks like the parking area at Walmart.
Therefore, I need an intruder alert other than the audio types. I am not too concerned about how many cycles nor the time to full illumination. I simply want a large light at the rear of anything/anyone who would venture too close to the house. I am ex-Army so know how to defend the home; I just want any intruder to feel very exposed and backlit. ..when minutes before they were safe in darkness.
Max.. I'll look at the diagrams again. Maybe it was ground I was thinking of as the 3rd. ..not like 220v. Thanks. I'll keep this updated (when it gets a little warmer!) Cheers.
Jim
#5
01-28-15, 04:57 PM
Group Moderator
It sounds like you know exactly what you want which is good. We were just concerned that you were looking for a light fixture that supplied immediate high intensity light. Since you've used MH lighting before you know it takes a few minutes for the lamp to arc and supply usable light.
#6
01-28-15, 07:02 PM
Member
I just want any intruder to feel very exposed and backlit. ..when minutes before they were safe in darkness.
#7
01-29-15, 06:49 AM
I think you might just need a couple motion sensors, either stand alone or integrated into light fixtures. I strongly recommend the stealth sensors from Rab Lighting as they are much higher quality and offer more calibration than the cheap sensors at the big box stores. STL - Detail - RAB Lighting You can adjust how big of a heat signature and how much distance you want the sensor to trip on up to a max of maybe 50 - 60'. The biggest problem you'll face is that the MH lights usually take a few minutes to come up to brightness which might defeat the security aspect of it. For instant on you want incandescent or LED lamps. Glad to hear there's somebody else who believes night should be dark.
#8
02-11-15, 07:22 AM
I got the lamp mounted .. waiting for some warmer weather to rig the IR sensor. It's 450watts and has a great weather proof housing. It's a bit heavy to hang alone...
To do a check, I simply wired a plug on the end. My camera's autofocus got confused so a shot another 50' away was at a better angle but blurry.
It works ..Ok.. but standing on my rear deck at the back door the angle is wrong (about 2' to the left of this position) ..and as ipbooks suggested, it takes about 2min to fully spool up. Still, intruders do not like light. I'll report back when I get the IR device mounted. Cheers. Jim
To do a check, I simply wired a plug on the end. My camera's autofocus got confused so a shot another 50' away was at a better angle but blurry.
It works ..Ok.. but standing on my rear deck at the back door the angle is wrong (about 2' to the left of this position) ..and as ipbooks suggested, it takes about 2min to fully spool up. Still, intruders do not like light. I'll report back when I get the IR device mounted. Cheers. Jim
