Motion sensor for outdoor lighting

We are currently planning the position for a motion detector at our new building. The house is 11m wide and stands 3m away from the street. On the left and right of the front door, which is located in the middle of the house, outdoor lights should be switched on by a motion detector. The detection area should only be this 3m x 11m space in front of the house; I do not want the light to turn on every time a car passes by. Where should the motion detector be installed? Centered above the door on the exterior wall, or under the eaves? Which motion detector would be suitable?

Hi,

I have the motion detector "Gira Tectiv 220 degrees."

Mounted above the roof overhang at the front door. Distance wall/street: 3m.

The device is certainly not a special offer. But absolutely precise to adjust.
For me, the outside light turns on as soon as someone steps on the first stone of my entrance. Or the area in front of the house, including the parking lot. Before that: no (you have to play with the adjustment for an hour). The maximum detection field is 16*24m. With backlash (opening the front door from inside, the light turns on!).

Even with masked winter clothing, the sensor detects cleanly and well; works absolutely perfectly in every season/weather. In short: the device is simply superb. I am absolutely thrilled and do not regret the expense at all.

I can absolutely recommend this motion detector with a clear conscience (and have already done so to the satisfaction of others here in the building area). You spend a little more money once and then have something absolutely useful! Further information can be found on the manufacturer's pages.

Best regards
Thorsten

That sounds good! I assume you meant under the roof overhang and above the door on the exterior wall as the installation location. At what height? I still have a driveway to the carport on the right side of the house. This area should not be covered, as there is a side entrance door and its own lighting installed there. Is a remote control included? I also want to sometimes leave the light on permanently....

That sounds good! I assume you meant under the roof overhang and above the door on the exterior wall as the mounting location. At what height exactly? I have a driveway to the carport on the right side of the house. This area should not be detected because there is a side entrance door and separate lighting installed there. Is a remote control included? I want to leave the light on permanently sometimes....

Hi Häusle77,

yes. I installed the device below the roof overhang (we have a downward extended roof overhang in the area of the front door as rain protection) near the gutter and basically slightly to the right of the front door. Measured exactly: height is almost exactly 3 meters.

On our side, to the right of the front door, is the driveway to the parking lot (maybe a carport later). I will also install separate lighting there in the future.

The sensor is adjustable, meaning I can adjust the light to come on from the parking lot side.

There is no remote control included. You don’t need one either.
It is controlled via a push button (normal light switch for the outdoor light. Requires 5-wire cable!). There are 3 modes: permanently off for two hours, permanently on for two hours, or automatic.
In addition, I installed two switches below the "push button." One switch enables switching on the ground lighting in front of the house together with the light above the roof overhang with motion detector. The other switch switches the ground lighting on permanently, independent of the motion detector. Both switches together create an override via the Gira Automatic and switch the ground lighting (LED globe lights + an outlet) and roof overhang lighting (4*15 W LED, airport lighting!) permanently on without time limit.

You simply set the brightness—and which sensor reacts—using the push button inside the sensor. Totally simple. Wait until the desired brightness, press. Done programming.

Best regards
Thorsten

How does it work with the button and the 3 modes? We want to install a rotary knob for the motion detector (On, Off, Automatic), but I find the timer even better..... How is it with the balls and the socket? Are they connected together? We are planning a socket on the facade with a control switch from inside...

You can use a push button or a regular light switch. It is then switched with "On/Off" combinations. In other words: by impulse. With a rotary switch, it definitely doesn't work with the Gira. The timer function is handled internally by the Gira. In the case of Gira, simply replace the rotary switch with a switch or push button (which is cheaper anyway). I used a push button. One click: automatic. Two clicks: 2 hours on. Three clicks: 2 hours off.

The socket + spheres (front house ground lighting) are wired together. There are plenty of sockets around the whole house. However, this one in front of the house (on the ground) is intended (and made) on special request of an individual for Christmas tree (outside) + etc., purely for decorative lighting and some flickering gimmicks.

The socket you planned in the house facade I would not integrate into the motion detector. Rather, leave it switchable from the inside as planned.

PS: The little trick with switching the ground lighting with motion detector/separately on and everything always on: I had the idea, my electrician implemented it... that was quite a tangle of cables and wiring back and forth. But it works perfectly without computer, KNX and stuff, using simple relay technology. I like simple things that do what they are supposed to do.

Best regards Thorsten