PIR recommendations for LED lights

[unclebob1]

Afternoon all,

I've been looking to replace my outside pir and lights (currently a standard bayonet filament light in an enclosure) and PIR (taken off a flood light) which is no longer working - I think its staying on regardless of the switch inside on or off (so i assume water ingress).

I was thinking of using LED rope light outside along the top of the porch pointing down (the use of the light is really to identify the step leading to the front door and also to provide enough light outside to be able to see who is standing there from inside the porch not light up the whole drive, street and neighbors house). The light i've seen uses 36W total for 2.5m, and i have seen a suitably rated transformer/driver for led lights, but can not seem to find a PIR which states that it is for outdoor use but can switch low loads. Most that i find are already attached to LED flood lights or are rated with a MAX wattage but no mention of a min.

is anyone able to recommend me any suitable PIR's? I'm happy to order from any UK based online seller, or standard shops (screw fix, tool station, wicks etc). Alternatively, the suitable words i can use to search for in google will also suffice!

 

[ekmdgrf]

All the PIR lights I've seen just switch a relay, so shouldn't have a minimum load.

 

[jonwestuk]

Using the search term 'External Mains Security Pirs' seems to work on most sites for me.

Most have a max load not a minimum as they are simply activating a relay so min load isnt an issue. TLC has some good ones.

 

[bernardgreen]

Relay contacts can also have a minimum current known as the wetting current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetting_current saves me typing it out

 

[ekmdgrf]

Relay contacts can also have a minimum current known as the wetting current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetting_current saves me typing it out

I never knew that. Although the OP does state it's a 36W load and at 12V for a typical LED rope, I make that 3A. Not so much a wetting current, more a torrential deluge current

 

[winston1]

Relay contacts can also have a minimum current known as the wetting current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetting_current saves me typing it out

I never knew that. Although the OP does state it's a 36W load and at 12V for a typical LED rope, I make that 3A. Not so much a wetting current, more a torrential deluge current

If the relay is in the 240v side, as it should be, the current will be 150mA which is OK.

 

[unclebob1]

So a normal PIR should be ok to run the 36w transformer? (the output is indeed 12v)