Fitting PIR Security Light

[Fordy81]

Hi folks, I want a PIR security light out the back, but with minimum disruption.

Firstly, are there any decent solar powered ones on the market?

If not, what are my options? With a hard wired light, is a switch essential, or just a recommendation? I'm loathed to run a wire through the cavity as I can't see how I'll manage to get it to a servicable position without a lot of hassle.

Is it then possible to run a wire upwards and through the soffit and connect to the upstairs lighting circuit?

Thanks very much

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Firstly, are there any decent solar powered ones on the market?

Probably not.

If not, what are my options? With a hard wired light, is a switch essential, or just a recommendation? I'm loathed to run a wire through the cavity as I can't see how I'll manage to get it to a servicable position without a lot of hassle.

Is it then possible to run a wire upwards and through the soffit and connect to the upstairs lighting circuit?

You would find a switch pretty essential when the light gets water in it and the RCD/RCBO trips leaving you with no lights upstairs/no lights anywhere/no power at all until you get up into a dark loft, find the connection for the light, and disconnect it.

 

[ericmark]

My wife arrived home with a security lamp from Aldi saying she wanted it to light the way from car to front door. Simple method used I screwed it to side of house with a length of flex attached pushed it through a small hole into garage and plugged it in. Mainly as I did not want a security lamp so wanted to be able to remove it easy. It lasted 2 days and the halogen tube failed, at 120W was not going to replace with another halogen so used a 5W LED replacement. Lasted another month then filled up with water, drilled drain holes and still running 3 months latter.

The point is they do get water in, they do fail with silly faults, so you do need to be able to disconnect from time to time. Solar models are improving and since you live down south you have a chance they will work in the winter, however I am sure every Aldi lamp did not fail like mine, and you pay your money and cross your fingers fact it works OK for one guy or is useless for another does not really say how it will work for you.

They call them security lamps, but no one takes the slightest notice of them coming on. So not really for security, they are handy for access without injuring yourself or of course any intruder injuring themselves. Cats and squirrels set them off so one soon ignores them coming on. If they are low enough for easy maintenance also low enough to disable. I am sure some people do use them to keep an eye on their price marrow, but in the main they are simple access lights. I found a cheap battery powered PIR controlled lamp my dad had bought from the market. And I used it to light my mums key safe, clearly sighted so one did not realise what it was for, and the batteries lasted the whole winter. Just 4 x AA batteries. So it depends what you need to light.

 

[Fordy81]

Thanks guys. Does anyone else have any advice?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Thanks guys. Does anyone else have any advice?

Employ an electrician, then the hassle is theirs!