Soffit light controls

[dg_pug106gti]

Hi all, I am wanting to get my house fitted with LED soffit light, there will be a total of 16 round the house and I believe they are about 5w each.
I was wanting them controlled by a photocell so that they are on when it's dark and back off when light.
Would something like this work if it was also fitted to the soffit so it was discrete?

https://www.oceanlighting.co.uk/lig...pcell-2-photocell-dusk-til-dawn-sensor-p22383

Does it need to be fitted facing any specific direction, south for example. How far away from the soffit lights would it need to be fitted so it's not effected by the light if it even would be as both would be pointing down.
Or would you suggest any better ways to control the lights.
Want the sensor to be very discreet if possible.

Thank you.

 

[flameport]

That will work, but you can't just fit that into the soffit, it's intended to be installed into something else, not used on it's own.

 

[dg_pug106gti]

Do you mean the sensor can't be fitted into the soffit? I thought it could just be secured into place by drilling a hole and using the nuts to secure it and have the cabling etc all connected in the loft.
The mains would go to the sensor and then the switched live to the soffit lights that are Daisey chained together, that correct?

 

[SUNRAY]

Do you mean the sensor can't be fitted into the soffit? I thought it could just be secured into place by drilling a hole and using the nuts to secure it and have the cabling etc all connected in the loft.
The mains would go to the sensor and then the switched live to the soffit lights that are Daisey chained together, that correct?

Yes you are correct but the little box with all the wires needs to be fitted inside an enclosure, along with connectors for the wiring. As it is, if it was installed without an enclosure it would not meet regulations. Something like this: https://www.directtradesupplies.co....tAds&msclkid=868c12aa143114e33355494ea5448a78 picked at random from the plethora available.

 

[dg_pug106gti]

Oh ok, get what was ment, would need a junction box anyway for the connection of the mains so would just fit all wiring etc into that.
Do you think it would be possible to lengthen the cable to the sensor so can mount the box with wiring etc in a more accessible position rather than right above the soffit?

 

[flameport]

Do you think it would be possible to lengthen the cable to the sensor

Doubtful and not recommended, and that won't solve the problem even if it was extended - the entire thing is designed to be in the enclosure, it's not intended to be used as a separate device.

Why does the sensor needs to be in the soffit anyway?

The normal method of lighting control is to fit one of these: https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p62528
on a wall somewhere out of sight. 3 core & earth cable from that to wherever the lights are located.

 

[dg_pug106gti]

I wanted it mounted in the soffit for a clean install and so it's hard to see unless looking for it. That photocell you posted would do the job perfectly but is big and ugly and would have wiring running down the wall to it.
I have power up my loft as part of my ring main so want to power it from there. If all my wiring is up the loft make it neater and easier that's why I had the idea of the photocell on the soffit.
As mentioned earlier I could mount it all apart from the sensor inside the box and as the sensor is inside the soffit and not exposed to the elements would that not be ok even though the sensor wiring should be inside the box also.