Looking for some help /ideas with installing downlighting on detached garage

[ElCI]

Hi all

I have a detached garage (it's a double garage, one side is my neighbours and the other is mine). I want to install downlights but looking for some ideas on best way to go about it and ideally some recommendations on kit to use.

My thinking is that I'll install around 6 led downlights, I'll tap into the existing light circuit. I was thinking about using some sort of light sensor to bring it on when dark but would want an external master control switch or ideally a smart switch that I can use from my mobile.

Basically I just looking for any general advice from anyone who's done something similar and ideally some recommendations for
Led lights
Sensors
Smart switches

Thanks for any help

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Is this for outdoors, to be able to see your route to the garage?

 

[ElCI]

Is this for outdoors, to be able to see your route to the garage?

Hi

Yeah sorry its outdoors. It's more to just illuminate that side of the house and also garage area. It's noticeably dark there, so basically it's part decorative and part functionality

Thanks

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Hi

Yeah sorry its outdoors. It's more to just illuminate that side of the house and also garage area. It's noticeably dark there, so basically it's part decorative and part functionality

Thanks

I had a similar problem - detached garage and workshop, and on an evening, absolutely dark. I have one small decorative lantern fitting, which comes on automated, dusk, to 11pm, with a smart-plug. For more light I added a 36w HPS (white), illuminating the back garden, and a LPS (yellow), illuminating the drive. They are both on another smart-plug, so they can be manually turned on, with a phone.

I've supplemented these, with 6 solar-powered, PIR triggered lights, which I've found to be very effective, and to my surprise, they keep on working through the winter. They are scattered along, and light up the two routes to my two doors into the garage/workshop, very effectively.
These - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406142454419

 

[blup]

I tapped into an existing radial circuit (lights) and added a switched double sided light with PIR that could be switched off when not needed. LEDs light too narrow an area for outside lighting IMO.

 

[Bankrupt]

Assuming that I can regain my confidence in Rako products after I troubleshoot one of my banks of indoor lighting that is currently not working next weekend, I am planning to install on outside light wired from my garage with a Rako RMT500 receiver inline, and control it from my conservatory (so can turn on before going outside) from a Rako RCM-070 wireless switch.

 

[ElCI]

Assuming that I can regain my confidence in Rako products after I troubleshoot one of my banks of indoor lighting that is currently not working next weekend, I am planning to install on outside light wired from my garage with a Rako RMT500 receiver inline, and control it from my conservatory (so can turn on before going outside) from a Rako RCM-070 wireless switch.

Thanks for this. The rako solution looks excellent but potentially over specified for my needs. How's the range / signal strength on the system you have? I'm hoping to get something where I can sit in my living room which is at opposite side of the house and control these lights so effectively it's through multiple external walls

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

For something without smart switches you could use something like the Steinel Nightmatic 3000 that brings lights on at dusk and can be programmed to switch off during the night from a set time. I thjink it can be set to bring them back on in the morning if it is still dark enough. You could then add a PIR in case you need light during the preset off times.