How difficult is it to install outside front door lights?

[Bunford]

We are looking to install some mains powered outdoor up/down lights on either side of our front door. How big of a job is it? And is there any advice on how to route the cabling for this?

Is it an easy DIY job?

How much should a ball park cost be for a qualified electrician to install?

Here is my CU, which is in the hallway just inside the front door:

Here is the wiring from the outside coming into the CU:

Here is the outside view and where the lights are to go on either side:

 

[jj4091]

If you have and can use a drill then how about these https://www.google.com/search?q=sol...AYogQYiQWYAxuSBwQxOS45oAep1AE&sclient=gws-wiz simple diy job

 

[Bunford]

If you have and can use a drill then how about these https://www.google.com/search?q=solar+outdoor+up+and+down+wall+lights&client=safari&sca_esv=0a7eec0d77041e07&channel=mac_bm&source=hp&ei=27bhZu3FKJWEhbIPluj6yA8&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZuHE67EHfyZ33CrJikslEI02qlzw3edl&oq=solar+external+up/dpwn+wall&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6GgIYAiIbc29sYXIgZXh0ZXJuYWwgdXAvZHB3biB3YWxsKgIIADIGEAAYFhgeMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGIAEGKIESLDAAVCtBliHmwFwAXgAkAEAmAGoAaAB1xOqAQQyMS42uAEByAEA-AEBmAIcoALpFagCCsICEBAAGAMY5QIY6gIYjAMYjwHCAhAQLhgDGOUCGOoCGIwDGI8BwgIREC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYgwEYxwHCAg4QLhiABBixAxjRAxjHAcICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIIEAAYgAQYsQPCAgUQABiABMICCxAuGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIIEAAYgAQYiwPCAhoQLhiABBixAxjRAxjSAxiDARjHARioAxiLA8ICERAuGIAEGKIFGKgDGIsDGJ0DwgIXEC4YgAQYsQMYgwEYqAMYigUYiwMYmwPCAggQLhiABBixA8ICFBAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGKMDGKgDGIsDwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYiwPCAggQABiABBjJA8ICDhAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGIsDwgIOEAAYgAQYkgMYigUYiwPCAgsQABiABBixAxjJA8ICGhAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGKYDGMcBGKgDGIsDGK8BwgILEAAYgAQY-AUYiwPCAg0QABiABBixAxgKGIsDwgIIEAAYFhgeGA_CAggQABgWGAoYHsICBRAhGKABwgIHECEYoAEYCsICBRAhGJ8FwgIIEAAYogQYiQWYAxuSBwQxOS45oAep1AE&sclient=gws-wiz simple diy job

I did contemplate this, but not got great experience with the reliability of solar lights, often lasting a few months at best before needing to be replaced, so trying to get a hard wired solution.

 

[jj4091]

Not an easy diy job. Get some quotes

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Is it an easy DIY job?

It is not a technically difficult job. If I were doing it, then I would use my sds drill, to drill through that stone/brick fascia, at just the right height for each light, and at the angle needed, so the hole appears in each corner, inside.

I would then decide whether I wanted to chop the cable into the plaster inside, or run them on the surface, towards the CU. The next decision is how you want to control the lights, a simple on/off switch, or you could have them PIR controlled, although if that is pavement outside that door, they would be constantly triggered by passers-by.

Alternatively, if you have internet, you could power them via a smart plug, as I do, using Alexa. On at dusk, off at 11am. In which case wire the lights in flex, into a single 13amp plug, and install a new socket specially for the smart plug, alongside the CU.

 

[Bunford]

It is not a technically difficult job. If I were doing it, then I would use my sds drill, to drill through that stone/brick fascia, at just the right height for each light, and at the angle needed, so the hole appears in each corner, inside.

I would then decide whether I wanted to chop the cable into the plaster inside, or run them on the surface, towards the CU. The next decision is how you want to control the lights, a simple on/off switch, or you could have them PIR controlled, although if that is pavement outside that door, they would be constantly triggered by passers-by.

Alternatively, if you have internet, you could power them via a smart plug, as I do, using Alexa. On at dusk, off at 11am. In which case wire the lights in flex, into a single 13amp plug, and install a new socket specially for the smart plug, alongside the CU.

The lights have a PIR and photocell sensor built in, so the aim is to just have them mains powered and let the photocell sensor turn them on at dusk and off at dawn automatically, so there'll be no need for a switch or timers etc and they will just need the power.

 

[Bunford]

Not an easy diy job. Get some quotes

I have a quote for £140-160 to install by a professional. Does this seem reasonable?

 

[Murdochcat]

I have a quote for £140-160 to install by a professional. Does this seem reasonable?

Not unreasonable - where is the switch going?

 

[Taylortwocities]

The lights have a PIR and photocell sensor built in, so the aim is to just have them mains powered and let the photocell sensor turn them on at dusk and off at dawn automatically, so there'll be no need for a switch or timers etc and they will just need the power.

Yes, but the lights will only turn on if
1. It is dark AND
2. The PIR detects movement,

If you want the lights to be on all night then you need a different type of light.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have a quote for £140-160 to install by a professional. Does this seem reasonable?

It really depends upon the sort of job they are planning to do. The simplest, ugliest, cheapest, quickest way, would be to run the cables entirely on the surface, and make entry holes through the door frame. Is that what you want?

 

[Bunford]

Yes, but the lights will only turn on if
1. It is dark AND
2. The PIR detects movement,

If you want the lights to be on all night then you need a different type of light.

Sorry, not PIR, just a photocell. These are the lights:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/zinc-eos-outdoor-wall-light-with-photocell-anthracite/212kj?ref=SFAppShare

 

[Bunford]

Not unreasonable - where is the switch going?

No switch. The light have a dusk-to-dawn sensor, so should be turning on and off themselves. However, may contemplate a switch if it makes sense and makes things easier.

 

[Taylortwocities]

No switch. The light have a dusk-to-dawn sensor, so should be turning on and off themselves. However, may contemplate a switch if it makes sense and makes things easier.

I think outside lights should have a double pole isolation switch. Then they can be easily disconnected if problems occur - like water in the gubbins.

Sorry, not PIR, just a photocell. These are the lights:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/zinc-eos-outdoor-wall-light-with-photocell-anthracite/212kj?ref=SFAppShare

Thanks for the clarification

 

[nero44]

No switch. The light have a dusk-to-dawn sensor, so should be turning on and off themselves. However, may contemplate a switch if it makes sense and makes things easier.

I am actually looking at a very similar project at my house. Depending on where you live, I would probably not leave the lights on all night. For energy efficiency, but I personally would also feel like your house would stand out (and attract unwanted attention) if it were the only one illuminated full on all night.

There are also lamps with PIR that offer a manual override, but it works opposite of an isolator. I.e. you can force to keep the lights on despite no movement. Useful when you are expecting friends/family over that will come in and go for an entire evening.

DIY would only do if there was an existing lighting circuit with easy reach... else it sounds the electrian's quote is fair.

 

[Tigercubrider]

Sound fair for a day’s work?
My back light that operate on PIR can be powered on or off via a switch that I installed in the garage.
But if I wanted them on all night, I switch the power on and off quickly which tells the PIR to ignore its signals and stay on until the sensor detects daylight (so goes back to dusk/dawn)
Manually switching slower resets them so they go back to PIR , say at the end of a party.