Light/dark sensor for LED rope lights?

[foundbird]

I want to design a night-light system for my stairs and upstairs hallway that consists of LED rope lights that only come on at night and illuminate along the edges of the areas, under the tread of each stair, etc. and wonder if there is a DIY version of a nightlight sensor that I can use to control that the lights only come on in low-light (night, bad weather) situations...

Also, (I understand this will just be an opinion thing) should I go for fixed length ropes or get one long one and cut and connect my sections as needed?

Cheers!

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

a standard dusk till dawn sensor will do, if you are wanting it to be dictated by external daylight, then the sensor would require to be mounted externally.