Linking PIR security lights or buying something smarter?

alan_surry · Dec 4, 2023

Hi. I'm an I.T.. engineer with some outdated electrical experience. I qualified C&G 2330 17th edition about 15 years ago, but my only experience since then has been fairly basic stuff maintaining my own properties etc. I've just had a couple of LED security lights fail (Again) so I'm going back to 150W halogen PIR's with removable bulbs rather than the cheap crap that keeps failing. I've decided that it would be a good idea to link 4 x 150w halogen (Or 118mm LED replacements) together so that all lights are triggered together when one PIR is activated. I know i need a 4 core circuit with a common switch live, but I don't know if the PIRs in standard lights will work effectively.

So the questions are:
Do I replace all 4 lights with something better than the 2 halogens that have worked for decades and the 2 LED's that failed in months and link them with 4 core cable?
Do I keep 4 separate lights?
Or do I look at smart lighting that could be triggered or sync'd over an Ethernet or wireless network connection?
I'm pretty competent with technology, the house is wired with Cat5e cabling and there is plenty of room for me to run additional cabling to each location if need be. I'd rather use cable than wireless, but that's because i know how ---- wireless technology can be.
An additional option would be to use good quality LED strip lights under the guttering with separate PIR detectors. I done this on my summerhouse with a 12V LEDs and a 12V PIR and it's worked for years. I'm just aware that a lot of stuff we buy today fails tomorrow and the house is more important than the summerhouse, so I'd rather buy good quality branded stuff that will last.

Sorry if this is a question that's been answered before. In a nutshell, I don't want to keep ripping out cheap Chinese lights every few months and I'd like all of my lights to come on at the same time. I'm pretty hands on, but I don't really keep up with current technology, hence the question.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

nicebutdim · Dec 5, 2023

Chances are your failures have been due to integrated pir, rather than lights.

Regardless of whether you go with halogen or not, I'd be inclined to go with four lights and a stand alone pir. I'd also be inclined to buy reasonable quality components, rather than the "cheap Chinese lights' you've learned are prone to failure.

mainline · Dec 5, 2023

alan_surry said:
Hi. I'm an I.T.. engineer with some outdated electrical experience. I qualified C&G 2330 17th edition about 15 years ago, but my only experience since then has been fairly basic stuff maintaining my own properties etc. I've just had a couple of LED security lights fail (Again) so I'm going back to 150W halogen PIR's with removable bulbs rather than the cheap crap that keeps failing. I've decided that it would be a good idea to link 4 x 150w halogen (Or 118mm LED replacements) together so that all lights are triggered together when one PIR is activated. I know i need a 4 core circuit with a common switch live, but I don't know if the PIRs in standard lights will work effectively.

So the questions are:
Do I replace all 4 lights with something better than the 2 halogens that have worked for decades and the 2 LED's that failed in months and link them with 4 core cable?
Do I keep 4 separate lights?
Or do I look at smart lighting that could be triggered or sync'd over an Ethernet or wireless network connection?
I'm pretty competent with technology, the house is wired with Cat5e cabling and there is plenty of room for me to run additional cabling to each location if need be. I'd rather use cable than wireless, but that's because i know how ---- wireless technology can be.
An additional option would be to use good quality LED strip lights under the guttering with separate PIR detectors. I done this on my summerhouse with a 12V LEDs and a 12V PIR and it's worked for years. I'm just aware that a lot of stuff we buy today fails tomorrow and the house is more important than the summerhouse, so I'd rather buy good quality branded stuff that will last.

Sorry if this is a question that's been answered before. In a nutshell, I don't want to keep ripping out cheap Chinese lights every few months and I'd like all of my lights to come on at the same time. I'm pretty hands on, but I don't really keep up with current technology, hence the question.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

One pir is the better option if you can get the coverage and also only 3 core needed.

I have found decent quality led lights more reliable than halogen in an outside environment.

Simon47 · Dec 7, 2023

Also, you get to pick appropriate items with a separate PIR. I'm observed that many (most ? all ?) LED floods with integral PIRs don't allow you to direct the light where it's useful while still having the PIR point in a useful direction - and it's easy to change either if it fails. Why do people fit lights that send a load of light half way across the neighbourhood, and the rest up into space ?
I can't fathom why "flood" lights clearly designed to be screwed to a wall have over (well over) 90˚ beam width vertically - IIRC I've seem 120˚ or more. The wall is vertical, light going above horizontal is wasted (and annoys the neighbours/blinds drivers/etc.), between the two is generally 90˚ - so why it is almost impossible to find lights that account for this ? Some I tried, ended up shining more light in through the winder below them than in the garden by the time I had a cutoff that kept the light vaguely in my own garden. With the old halagen fittings, mostly they were quite deep so naturally restricted the beam width (or height) apart from the scatter from a dimpled reflector.
I've had a couple of these on the back for about 3 years and so far they've been fine - they were picked simply for the beam angle !
As to sensors, I've used a few of these over the years and don't recall having any failures. Not the best made bit of kit, but they work.