Thank you Pete B! Your video is smooth and easy to watch. The lighting is good. You explain things and also show them on video. Did I mention your video is consistently in focus too! Only thing you might do better is to write out what you intend to explain and read through it ahead of time. Oh and NICE SHOP! 👌🏽
Thank You. I installed one yesterday and went out flipped the dreamer on looked and the light was on. I then put my socket tester in to make sure everything was right and at that second it went out. Dang-it. Put my finger over the eye and nothing . So went back checked the breaker and was fine and the tester showed everything was right.So called it a night. Got up watched your video before I went down to buy another one and when you said it takes a minute or so to come on I got up with my coffee and reinstalled it. Flipped breaker on it went. Put electrical tape over the eye and a minute later on it came. Buttoned it up and went in for another cup of coffee as I’m done and never had to leave the house. Thanks to your video.
Best how to video I ever saw. You make it look easy. I am going to try myself. Well, on second thought, I will have an electrician do it. Now I can watch him and make sure he does it right.
After washing a few videos on UA-cam and been frustrated for not understanding a bit I was lucky enough to find your channel and made all the difference in the world, you know how to explain things without any doubts or hesitation, you just don’t want to act but to inform and what a great job doing it. Thank you so much for the help
Thank you. Had to replace on old mercury light lantern to a new led light. Using the old photo cell in the existing yard pole. We didn’t have it wired quite right. But got it fixed and working thanks to your video! Only had to change one wire.
Same thing as one of the other posters, I have 7 exterior lights with LEDs guessing 30 watts each. This photoecell handles up to 1800 so I am within the capacity of the photocell. I have been watching for videos explaining this, great video and, concise, well explained.
This is an AWESOME explanation. THANK YOU. My complicating factor is I have. GCFI OUTLET between the power source and the load (the light) . I don’t know how to handle that scenario. Liked subscribed
Great job Pete, in making this video, with the super high prices that companies are charging these days I'm sure there are many people who greatly appreciate you making this video, the nice thing also you explain and show what you are doing very well, one thing you might want to mention is, in an actual installation a hook wire may be needed to hang the light unit while connecting the wires together, Thanks for helping others.
Thank you for this video and the way you explained it. I did my light, and it turned on at night, but it is on for a few seconds and on for a few seconds. On and off.
Some photoeye manufacrurer recommend that you face your device to the western hemisphere, so the light comes on as the sun set but not up the sky because once the eye is covered with snow or collects dust film and get blurry it will not function properly.
Thanks, you helped me a bunch. I had the same light and today was having trouble getting the photo cell to work. I had the red from the photocell connected wrong.
Pete, Thanks for the video. I have a question for you. I am going to replace a nonadjustable photocell mounted on an exterior wall that points directly an opposing wall which creates reflective light. That reflective light causes the bulb in the fixture to cycle on and off. I am going to use the photocell you showed in the video as the replacement, so that I may point the photocell straight up. The hot wire in the wall goes into a box and of course the wire going to the light fixture is also in the same box. I don't know which of those wires is the hot wire. I don't have any testing equipment and could jerry-rig a light fixture to the wires in the box to find the hot, but before I do that I thought I'd ask you if it makes any difference in the functionality of the new photocell if the hot wire is connected to the red lead in the photocell, instead of the black wire, reverse of what your video shows? Greg from Sacramento
The hot wire from the house (black) has to go to the black wire on the photo cell or it won't work. You can pick up a volt meter fairly cheap. Turn off the power to the light and undo some of the wire so you can test it and make sure the power wires are NOT touching anything else and then turn the power back on. Then put the volt meter on volts and put the black wire from the volt meter on the ground wire (green or bare) and the red wire from the volt meter on one of the other two wires. When the volt meter reads 120, then you'll know that the red lead wire that it's touching, is the hot wire.
Pete B. I wonder why older older light sensitive switches had only two black leads/wires which was simply connected in series to the black live wire but new light sensitive switches have need for a common/white wire. Is there a new code making a common required?
Wow, amazing saving to use that LED external Pete, I have learnt something so cool thanks to you with this video I appreciate man for the detailed instruction on wiring!
When our home was built (2006), they installed an interior dusk to dawn sensor for our stair lights and a wall sconce which are on the same circuit breaker. The lights no longer shut off, we can’t find the sensor to replace it. It’s not in any of the stair sockets nor is it anywhere in the wall sconce. (We can’t call the electric company, they went out of business 2008-2009.) Two questions: is there another location they might have connected the sensor and if we installed a new one in the wall sconce would it work with the old sensor still somewhere on this electrical circuit? Thank you!
I'm looking to use a photocell to mimic the cycle of the sun for reptiles that are light sensitive. So I want to turn lights on at dawn, and off at sunset. Can this be used to achieve that? Maybe using a relay?
Absolutely, If your reptiles are inside your house, just mount the photocell outside to an electrical box and use a 14/3 flexible wire as an extension cord to the lights where your reptiles are. The 14/3 will have three wires, black, white and green. Connect the blacks together on the photocell and the whites together on the photocell and connect the green and red together on the photocell. When you connect the extension cord to the lights, Connect the black (hot) to the black on the extension cord and connect all the whites together, now connect the green wire from the extension cord which is really the red from the photocell to the black on the light. Here's a link to the 14/3 wire: www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-By-the-Foot-14-3-600-Volt-CU-Black-Flexible-Portable-Power-SOOW-Cord-55809999/204632918
Okay I just re-read your comment and the way I explained it to you is not what you're looking for. It will turn off the light durring the day and on at night.
Jorge Sierra it is so simple to reverse the action whit one contactor or relay using a normal close contact of it just use the photocel to energize the relay, and use the normal close contact to energize the lights and your reptiles will be so happy, good luck
Some photoeye switches have built in capacitors built into the circuits, thus the delay is from the de-energizing of those capacitors. This design was to help reduce strobing at sunsets.
Great video! I do have a question. I currently have almost all exterior lights on a single circuit. Can I install the sensor (Brightness not motion) to control all of them?
Very good explanation that some are instant on and some are not. I couldn't figure out why the switch would not turn on the light when I put my thumb over the sensor. Guess I just didn't wait long enough..
If it's just in essence a switch why does it matter which wire goes to red or black? I know it does because I had the blinking lights issue before I wired it as you suggested. Thanks for the vid.
Is there something bad with wiring copper wire to aluminum or is it ok in this instance? I.e. wire the switch which has aluminum stranded wire to the copper solid wire coming from the house?
In this instance it's ok. The only problem with aluminum wire is if you draw too many amps, it could heat up and melt. But for this instance especially an LED light it's fine.
Not sure because that's not how the switch is wired for. If you switch the red and black it might still work because it's just an on off switch. But best to connect it as I did in the video.
I know I’m late to the game, but does anyone know what light this is? I’ve been having trouble finding something similar and can’t find the light on the Amazon page for this series. Thank you in advance!!
Not sure what type of light you have but if it has a photo cell and a motion sensor, the photo cell might be bad telling the motion sensor it's night time when it's really day time.
how do you prevent the light from deactivating itself once you add the sensor? like when it gets dark enough to trip the light and then the light shines on the sensor and it cuts power thus turning off the light.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading I had wires coming out of a soffit in an old house. The porch light was wired down the soffit & came out into junction box. No green wire. But replaced the old sensor (this same type) the way they had it wired and it worked! Would not have had courage to even try if hadn't seen this video. My wiring was old and had white black and red wires coming out. Sensor's red had to connect with a black and a red from that junction.
He says: If you're not an electrician, don't attempt this... even though you wouldn't be watching this if you were an electrician 😂 Informative video though.
Thanks! I saw 2 other videos that were long and drawn-out. One never explained where the red wire goes. You did a great job explaining.
The action starts at 7:50 you're welcome
Thanks! I was about to give up on this damn photocell connection and you showed what wire goes where. Boom! My lights now are dusk to dawn.
This is the clearest instruction that I ever had on this subject. Good show!
Thank you
Pete B. If I wire a photocell to one outside light, will all 3 lights turn on/off if they are on the same switch?
Thanks for this video! You mentioned a delay on the photocell and brought an hour of confusion to an end.
Five Year Old Video and still helping knuckleheads like myself - THANK YOU SO MUCH ! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Pete B! Your video is smooth and easy to watch. The lighting is good. You explain things and also show them on video. Did I mention your video is consistently in focus too! Only thing you might do better is to write out what you intend to explain and read through it ahead of time. Oh and NICE SHOP! 👌🏽
Thank you
Thank you so much, an excellent tutorial.
Very informative, concise, explained clearly, and slowly step-by-step 👌🏽 😊
Thank You. I installed one yesterday and went out flipped the dreamer on looked and the light was on. I then put my socket tester in to make sure everything was right and at that second it went out. Dang-it. Put my finger over the eye and nothing . So went back checked the breaker and was fine and the tester showed everything was right.So called it a night. Got up watched your video before I went down to buy another one and when you said it takes a minute or so to come on I got up with my coffee and reinstalled it. Flipped breaker on it went. Put electrical tape over the eye and a minute later on it came. Buttoned it up and went in for another cup of coffee as I’m done and never had to leave the house. Thanks to your video.
Awesome 👍
Your explanation of video is excellent for a beginner, Thank you:
Best how to video I ever saw. You make it look easy. I am going to try myself. Well, on second thought, I will have an electrician do it. Now I can watch him and make sure he does it right.
👍🙂
After washing a few videos on UA-cam and been frustrated for not understanding a bit I was lucky enough to find your channel and made all the difference in the world, you know how to explain things without any doubts or hesitation, you just don’t want to act but to inform and what a great job doing it. Thank you so much for the help
Thank you. Had to replace on old mercury light lantern to a new led light. Using the old photo cell in the existing yard pole. We didn’t have it wired quite right. But got it fixed and working thanks to your video! Only had to change one wire.
Awesome 👍
Thank you for making this video, it really helped me installed a photocell.
Same thing as one of the other posters, I have 7 exterior lights with LEDs guessing 30 watts each. This photoecell handles up to 1800 so I am within the capacity of the photocell. I have been watching for videos explaining this, great video and, concise, well explained.
Thank you 👍
This is the best explanation for this kind of project
This is an AWESOME explanation. THANK YOU. My complicating factor is I have. GCFI OUTLET between the power source and the load (the light) . I don’t know how to handle that scenario. Liked subscribed
Thank you very much.
Thanks for the video, I've wired them before, but just dropped in for a refresher course, thank you spot on.
Excellent video, far better than most out on youtube! Clear instructions and wiring procedure. Thank you for posting.
Thanks for your knowledge on how to wire this switch. Great job.
Great job Pete, in making this video, with the super high prices that companies are charging these days I'm sure there are many people who greatly appreciate you making this video, the nice thing also you explain and show what you are doing very well, one thing you might want to mention is, in an actual installation a hook wire may be needed to hang the light unit while connecting the wires together, Thanks for helping others.
Thank you so much for this video we were able to hook this up with your video. Every step by step you gave was on point. 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for this video and the way you explained it.
I did my light, and it turned on at night, but it is on for a few seconds and on for a few seconds. On and off.
I need help. I'm not sure what i did incorrectly
Had a question if you don't have a ground on your light can you still connect it with no ground cord from. The lights just the cable
Thank you. Perfect video.
Helped me figure it out 100%
Some photoeye manufacrurer recommend that you face your device to the western hemisphere, so the light comes on as the sun set but not up the sky because once the eye is covered with snow or collects dust film and get blurry it will not function properly.
👍
Excellent tutorial and explanation, thank you.
you have a great way to explain this process, thx!
4:08 Wiring Explained
8:00 Wiring Explained Part 2
Thanks for the Heads-up!
David Yeo thank you!
Thanks, you helped me a bunch. I had the same light and today was having trouble getting the photo cell to work. I had the red from the photocell connected wrong.
Thank you. Easy to understand where to conect each wire.
Pete, Thanks for the video. I have a question for you. I am going to replace a nonadjustable photocell mounted on an exterior wall that points directly an opposing wall which creates reflective light. That reflective light causes the bulb in the fixture to cycle on and off. I am going to use the photocell you showed in the video as the replacement, so that I may point the photocell straight up. The hot wire in the wall goes into a box and of course the wire going to the light fixture is also in the same box. I don't know which of those wires is the hot wire. I don't have any testing equipment and could jerry-rig a light fixture to the wires in the box to find the hot, but before I do that I thought I'd ask you if it makes any difference in the functionality of the new photocell if the hot wire is connected to the red lead in the photocell, instead of the black wire, reverse of what your video shows? Greg from Sacramento
The hot wire from the house (black) has to go to the black wire on the photo cell or it won't work. You can pick up a volt meter fairly cheap. Turn off the power to the light and undo some of the wire so you can test it and make sure the power wires are NOT touching anything else and then turn the power back on. Then put the volt meter on volts and put the black wire from the volt meter on the ground wire (green or bare) and the red wire from the volt meter on one of the other two wires. When the volt meter reads 120, then you'll know that the red lead wire that it's touching, is the hot wire.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading Thank you Peter. The photocell is arriving today before 10:00 PM. I'll follow your expert suggestion before it gets here.
Pete, all is well now and the sun is doing all the switching. Thanks again!
And say if u wanted two , They can be daisy chained ?
Fantastic video, your explanations are clear without any ambiguity. Thank You.
Jerry Grayson Thank you, I really appreciate that. Thanks 😊
Pete B. I wonder why older older light sensitive switches had only two black leads/wires which was simply connected in series to the black live wire but new light sensitive switches have need for a common/white wire. Is there a new code making a common required?
Jerry Grayson Hmm... not sure. I guess there must be a new safety requirement.
Good job...very clearly explained, thank you!
Wow, amazing saving to use that LED external Pete, I have learnt something so cool thanks to you with this video
I appreciate man for the detailed instruction on wiring!
Glad it was helpful!
Very helpful. Down to earth and clear
Thank you 👍
I appreciate your video thanks 🙏 also I’m curious if you exceeded the maximum wattage will it burn or overheat
I've never exceeded the 1800 watt max and I'm sure it will over heat.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading appreciate your video.
Hey how can I install a photo cell control light and a switch control light in the same circuit?
When our home was built (2006), they installed an interior dusk to dawn sensor for our stair lights and a wall sconce which are on the same circuit breaker. The lights no longer shut off, we can’t find the sensor to replace it. It’s not in any of the stair sockets nor is it anywhere in the wall sconce. (We can’t call the electric company, they went out of business 2008-2009.) Two questions: is there another location they might have connected the sensor and if we installed a new one in the wall sconce would it work with the old sensor still somewhere on this electrical circuit? Thank you!
It would be best if you get an electrician to find the problem, but if the lights are staying on then you can add a photocell to the lights.
the light sensor of course needs to see daylight, keep looking..
Our instructor linked to this video to demonstrate what a lab project we'll be doing just before finals.
Awesome 👍
I'm looking to use a photocell to mimic the cycle of the sun for reptiles that are light sensitive. So I want to turn lights on at dawn, and off at sunset. Can this be used to achieve that? Maybe using a relay?
Absolutely, If your reptiles are inside your house, just mount the photocell outside to an electrical box and use a 14/3 flexible wire as an extension cord to the lights where your reptiles are. The 14/3 will have three wires, black, white and green. Connect the blacks together on the photocell and the whites together on the photocell and connect the green and red together on the photocell. When you connect the extension cord to the lights, Connect the black (hot) to the black on the extension cord and connect all the whites together, now connect the green wire from the extension cord which is really the red from the photocell to the black on the light. Here's a link to the 14/3 wire: www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-By-the-Foot-14-3-600-Volt-CU-Black-Flexible-Portable-Power-SOOW-Cord-55809999/204632918
@@petebeasttexashomesteading Oh wow, thanks.
That looks like something even I can do!
Okay I just re-read your comment and the way I explained it to you is not what you're looking for. It will turn off the light durring the day and on at night.
Jorge Sierra it is so simple to reverse the action whit one contactor or relay using a normal close contact of it just use the photocel to energize the relay, and use the normal close contact to energize the lights and your reptiles will be so happy, good luck
Very nice. Knows what he’s doing.
Thank you
What light are you working on?
Muy buen video gracias por la enseñanza y muy bien explicado gracias
Great presentation. Thank you.
Thanks so much for the video. It was very helpful.
Thank you - very helpful!
Thank God for folks like you
Worked great for me just had to bore my own hole. Thanks.
👍
Great video! Very informative step for step.Thanks !
Thank you 👍
Some photoeye switches have built in capacitors built into the circuits, thus the delay is from the de-energizing of those capacitors. This design was to help reduce strobing at sunsets.
👍
Great video! I do have a question. I currently have almost all exterior lights on a single circuit. Can I install the sensor (Brightness not motion) to control all of them?
Yes, you can, but it can only handle a maximum of 1800 watts. So you will have to add up the watts of all the lights it will be powering.
Very good explanation that some are instant on and some are not. I couldn't figure out why the switch would not turn on the light when I put my thumb over the sensor. Guess I just didn't wait long enough..
Yeah some just take a little longer.
Good tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
If it's just in essence a switch why does it matter which wire goes to red or black? I know it does because I had the blinking lights issue before I wired it as you suggested. Thanks for the vid.
👍
Great video and a fantastic explanation.
Very nice..thank you.
I was ripping my hair out and then I realized there was a delay. :-)
Mine was about 60 seconds!
👍
Me too. Thanks for that additional info 👍.
Is there something bad with wiring copper wire to aluminum or is it ok in this instance? I.e. wire the switch which has aluminum stranded wire to the copper solid wire coming from the house?
In this instance it's ok. The only problem with aluminum wire is if you draw too many amps, it could heat up and melt. But for this instance especially an LED light it's fine.
could you connected a photocall to a AC two wire motor and or how would you wire that up?
The switch can only handle up to 1800 watts, you may need to connect a relay between the switch and the motor to handle bigger loads.
What happens if you connect the red wire from the switch to the black hot wire from your house
Not sure because that's not how the switch is wired for. If you switch the red and black it might still work because it's just an on off switch. But best to connect it as I did in the video.
Thanks for the video and time. 🙏🏽
I know I’m late to the game, but does anyone know what light this is? I’ve been having trouble finding something similar and can’t find the light on the Amazon page for this series. Thank you in advance!!
Thanks so much. You make it pretty easy.
You're welcome!
Why would My replacement light go off and on during the day? By the way thanks for you video.
Not sure what type of light you have but if it has a photo cell and a motion sensor, the photo cell might be bad telling the motion sensor it's night time when it's really day time.
Can i use 14 gage wire for this on 120?
Yes
@@petebeasttexashomesteading thanks
how do you prevent the light from deactivating itself once you add the sensor? like when it gets dark enough to trip the light and then the light shines on the sensor and it cuts power thus turning off the light.
Just make sure the sensor is facing up towards the sky and away from the light.
Great job Pete. Thanks for the help.
Thank you
Thank you, you made this easy to follow that old dog like me could install my photocell.
Awesome, I'm glad it helped you out.
00
Doesn’t the nut go on the sensor shaft before screwing it intothe fixture? That way you can lock the sensor into any position.
You could do that but since the fixture is threaded you can also do it from the outside to lock it into place.
Awesome, thank you very much
Simple enough that I think will try. (A Junction box works same way as the light fixture right?)
Yeah the light fixture in the video has a build in junction box. You can put the photocell in a junction box and then to a light.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading I had wires coming out of a soffit in an old house. The porch light was wired down the soffit & came out into junction box. No green wire. But replaced the old sensor (this same type) the way they had it wired and it worked! Would not have had courage to even try if hadn't seen this video. My wiring was old and had white black and red wires coming out. Sensor's red had to connect with a black and a red from that junction.
Easier than I thought. Thanks sir!
It usually takes some time for the day light and darkness to transition so its ok if the cell takes some time
👍
Awesome video. Helped a lot!
Thanks for the video!
Excellent tutorial so easy to understand. Thank you and blessings.
Thank you
,превод по Бьлгарски
Thank you so much for making it plan & simple !
👍
Good explanation 💪💪💪
Thank you for being great!
He says: If you're not an electrician, don't attempt this... even though you wouldn't be watching this if you were an electrician 😂
Informative video though.
Thk you 🫵 sir! Big help 👍
Welcome 👍
whats the lumen of that light
Best explanation 👌
Good explanation - easy to follow. Thanks!
Thank you
I Have 2 exterior lights both connected to the same switch, can I install one photocell for both?
Yes as long as the total watts of the lights does not exceed 1,800 watts.
Yes as long as the total watts of the lights does not exceed 1,800 watts.
Pete B. Ah the random two comment thing happened to you too
Great well detailed video
Thank you!
Well done thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
THE BEST VIDEO,THANK YOU SIR
thank you! very much enjoyed this
Best wiring video ever!
The last minute for quick review
You did great video thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Good explain..buena explicación
My light fixture is always on I have the same sensor.
Thank you sir very informative 👍👍👍
great !!thank you so much I have it :)
The one I’m replacing has a two minute delay. Black tape time
Very well explained, thx
Are you an electrician?
No, but I no enough not to be dangerous 🤣