Outdoor PIR lighting

One of our specialties is small electrical jobs in Corby, Kettering and the surrounding areas. We often receive calls from customers looking to install some form of outdoor lighting, even more so during January & February. 

I created this article to explain some of the types of outdoor lighting to help to choose the one that suits your requirements the best.

What's the difference between PIR (motion sensor) & photocell controls for outside lights?✨

Buying lights for the outside of your house can be a bit of a pain. You may have seen the word PIR on the box of one type of light and photocell on the box of another and this can get a bit confusing. Do you know the difference between the two? If not don't worry, we're here to help.

Put simply outside lights with PIR, which stands for passive infra red, pick you up as you walk by so basically detects motion, while photocell lights provide dawn to dusk light.

Both PIR and photocell lights are operated by sensors. In the case of PIR lights this sensor is triggered when it detects movement in front of it. This could be from anything, it could be from somebody walking past or it could even be from something like a cat walking past, usually adjustable, this will depend on how you have the sensor set. You won't need to worry about your lights constantly going on and off though as the range of the sensor on these lights is usually only around 8 m, so any movement will need to be in pretty close proximity.

Photocell lights on the other hand are operated by a sensor that is triggered by a lack of light. This means as soon as dark falls, your outside light will be activated. The light will then stay lit until the sensor again detects outside light, i.e. when the sun rises and morning comes.

So, which type of light is best?  

Well that really comes down to personal preference and why you are installing the light. If you're looking for a light that will deter intruders and that will constantly illuminate outside areas of your home, a photocell light is probably best. But if you only want a light that is going to come on intermittently, a PIR light will be best.

There are of course positives and negatives for both. One such negative with PIR lights can be the fact they can be triggered in daylight if they are not set correctly, there is however a solution to this in another confusing type of light, PIR with photocell! Put simply PIR with photocell lights give you all the benefits of a PIR light but can only be triggered at night.

If you already have a PIR ( motion sensor light ) installed  and you would like to know more about how to set it up correctly take a look at my video I created to explain it all:  How to set up a motion sensor light ,PIR light or security light outside? | DNA Father and Son's Electrical Ltd (electricianincorby.co.uk)

Outdoor Lighting Electrician in Corby💡

Looking for an experienced outdoor lighting electrician based in Corby? Look no further than DNA Father & Son Electrical LTD. Our electricians can confidently tackle any outdoor lighting project from big to small! Contact our professional and friendly team today.