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PIR-controlled LED Flood-lights

Thomas Whiteside

I want to canvass LED luminaire manufacturers to the problem that their PIR-controlled LED flood-lights might not be illuminating building exteriors correctly, but instead could lead to unsafe and unlit areas. I am referring to manufacturers’ totally sealing PIR-controlled LED flood-lights with no access to its internal PIR switched-live. Let me explain, as follows: 

Traditionally, as an electrical engineer, I have always specified areas where multiple security flood-lights are required to be cabled with 3core & earth cable, where the additional core is used as a PIR switched-live to bring on all flood-lights together in a group. This is only possible if the PIR switched-live is accessible outside the flood-light, which of course it is on traditional halogen luminaires, but not on LED luminaires, which only have a 3core flex with no way to open the luminaire. 

Of course, there are other alternatives, such as separate PIRs but additional cost implications make this option expensive, particularly on long pathways around the perimeter of large buildings. Also, multiple exit doors would result in multiple separate PIRs with yet more expense. 

Simply, if manufacturers brought out a 4core flex, (live, neutral, earth & PIR switched-live, it gives electricians both options of each flood-light illuminating separately ignoring the additional PIR switched-live or bringing them all on together by connecting all grouped PIR switched-lives together. Whenever a single PIR triggers, it puts a live feed onto the additional core, which in turn puts a live feed onto the additional core bringing on all flood-lights connected to it.

 Perhaps manufacturers reading this article will consider my proposals and alter their designs if found appropriate. Thank you.

Parents

  • My local wholesaler was having great problems with electricians returning LED floodlights with attached PIR sensors a couple of years ago. The issue was that the PIR had a lower IP rating than the actual flood light, it came to a head when an electrician returned around forty fittings installed in an area where pressure washers were used frequently.

    Most of the electricians went back to using stand-alone PIRs and the wholesalers cleared their stock with customers being advised about the IP rating issues and restocked with better fittings.

    Other than for a single light fitting I still use stand-alone PIRs rather than integral PIRs, the four-core wiring in the installation is better as other controls can be added such as time lag switches and timers.

    I have done some external lighting with a combination of stand-alone PIRs, switches and a timer connected through a photocell, so the lights come on as it gets dark, go off at 11.00 pm, but come back on if someone enters the garden between 11.0 pm and dawn or if the occupants want to manually override the controls.

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  • My local wholesaler was having great problems with electricians returning LED floodlights with attached PIR sensors a couple of years ago. The issue was that the PIR had a lower IP rating than the actual flood light, it came to a head when an electrician returned around forty fittings installed in an area where pressure washers were used frequently.

    Most of the electricians went back to using stand-alone PIRs and the wholesalers cleared their stock with customers being advised about the IP rating issues and restocked with better fittings.

    Other than for a single light fitting I still use stand-alone PIRs rather than integral PIRs, the four-core wiring in the installation is better as other controls can be added such as time lag switches and timers.

    I have done some external lighting with a combination of stand-alone PIRs, switches and a timer connected through a photocell, so the lights come on as it gets dark, go off at 11.00 pm, but come back on if someone enters the garden between 11.0 pm and dawn or if the occupants want to manually override the controls.

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