Everything You Need to Know Dusk To Dawn Lighting
When it comes to outdoor lighting, you either go dusk to dawn or go to the trouble. Dusk to dawn lighting has influenced our daily life so greatly that it becomes a necessity to learn something about it. After all, you will need to get your won dusk to dawn light bulb someday. Here’s everything you need to know dusk to dawn lighting.
Jump to a section:
What is dusk to dawn
How does a dusk to dawn light sensor work
Where to use dusk to dawn light
(pictures are all from google search)
What is dusk to dawn?
Most likely, dusk to dawn lights is light bulbs that come on at night when they detect low surrounding light intensity and turn off at dawn when they detect more light. With built-in dusk to dawn sensor, outdoor lighting, such as a lamppost, wall light, and solar step light in the garden, will turn on automatically at night and turn off in the daytime, helping people to get rid of the trouble of turning on and off the outdoor lighting around their house every day.
How does the dusk to dawn light sensor work?
Traditionally, a dusk to dawn light bulb is designed with a built-in light sensor-- photoelectric devices that detect the spectrum of natural light and generate signals to tell the light bulb whether it should work or not. Mostly, photoelectric devices can be divided into two parts. One is photo-voltaic cells, and the other is photo-conductive cells which are also called photoresistors or light-dependent resistors. The latter one is what is mostly used as the dusk to dawn light bulb sensor.
An LDR (light-dependent resistor) achieves the dusk to dawn function by decreasing and increasing resistance in accordance with the receiving light on the sensitive surface. So a dusk to dawn light bulb will not work properly if there is dust or obstacles over the sensitive surface, and won’t work well as well if it is installed in a fixture near a building that is really bright at night. That means you need to keep a distance from any light source when you are installing dusk to dawn lighting.
Where to use dusk to dawn light?
A dusk to dawn light bulb often pairs with outdoor lighting. People seldom use dusk to dawn bulbs indoors because we don’t need light keeping on the whole night at home. While in an outdoor environment, a light bulb with a dusk to dawn sensor will work perfectly for many of your outdoor projects!
Outdoor dusk to dawn ceiling light
An outdoor dusk to dawn ceiling light for the front door is a great option in making you feel safe and warm when you are going home late at night. Such a ceiling light will automatically come on at night and turn off in the daytime, saving energy to a certain extent and light up the door for you.
Outdoor string light
A dusk to dawn outdoor string light functions differently for your home. It works as illumination and decoration for your outdoor party. Dusk to dawn LED outdoor string lights can not only bring a subtle but romantic glow for your outdoor party but work as a surprise when string lights detect low light intensity and come on suddenly in the party. But remember to choose a waterproof light if you are going to get your first outdoor light home. You could refer to the IP rating before making a purchase. Mostly, an outdoor light should have an IP rating of at least IP65 to enhance its lifespan.
Outdoor dusk to dawn lighting could be a more practical task lighting too. A dusk to dawn lighting pairing with a motion sensor and solar panel will tailor more applications.
Outdoor solar step light
Though a light coming on only at night will save energy to a certain extent. But we still need to charge it often or connect it to the power supply all the time. While if the dusk to dawn step light features a solar panel, you will need not worry about the electric cost. Outdoor step lights coming on at dusk automatically and charging in the daytime is really a money-saving option for outdoor lighting.
Dusk to dawn motion-sensing warning light
Sometimes light can work as illumination and a guard to protect you from hidden safety hazards. And dusk to dawn motion-sensing warning light will do this. With a light sensor and motion sensor, a light turning on at dusk could also automatically flashing with bright red and blue light when the motion sensor detects human movement within the range, warning you that there is someone outside your house.
Needless to say that there is a wider application of the dusk to dawn light. But the above information is enough in helping you to be a pro in your dusk to the dawn lighting plan. Now that you have got the tips, go and get your first dusk to dawn light bulbs for your outdoor lighting plan!