Victorian lamp post wiring

[dobbslc]

If you're using t&e in a plastic duct I'd make sure its buried deep enough to avoid a garden fork hitting it. Personal I'd use a bit of 2.5mm SWA cable
4 core so you have a spare core for later on if you change the switching arrangement. I've installed a few outside lights and wished I'd run an extra core!

 

[Paulbarrett]

for what it costs SWA can go straight in the ground

 

[Welderpaul]

Thread revival..no point rushing these projects is there...

I had decided on the idea of having two seperate bulbs in there, one controlled by a photocell as the background low light and one controlled by a PIR as a 'brighter' light. This would be easy to wire with two circuits, but.... to keep the thing looking 'right' I only want one bulb.

Its frustrating because when i originally asked the question a spark sent me a link for an off the shelf external light fitting which did exactly this. I'd need to gut it but the circuitry etc would be there to do what i want. Now I can't find it Does anyone know of such a light fitting, or even what terms to search for.

 

[Bullet2012]

Need to check the garage but I think I might have such a light. Can check when back later

 

[TechnicAl]

Can't help you with your electrics question, as I left that to someone else. But here's a victorian lampost I refurbed last year. I have been meaning to put it up in my random jobs thread.
It was wired up to come on automatically when the light levels drops to a specific setting.


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You couldnt dig too deep there I would imagine
Did you get someone to hold the cable underground

 

[mtt.tr]

Id have a dimable lamp use a dimmer to adjust the low light, when the pir is triggered have it bypass the dimmer

 

[hotponyshoes]

Thread revival..no point rushing these projects is there...

I had decided on the idea of having two seperate bulbs in there, one controlled by a photocell as the background low light and one controlled by a PIR as a 'brighter' light. This would be easy to wire with two circuits, but.... to keep the thing looking 'right' I only want one bulb.

Its frustrating because when i originally asked the question a spark sent me a link for an off the shelf external light fitting which did exactly this. I'd need to gut it but the circuitry etc would be there to do what i want. Now I can't find it Does anyone know of such a light fitting, or even what terms to search for.

Dusk to dawn bulb - has the photocell built in.
Dusk to dawn with pir - does both
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dusk-Bayonet-Photocell-Doorway-Carport/dp/B0711RKH4J

If you want it to look nice I would go for one of those old style large filament bulbs (although they are surprisingly expensive now)

Get separate electronics.
Run power through a photo sensor then to a dimmer then to the bulb.
Also run power to a pir sensor and run from there directly to the bulb as well.

This should give you a dim light (dimness controllable) at dusk then full power when the pir is triggered.
The only problem I can see is if the dimmer gets upset (catches fire) if you feed power into it from he wrong side. You would have to check to see if it's ok to wire one like that or if you can use diodes to prevent back feed to it.

 

[mtt.tr]

Dusk to dawn bulb - has the photocell built in.

If you want it to look nice I would go for one of those old style large filament bulbs (although they are surprisingly expensive now)

Get separate electronics.
Run power through a photo sensor then to a dimmer then to the bulb.
Also run power to a pir sensor and run from there directly to the bulb as well.

This should give you a dim light (dimness controllable) at dusk then full power when the pir is triggered.
The only problem I can see is if the dimmer gets upset (catches fire) if you feed power into it from he wrong side. You would have to check to see if it's ok to wire one like that or if you can use diodes to prevent back feed to it.

Relay is easiest solution.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Relay would probably be the easiest way!
Otherwise I wonder if you could just fit a resistor rather than a dimmer? I presume if you put the same amount of power to both sides of a resistor then nothing will happen as it won't try to pass any current?

Another way, mount a nice looking old fashioned filament bulb on show.
Fit a polished stainless reflector in the top of the lamp casing facing down.
Hide a set of leds in the bottom of the housing controlled by the pir.

 

[mtt.tr]

Relay would probably be the easiest way!
Otherwise I wonder if you could just fit a resistor rather than a dimmer? I presume if you put the same amount of power to both sides of a resistor then nothing will happen as it won't try to pass any current?

Another way, mount a nice looking old fashioned filament bulb on show.
Fit a polished stainless reflector in the top of the lamp casing facing down.
Hide a set of leds in the bottom of the housing controlled by the pir.

Wont work with a resistor as leds don't dim like incandescent bulbs, also very energy inefficient

 

[eddie49]

In USA so-called "3-way bulbs" are very common. They are large 110v filament bulbs, use a special E26 ES base, and are typically 50/100/150 Watts. Not sure how you can get one here, without paying USA shipping. E.G. a 4-pack from Amazon USA:

https://www.amazon.com/GE-97494-Lighting-150-Watt-4-Pack/dp/B00LALQWVY/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1577789705&refinements=p_n_feature_three_browse-bin:3594188011&s=hi&sr=1-1

You'd still need to arrange separate feeds to get the 2 or 3 power levels, but at least it'd look "period".

 

[mtt.tr]

https://uk.farnell.com/weidmuller/1123700000/power-relay-dpdt-8a-250vac-din/dp/2767030

 

[hotponyshoes]

Screwfix do 2 way bulbs I think but the low level is too bright for what the op wants.

 

[mtt.tr]

Screwfix do 2 way bulbs I think but the low level is too bright for what the op wants.

Where would you get the lamp holder for it?

 

[hotponyshoes]

£26 for a 4 pack.
Regular fitting, might need 2 relays and some head scratching?
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/323824003252

 

[mtt.tr]

£26 for a 4 pack.
Regular fitting, might need 2 relays and some head scratching?
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/323824003252

These have 2 separate contacts on the base so need a specific holder

 

[hotponyshoes]

These have 2 separate contacts on the base so need a specific holder

These ones are a regular screw in fitting.
But I think you would have to fit a timer to the pir to get them to work properly.

 

[mtt.tr]

These ones are a regular screw in fitting.
But I think you would have to fit a timer to the pir to get them to work properly.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-way_lamp#/media/File:3Way_Bulb_Contacts.jpg

They are not typical lamps

 

[eddie49]

The USA 3-way lamp base:



Suitable sockets:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Pcs-3-...movable-Turn-Knob-Phenolic-Black/382851152478

 

[hotponyshoes]

Those ones in my link are a 2-way bulb not a 3-way.

The low output is probably better for what the op wants but I dont know if the high would be bright enough and they look ****e.