Here’s a quick intro on Dusk to Dawn Photocell technology for LED Lighting
As the momentum to reduce energy usage continues and concerns about carbon foot print rise, one daily step we all can do is to eliminate the use of light sources when they are not needed.
Most quality outdoor LED fixtures can be equipped with a photocell that will actually” tell” the fixture when it should operate. This is primarily used to turn exterior lights on when the sun sets and back off at dawn when the sun rises offering what many call “dusk to dawn” timings.
There are numerous types of photocells in the market but the technology behind them is all the same, as they utilize semiconductors to control the electric current. When the semiconductor is exposed to a certain level of light, current starts to flow and the fixture will be shut off. Some photocell sensors come adjustable, allowing you to choose the light level that will activate the semiconductor. As the light fades during the evening, the flow stops and the fixture is powered on. This allows for what we call “Dusk-to-Dawn” light output.
Being that photocells sense ambient light levels, they will automatically adapt to seasonal changes and are not affected by daylight-savings time. This results in maintenance-free energy efficiency in addition to providing the security of having lights on in the evening to deter intruders and provide a higher sense of security.
Timers and motion sensors are other types of controls that are sometimes used in conjunction with (or to replace) photocells. Timers are useful for on-demand lighting controls, for example to turn off lights at a work site during set times. More intricate timers are set up to allow input of multiple time configurations. But they lack the ability to work well with environmental factors. Local sunrise and sunset patterns change over time and would have to be manually set, whereas a photocell will sense this automatically. Timers also won’t be able to react to a rainy or cloudy day like a photocell would.
Dusk to Dawn photocells have proven to be an essential component for many outdoor lighting systems. While there are many ways to help protect the environment, one very effective way is to choose outdoor LED fixtures that offer an option to control.
We can all do our part to help protect the environment by reducing wasted energy use and light pollution by adding controls. At Revolve LED we offer outdoor lighting solutions to meet all applications. From wall packs to floods to area lights- many have preinstalled optional use integrated photocells or the light will allow for photocell installation.
