How to make remote control lighting in the garden with your own hands
Illumination of a personal plot is, first of all, necessary for the personal safety of the owners. In addition, it helps to protect the territory from uninvited guests. And, of course, it’s just wonderful if this lighting system is comfortable and complements the night landscape, making the homestead very beautiful. This article will discuss how to make the control of garden lighting the most comfortable. And everyone will choose the design, type of fixtures to their liking.
Content
- What is a remote lighting control system
- Types of equipment for remote lighting control
- How to assemble a remote lighting scheme video
What is a remote lighting control system
Regardless of the type of equipment, control method, the entire lighting scheme of a household territory can be divided into three main parts:
- the control panel, as a rule, includes a switchboard with a power distribution of the lamps, protective equipment, motion sensors, photocells, timers, etc.
- executive equipment is actually all kinds of lighting devices on the site.
- communication channels or cables that connect all devices to a single workgroup.
Let's look at the basic principles of competent construction of such a lighting chain:
- no more than 8 lighting devices are included in one circuit, this creates more flexible conditions when choosing the characteristics of cable, protective devices and fixtures, and also allows you to divide the entire territory into separate lighting sectors;
- each lighting circuit must be equipped with circuit breakers or fuses (at the discretion of the owner) of the corresponding rating;
- as well as a differential protective device, triggered by a current leak of 30 mA - first of all, it is your safety;
- all wiring outside the house should be done with a cable with a cross-section of the cores in accordance with the load, the wiring used in the room is not suitable for laying in the ground (you can lay it, but you can forget about durability and safety).
Types of equipment for remote lighting control
In general, the simplest remote control of lighting in the garden can be realized using a conventional switch located anywhere in the house. The truth will have to get up and go to this switch. In this embodiment, the circuit is assembled very simply and is not very expensive.
And if you want to not get up from your favorite chair at all and at the same time control the lighting, then you will need a remote control device using radio signals. As an option of such a device, Outlumina 100, 200, or 300. This remote control system allows you to control 4 lighting circuits (for most private houses it is enough). The kit includes two four button remote controls that enable you to turn on / off certain sections of the garden from anywhere in the home garden. The 300 model comes with a motion sensor that controls the light circuits.
To organize remote control using radio signals, you can use less expensive devices, such as conventional radio-controlled switches. They are mounted in any mounting box or in the same switchboard. They are controlled from a special remote control or using a wall-mounted radio transmitter in the form of a conventional key switch. The latter is good in that when leaving the house, a simple keystroke will turn off all the radio-controlled switches in the house. Mounted to the wall with screws or double-sided tape.
There are special universal radio-controlled units that control a variety of circuits, from outdoor lighting to opening the gate. For the all-inclusive kit, of course, you will have to pay more, but it is easier to mount them.
If you want the illumination of the homestead territory to take place automatically, then you should pay attention to motion sensors, photocell switches and timers.
Motion sensors are more appropriate to use in open spaces, for example, opposite the alley leading to the entrance to the house. Usually they are installed above the doors. In the garden, installation is not advisable due to the large amount of interference that will either interfere with operation or, on the contrary, lead to false inclusions (for example, the same cats, dogs).
The most reasonable option for automatic control of turning on garden lighting is photocell switches. By adjusting the level of illumination, you can forget about its existence. Further illumination of the garden and alleys will be carried out fully automatically with the onset of twilight. Shutdown is also automatic - at dawn.
Another option is the automatic lighting control system timers. They can be used as independent control devices, as well as additional ones in the circuit of the same photocells. In the latter case, they will help save energy if, for example, lighting in the garden in the dead of night is nothing for you. To do this, you just need to program the timer to turn on / off at certain hours.
How to assemble a remote lighting control circuit
It does not make sense to describe step-by-step installation in detail. In the instructions for this equipment everything is described in sufficient detail. And the connection of these devices is not at all complicated, especially if there are at least some electrician skills. Let us dwell only on the basic principles of collecting remote control circuits:
- If the garden lighting has already been implemented, and you just want to upgrade it, then it’s enough to include the device of your choice in the circuit after the fuses and protective device. The same photocell switch. It is connected in series with all lighting devices. There are only three wires: ground, phase and zero.
- Similarly, motion sensors, timers and radio-controlled switches, i.e. sequentially. Three wires come out of the protective device to the lamps, we need to turn on the switch (of any type, the connection is almost identical) into these three wires, and then three wires to the lighting devices go from the switch.
- When purchasing fixtures or a photocell, a motion sensor, be sure to check the IP 25 marking, which means that the devices have a sufficient moisture protection level (from water flows, i.e. rain).
- The cable insulation is removed only to the length that is necessary to connect the lamp or create twisting in the distribution sleeve. It is not allowed to twist the cable veins in the pipes. All this will lead to lower insulation and breakdown to the ground. First of all, the differential protective device will work, disconnecting the lighting circuit. And over time, this will lead to a complete failure of the cable.
We examined the basic methods and principles of building a remote lighting control. Which control method you choose, whether it is a motion sensor for lighting or a timer, is up to you based on your financial capabilities. The easiest way is to use radio-controlled switches. It is inexpensive, and the system can be assembled as available funds.
