Hi everyone! I’m really excited to share my recent project and maybe get some tips from the community. I’ve been working on setting up outdoor lighting with motion sensors and light level detection. The goal is to have lights that automatically adjust based on the ambient light and only turn on when motion is detected during darker hours. It’s been a fun challenge, but I’m hitting a snag or two and would love your insights!
So, here’s what I’ve done so far: I’ve installed a few motion sensors around my backyard and connected them to some smart LED lights. I also set up a light sensor to detect the ambient light levels. The idea is that if it’s bright enough outside, the lights won’t turn on even if motion is detected. But if it’s cloudy or dark, they should kick in and provide some illumination. I’ve been using Hubitat for automation, and it’s been pretty smooth overall.
The tricky part is getting the dimming right. I want the lights to come on at full brightness when motion is detected but dim down after a minute or so if there’s no further movement. This way, it doesn’t feel too intrusive or energy-intensive. I’ve tried a few different approaches with timers and fade settings, but I’m not quite there yet. Sometimes the lights stay too bright, or they dim too quickly.
Another thing I’m experimenting with is integrating window shades. If it’s bright outside, I want the shades to stay open, but if it’s dark, maybe close them a bit to conserve heat. It’s a bit ambitious, but I think it could work with the right automations.
I’ve read some great tips in the forums about using virtual switches and custom rules, so I’m trying to piece those together. I’m also curious if anyone has experience with outdoor lighting level detection and how they handle it. Any advice or pointers would be super helpful!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and maybe learning some new tricks. Thanks for being such a supportive community!