Bright Idea - Trigger Routines Based on Available Light

One of our customers was trying to figure out how to solve a sunrise and sunset issue he was experiencing. Since the sunrise was on one side of his house and sunset on the other, he wanted certain scenes to trigger based on available light, rather than a solar schedule. Our technical support lead, Steve, suggested using a photocell wired to a micro module to achieve this.

What you will need:

• Familiarity with wiring 120V or hire an electrician.
• Access to 120V power source outside the home.
• From your local hardware store:
  • 120V wired photocell
  • Weatherproof outdoor electrical box

From Insteon:

• Insteon Micro Module – either the Dimmer or On/Off version will work in this application since it is not directly wired to a fixture.
• Any number of Insteon devices to be controlled by the Micro Module.

Setup/Configuration:

• Turn off power at the circuit breaker for corresponding circuit.
• Connect the outdoor electrical box to 120V power.
• Install the Insteon Micro Module in the electrical box, wiring it to the Line and Neutral wires.
• Install the photocell in the electrical box, wiring it to Line and Neutral and then wire its red Load wire to the yellow sense wire on the Micro Module.
• Turn on power at the circuit breaker.
• Ensure the Micro Module is set to Latching Mode (default out of the box).
• Link the Micro Module to all the devices (or scenes) you want the photocell to trigger. For those using the Director app, simply create a scene with the Micro Module as the Director and then add the responding devices as Actors.

How it works:

When it gets dark outside, the photocell will energize its red Load wire thus triggering the Micro Module to transmit an Insteon On command controlling any linked devices.

When it gets light outside, the photocell de-energizes its Load wire thus triggering the Micro Module to transmit an Insteon Off command to those same linked devices.

The above can also be helpful for people who experience severe weather events. Use this solution to provide pathway lighting and turn on some lights in your home when the dark clouds roll in.

If you are not comfortable with the process listed in a Bright Idea’s solution, please do not attempt to do it yourself and contact an appropriate installer.