Outdoor Lighting

robertc65

I am begining a project to add additional flood lights primarily for security. I will also use them when needed to light the yard. When complete I will have floods in the front, back and both sides of my house. I am not sure however how I want to control them. Should there be one switch to controll all of the floods? Should there be 4 switches front, back, left side, right side? Should there be just front and rear and have the sides come on no matter what? I really don't know what is best. For the purpose of security the lights will be automated with PLC modules. I am mostly concerned about the manual control. I fear that too many switches will make it confusing but to few will limit control and waste electricity. I am not concerned about a switch being over loaded as the lights will be switched by high current relays. Any ideas would be greatly apreciated.

Thanks

Rob

CE1

Do you know what brand of PLC you are going to use? Do you know how to program them? There are all kinds of ways to control lights with a PLC.

Here's a sample:

1. 1 button controls all lights(24 VDC and as many buttons that you want)
2. There are 10 lights
3. push the button 1 time and lights 1-5 come on
4. push the button two times within 2 sec and lights 6-10 come on
5. push the button and hold for 5 sec and all lights go off
6. Etc. what ever you want

robertc65

Yes I will be using Insteon modules from SmartHome. I have been using X-10 since the early 80s and I'm finally ready to take the plunge into Insteon. They recently began selling a few low wattage modules for $20 each. They have all the functionality I want it's just that are only rated for 300Watts. I bought several 25 amp relays with a 110V coil for $2 bucks each. I'll let the small relay in the insteon modules drive these larger relays.

CE1

Sorry

We are not talking about the same thing. Disregard my last post.

robertc65

No problem. The Insteon modules I'm speaking of however are considered Power Line Control devices.

Rob

CE1

I was talking about Programmable Logic Controllers.

CE1

This is a PLC to me
This controls a series of pneumatic air valves that cycle in a timed sequence

Attachment 1629

robertc65

Oh I see. I do have an Ocelot controller from Applied Digital that I have been using with my X-10 installation. You use an Application called C-max to program it. It's very flexible.