Connect a photo relay - step by step instruction with a video lesson

How the

works How to operate the

So, first consider how the twilight switch works so that you can see the features of its connection, which we will provide below.

The construction of the photocell consists of three main elements: a photocell, a comparator and a relay.

As for the photocell( and basically it is a photodiode, phototransistor or photoresistor), its main purpose is to analyze the intensity of light. If the street becomes dark or lighten, the photocell will let you know about it, on the basis of which the light will turn on / off. The comparator is the so-called threshold of operation of the system. If the voltage supplied by the photocell exceeds the setpoint, the comparator will switch on the relay, and accordingly the luminaire. The relay( or triac) is an output device that commutes the load( in our case it is a light bulb).

Simply put, the principle of operation is this: when the illumination level decreases, the resistance on the photoresistor changes, as a result of which the voltage increases and the relay trips. The result is that the lamp to which the device is connected is turned on until it lights up.

Video review of the detector from the company Feron, model SEN27:

Connection diagrams

Before proceeding to install the light control switch( another popular name), instead of the usual light switch, you need to figure out how to connect the wires to the light andterminals of the sensor. So, the connection diagram of the photo-relay for street lighting can be presented in two versions: with the use of a junction box and without its application. The first option is used when there is a replacement of the electrical wiring in the house. In this case, you will need to output a new line from the back box.

The wiring is as follows:

As you can see, the connection of the light switch to the luminaire is practically the same as the connection of the light switch. As well as in the usual version, the phase is on the break, and zero directly to the lantern. The only difference is that the zero wire should be wound up also in the photo sensor itself.

If you have already made repairs in the house and do not want to bang the wall for a new line, you can use the second option to connect the photo relay yourself - directly:

In this case, all 3 wires: phase, zero and grounding are built into the housing and clamped with terminals. Both the first and second method of installation is correct. Choosing the right option, you can go further - to install the photo relay yourself.

Step-by-step installation instructions

Immediately I would like to depart a little from the topic and advise you to simultaneously connect the photocell and the motion sensor for lighting. In a pair, these two devices will enable the luminaire to turn on when darkness occurs, only if a person appears in the detection zone. If no one is on the site, then the bulbs will not light, which will save considerable energy.

The installation method depends on which protection class and type of fastening of the twilight light switch you purchased.

To date, there are various manufacturing options, namely:

• with DIN-rail mounting, on a wall or on a horizontal surface;
• street or room use case( depends on IP protection class);The
• photocell is built-in or external.

In the manual we will provide for example installation of a photo relay for street lighting with a wall mount. Connection is carried out on the stand for convenience, especially since this is just an example.

So, in order to connect the light switch to the light yourself, you have to perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the electricity on the input shield and check the current in the junction box from which we will wire.
2. We pull the supply wire to the place of installation of the light switch( next to the lighting device).We recommend that you use a three-wire PVA wire to connect the twilight switch, which has proved to be a reliable and not too expensive variant of the conductor.
3. We clean the wires from insulation by 10-12 mm to connect them to the terminals.
4. Create holes in the housing for building veins in order to connect the photo relay to the network and the lamp.
5. To increase the airtightness of the housing, we mount special rubber seals in the cut-out holes, which protect against ingress of dust and moisture inside. By the way, place the twilight switch in such a way that the opening holes are from below, which will prevent the penetration of moisture under the cover.
6. We connect the photo relay for street lighting according to the electrical scheme, which we provided above. As you can see in the photo, the lead-in phase is connected to the L connector, and the input neutral to N. For earthing, a separate screw terminal with the appropriate designation is intended.
7. Cut the desired length of the wire to connect the light switch to the light bulb( in reality it can even be a LED spotlight).We also peel the insulation by 10-12 mm and connect it to the terminals N 'and L' respectively. The second end of the conductor is brought to the light source and connected to the terminals of the cartridge. If the housing of the luminaire does not conduct current, it is not necessary to connect the ground.
8. Installation and connection are over, we proceed to setting up the photo relay with our own hands. There is nothing complicated, there is a special black bag in the kit, which is necessary in order to simulate the night. On the body of the light sensor you can see the regulator( signed with the abbreviation LUX), which serves to select the intensity of illumination at which the relay will trip. If you wish to save electricity, set the rotary knob to minimum( "-" mark).In this case, the turn-on signal will be given at full darkness in the street. Usually the controller is next to the screw terminals, slightly to the left and above( as shown in the photo).
9. The last step of connecting the photocell is the attachment of the protective cover and the inclusion of electricity on the switchboard. Once you do this, you can proceed to testing the device.

That's all I wanted to tell you about how to install and connect a photo relay yourself. We also recommend that you view a visual video lesson, which details the entire nature of the wiring.

Finally, it should be said which manufacturers of twilight switches are the most qualitative. To date, it is recommended to give preference to products from companies such as Legrand( Legrand), ABB, Schneider electric and IEK.By the way, the last firm has a fairly reliable model - FR-601, which has a lot of positive feedback on the forums.
Related materials:

• Schematic of connecting a spotlight to a photocell and motion sensor
• Wiring methods in a junction box
• How to replace a wiring in an apartment