Self adjusting light timer?

[I.B. Washincars]

I am tired of my light timers that I have to manually adjust for the changing length of days. Is there something out there that will adjust itself?

BTW, I use photocells in most applications, but I have 3 or 4 applications where they were affected by other sources of light. The timer seemed to be the best solution, but the human element (me) is the weak link.

 

[Eric H]

you are soooo LAZY!
http://1000bulbs.com/category/electronic-astronomic-timers/

 

[I.B. Washincars]

you are soooo LAZY!
http://1000bulbs.com/category/electronic-astronomic-timers/

Yeah, but it seems to work for me

 

[mjwalsh]

I was tired of light timers & photocells also!

I am tired of my light timers that I have to manually adjust for the changing length of days. Is there something out there that will adjust itself?

BTW, I use photocells in most applications, but I have 3 or 4 applications where they were affected by other sources of light. The timer seemed to be the best solution, but the human element (me) is the weak link.

Pat,

This might be another approach to consider:

We have been using the skylight 1-10 VDC of the below light sensor link in our new clear polycarbonate dog wash for about a year now & we are happier with the more preciseness of the sensor than less sophisticated photocells. If you have a PLC on premise --- it would be nice if the programmer could accommodate you with an extra VDC input & a relay output. I wonder if those smart relays Mep has been using could accommodate a relatively simple function like that. One thing about the variable voltage or milliamp output sensors you can accommodate the location of the sensor somewhat by allowing for more voltage or less voltage or current variations before they turn the light relay off or on. Also the amount differential between turning on & off can be adjusted whereas the lesser photocells that I have seen don't seem to have that capability.

http://www.controldepot.net/outdoorcelestiallightsensor0-10vdc.aspx

I got the below link yesterday to a webcast on Monday Nov 8th that could possibly explain it more. I have a commitment during the time of the webcast so maybe someone can explain the relevance that it might have for us car washers. Hopefully they will discuss the advantages of more precise light metering of both indoor & outdoor areas.

https://event.on24.com/eventRegistr...C4902&partnerref=dnxpromo&sourcepage=register

MJ

 

[MEP001]

I wonder if those smart relays Mep has been using could accommodate a relatively simple function like that.

Not by themselves; I believe there's a module for it, but they aren't actually "smart."

Does anyone know how adjustable these astronomic timers are? I use photocells, but the biggest problem I have is that since they're mainly intended to turn on lights that light uncovered areas, if I adjust the photocell to turn on soon enough to light the bay when it's too dark they tend to stay on all day if it's heavily overcast. If I replace the photocell with one of these units, I don't want the bays to be too dark for 30 minutes before the lights come on.

Actually I'm working on a plan to combine motion control and a signal from the meter to control the bay lights, so the whole timer idea may be moot.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

MJ, your system is over my head and really much more than I need. In all of my applications but one the lights are for the lot and not interior bay lights. Sunrise and sunset will probably be fine. In the last application I have half of the bay lights on a timer and the other half on photocell so timing is not that critical on those either since half of the lights will come on at dusk. I mostly want to eliminate having the lot lights coming on long after dark because I forget to adjust them.

 

[Randy]

Years ago when I worked for a large industrial complex we used the astronomic timers. As I recall we had nothing but problems with them getting them set up properly. We ended up replacing them with photo cells. In the winter, about this time of the year I remove the stops from my bay light timer and keep the bay lights on 24/7. In the fall & winter it’s like a cave in the bays during the day. Leaving the lights on 24/7 adds about $40 - $50 a month to the light bill.

 

[Ghetto Wash]

you are soooo LAZY!
http://1000bulbs.com/category/electronic-astronomic-timers/

I installed a number of these 3 years ago and they work like a champ. The only problem with mine is that the our wonderful congress changed when daylight savings time starts and ends. Now for 3 weeks before daylight savings and 3 weeks after, my lights are off for on hour when they should be on. There is no way to adjust this by the end user. I don't remember what I paid, I got them from Grainger, but I think it was way more than this.

 

[Ghetto Wash]

Does anyone know how adjustable these astronomic timers are? I use photocells, but the biggest problem I have is that since they're mainly intended to turn on lights that light uncovered areas, if I adjust the photocell to turn on soon enough to light the bay when it's too dark they tend to stay on all day if it's heavily overcast. If I replace the photocell with one of these units, I don't want the bays to be too dark for 30 minutes before the lights come on.

You don't have to program it to come on exactly at sunrise/sunset. I've set mine to come on 20 minutes before sunset and off 20 minutes after sunset.

 

[JustClean]

I've set mine to come on 20 minutes before sunset and off 20 minutes after sunset.

Gee...you won't get much business out of 40mins...

 

[Ghetto Wash]

Gee...you won't get much business out of 40mins...

OOPS........

I still had to read it word for word 3 times before I saw what I had written.

Correction:

Lights come on 20 mins before the sun goes away. Lights go off 20 mins after the sun comes back (not counting eclipses)

 

[Greg Pack]

Does anyone know how adjustable these astronomic timers are?
Actually I'm working on a plan to combine motion control and a signal from the meter to control the bay lights, so the whole timer idea may be moot.

The ones I have used are extremely adjustable. I have not used the ones at the top of the page, I have used the ET70215C at two car washes. They are very clumsy to program-not intuitive at all. The easiest way to program them is to call tech support and they can walk you through programming in ten minutes. They were designed to have much more flexibility than we need, with a holiday and weekend lighting schedule. Once they are programmed to come on at whatever time before/after sunrise you can pretty much leave it alone.

At the last car wash I built, I set one pole for half hour before sunset to sunrise, the other was used for a sign,neon, and half of bay lighting. I turned it on half hour before sunset and back off at 11pm.

As far as reliability. I did have the battery on the CPU die. Once I replaced and reprogrammed, it was pretty much set it and forget it.

I would look at the simpler ones at the top that advertise astronomic.