How can I put outdoor lights powered by a wall switch on a timer?

Question

I want to put the exterior lights of my home (i.e. porch lights) on a timer. They are powered by wall switches inside my home. Ideally, I would like for the lights to come on at dusk and turn off at dawn. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can do this?

Answer 1

a photo cell will only turn the lights on when it gets dark and turn them on when it gets light.
if that is what you want it would be more ideal than a timer, you'll need to install an outdoor type box and they sell a photo eye that is on a box cover as well. (and you need to puit the eye in a place that won't be affected by any light (street light or exterior lights around the house)
run a set of wires (2 for hot (black or red), 1 for ground (green), and 1 for a grounded conductor{white wire}) either to the box with the switch or to the breaker panel, whichever is easier
you need to break the line and wire them to each of the photo eye hot leads
wire in your white wire to the other white wire and the green wire to the other green wire

Answer 2

Outdoor Timer Switch

Answer 3

Outdoor Light Timer

Answer 4

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RE:
How can I put outdoor lights powered by a wall switch on a timer?
I want to put the exterior lights of my home (i.e. porch lights) on a timer. They are powered by wall switches inside my home. Ideally, I would like for the lights to come on at dusk and turn off at dawn. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can do this?

Answer 5

Rather than a timer, which allows you to set on and off times, you can actually purchase a photoelectric cell (some streetlight applications use these) which automatically switches lights on at dusk when it senses light below a certain level, and switches them off again at dawn when a certain level of daylight is detected. Be aware that on dark cloudy days this can also happen, but that can be advantageous anyway!! You should consult an electrical wholesaler (such as Turks) and/or an electrician about the correct one for your home application and it would need to be wired up by a licensed electrician.

Answer 6

I don't know that an inline timer exists. IF the outside lights were all on one circuit, not shared by other receptacles or house lighting.....you can buy a programable timer from an electrical wholesale that would install by your electrical panel.and control only your new outdoor lights circuit. Failing that, you may check with them and see if there is some kind of timer circuit kit that mounts to the porch ceiling electrical box..sort of like door bell transformers do............or as the other contributors offer.......might use photocell actuation instead

Answer 7

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just like you wire a wall on/off switch,,,,the switch itself does not have a nuetral wire connected to it. The nuetral wire ( the white one). usually goes from the circuit breaker box straight to the light fixture. the on/off switch is put in the middle of the hot line (the black wire). So when you flip the switch you are really just connecting or disconnecting the hot wire to the light. Now with the timer switch its a little different because you need to put power in the switch itself to run the little timer motor,,,so you do connect a white wire to it. the black wire is still going to black. But the blue wire should go to the other side of the black wire that goes straight to the light. This can be confusing if you've never done it before. I advise you to get some competent help so you dont injure yourself. it's just not worth it to hurt yourself.

Answer 8

Yes you can replace the wall switch with a timer. Check your local hardware stores.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

go to the hard ware store and tell the electrical pro you need a photo cell and need to know how to install it.