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Thread: Can I use Caseta with existing photosensor exterior lights?

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Posts
    2

    Can I use Caseta with existing photosensor exterior lights?

    I am looking for a solution for my outdoors (back deck) that will allow me to use dimmable LEDs along with a dawn-to-dusk feature. My existing exterior light fixtures have photosensors for the dawn-to-dusk feature so they automatically come on and off, but are not dimmable. I want the dawn-to-dusk feature with full brightness the majority of the time for security reasons, but I'd also like to be able to dim them when entertaining on the back deck during the evenings. Can I use Caseta with these existing photosensor fixtures, or do I need to replace them with exterior lights that don't have the photosensor?

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    2,587
    The photocell is in line (electrically) between the dimmer and the light. The dimmer will not work properly unless it has direct access to the load. You might get around this by using a neutral based dimmer. It might work 9 out of 10 times. Number 10 will be when your mother-in-law is there.

    Photocells, like most electronics, don't like to be dimmed. It will do erratic things like turning the lights off at the wrong time.

    You may be able to bypass or disconnect the photocell in the existing fixture.
    Convergence Technologies Raleigh, North Carolina
    www.convergenceusa.com

  3. #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Posts
    2

    Thanks!

    Thanks! I'll probably just replace the exterior fixtures.

  4. #4
    A suggestion - delete the photo-sensors and put the lights on the dimmers directly. In the Lutron app you can set a schedule for those lights that is based on sunset/sunrise or time. You can set the outside lights to come on X minutes before sunset (so its seasonally aware) and turn off at sunrise or at a specific time. You can over-ride with the dimmer controls at any time for on/off, brighter or dimmer.Alan

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