Hi all,
I’m hoping someone here can help! I’m looking for an outdoor floodlight bulb that stays on at a dim level at dusk, then brightens up when it detects motion. Basically, a light that’s on low until someone walks by, and then it goes to full brightness.
Does anyone know what type of bulb or setup this is?
Some brands make these, but usually, it’s the whole fixture and not just the bulb.
I had these at my old place! DualBrite by Heath-Zenith makes them, and I think Good Earth Lighting has similar options too. They’re LED fixtures.
I also had a porch light with this feature that I really liked. For the floodlights, I eventually turned off the dimming feature and used them as regular motion lights.
@Yan
Thanks for the info! Do I need a special kind of bulb for this to work?
Yan said:
@Yan
Thanks for the info! Do I need a special kind of bulb for this to work?
If the fixture lets you replace bulbs, you’ll need dimmable bulbs. Just a heads-up, though—sometimes it takes trial and error to find bulbs that work well with your fixture. Dimmable bulbs vary in quality, and what works great in one brand’s fixture might not work as well in another.
Another option is to buy a fixture with built-in, non-replaceable LEDs. It’s pricier since if a bulb goes out, you have to replace the whole fixture, but it tends to work more reliably. There are also smart fixtures (WiFi-enabled) that can do extra things, like sync up with other lights in the yard. For example, if one light detects motion, others can light up too.
@Yan
Appreciate the help!
Here’s a DIY approach:
Set up a separate motion-detector light and a regular light socket nearby. Use a low-wattage bulb in the regular socket just to attract bugs (or give a faint light).
Then let the motion light trigger when something moves nearby.
@Emil
Some of this could be pretty useful.
Wyze Floodlight v2 might be what you’re looking for. It lets you adjust the motion sensor’s range, and it has other features too. Note: It also has a built-in camera.