Outside lamps - PIR

Baggyboys1 · Post by **Baggyboys1** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:20 pm

Hi all ,
Some help please in simple terms……

I have 4 up & down lights on my shed ran from the switch with T&E and work perfectly.
I have now decided to put a PIR on the corner which comes with the following:
L- Red N- Neutral L- Live
I understand the L-Red is switched Live
What I cannot get round in my head though my excuse is doing double hours at work is the following:
I have T&E looped through the lamps and coming off the last lamp to the PIR where I need L-Red N Live but of course I have ended up with T&E……
Should I have used 3core & E or is there a way to use my T&E and if so please put in simple terms

My lamps have the following :
Black
White
Earth

PIR has the following:
L-Red N L-Live

Of course I have T&E

Thank you

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:28 pm

As I understand it you want to add the PIR off the last light. This won’t work unless you only want the PIR to operate the last light.

If you want to operate them all the PIR needs to go before the first light

PS t&e isn’t suitable for outside installations

Baggyboys1 · Post by **Baggyboys1** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 6:53 pm

Hi there,
The T&E is inside the shed into the back of the lights/pir.
I do want the pir to work all the lights
Forgot to add…
So with the pir being at the far end of the shed do I run cable directly to the switch then from the pir onto the first lamp or do I loop each one the same and if so with what cable with one live missing with what I am using….

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm

You can put the PIR where it will be best suited.
However, as you want it to switch on all your external lights, it must be connected before the first light, not the light it will be nearest to.
Mains PIR's have 3 connections, Live, Neutral and Switched live (Live and neutral power the PIR, switched live becomes live as and when required)
To connect you PIR you will need 3 core and earth

: 3ce.jpg (9.26 KiB) Viewed 1711 times

In short you run this from your PIR to the "start*"

* It needs to go to where the lights get their Live, neutral and the switch are. If you can post pictures of what you currently have we can help further.

Baggyboys1 · Post by **Baggyboys1** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:27 pm

Gotcha !
So yes run 3core & earth from the PIR inside the shed to the switch into the lights & through each lamp

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:33 pm

Not quite. Depends how your switch is wired, pictures would help.

Baggyboys1 · Post by **Baggyboys1** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 8:52 pm

I will try and get some at some point
Basically I am running off SWA into a socket in the shed. From this a fused switch which operates the up & down lights

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:42 pm

ok.
You will need to take the 3 core and earth from the PIR to the Fused connection unit.

Baggyboys1 · Post by **Baggyboys1** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 5:46 am

Yes I thought so and then start again from the first lamp
I knew there was a way but you gave me the answer

Much appreciated you know
What would we do without the net
Brilliant on here and advice such as yourself

Baggyboys1 · Post by **Baggyboys1** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 6:49 pm

Me again,
Just want to double check something,
I think I have made a mistake in taking the T&E out of all the lamps thinking I was having to put 3core & earth from the switch and through each lamp. I now believe if I run 3core & earth into the switch as you stated I can then go from there with my T&E ?
My lamps have Black,White,earth

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 7:14 pm

Baggyboys1 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 09, 2021 6:49 pmI can then go from there with my T&E

Yes.
The T&E is just the supply to the lights, the 3 core and earth is the supply to the PIR and the switched live

Baggyboys1 · Post by **Baggyboys1** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 7:26 pm

I wish I would think first ! Took all the T&E out and replaced with 3core earth ,realised after !
As in my first post it’s been along week is my excuse !
Thank you , work shortly for a few hours , tomorrow swap that bloody cable back lol

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 7:32 pm

You don't need to swap it back. (But 3 c & e will be harder to work with in the small space for each light)

Try drawing it all out on a piece of paper first.

Baggyboys1 · Post by **Baggyboys1** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 7:44 pm

So my choice is swap it back or isolate the grey wire on each light I guess

Baggyboys1 · Post by **Baggyboys1** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 7:44 pm

Yes your right it’s tight just with the cables