Auto-on exterior lighting

[Doc]

I know- we should set up a new forum just for my questions, right? Hey- I just moved into my new place 6 mo ago, and am finally getting around to getting some projects done.

New house as 6 exterior lights. 4 of these are on the front of the house and wired to the same switch. The switch that turns them on is housed in a bank of 3 switches just inside the front door.

Is there a way to put a timer on this switch or something similar?

I want the lights to come on automatically at dusk. For temporary use, I have screwed in some of those light sensors in the base of each lamp, then you screw the light bulb into the sensor. That works OK for now, but you can't use CFL's in those because they gradually turn the power on, not full on and off. So, they eat through CFL's like candy.

Maybe I should just use standard bulbs? (Yeah I know- but I like to be complicated).

Anyway- I'd like to be able to use CFL's for the energy savings. So- I need a 100% on/off switching device. These 'trickle on/off' sensors kill my CFL's.

(CFL= compact flourescent light or bulb)

 

[bigndn]

Doc, have you considered just switching those out with motion sensors? That way they don't have to be on all the time? I put 2 of these on the front of my shop and just leave the switch on 24/7. It's really nice to walk over and have the lights come on automatically.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs..._mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D27X-_-100014085

 

[Johnnymiz]

doc, for my porch lights, i use one of these timers.
GE 7 Day Indoor In-Wall Programmable Digital Timer - 15086 at The Home Depot
for security lights, i use the motion sensors that bigndn uses

 

[Doc]

Yeah, I don't really want motion sensing lights on the front of the house, sides and back- yes, but not the front.

Johnny- that looks like exactly what I want. Do they make a switch plate that will accomidate one of those as well as two flip switches?

 

[Johnnymiz]

that fits right into a decorator style switchplate. all ud have to do is change the other switches to this style
Cooper Wiring Devices at Lowe's: Decorator Grounding Switch
and then u get this switch plate
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=279492-334-PJS263A&lpage=none

 

[Johnnymiz]

but i'm not gonna tell u that u can wire it up...dont wanna get yelled at by the osha crew.
j/k... easy 2 wire+ground wiring. just turn off the power and check with a test light before u put a screwdriver to the old switch.

 

[FJ809496TLC]

Yeah, I don't really want motion sensing lights on the front of the house, sides and back- yes, but not the front.

Johnny- that looks like exactly what I want. Do they make a switch plate that will accomidate one of those as well as two flip switches?

I just installed an Intermatic programmable switch from Lowe's but they didn't have the cover plate that I needed. Went to Home Depot and found one. Plate covers the programmable switch and the other two standard light switches.

 

[fsusteve]

that fits right into a decorator style switchplate. all ud have to do is change the other switches to this style
Cooper Wiring Devices at Lowe's: Decorator Grounding Switch
and then u get this switch plate
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=279492-334-PJS263A&lpage=none

that's how I did mine.