While placing an order for a PIR sensor from a prominent UK supplier I added this dusk sensor in because it looked very "eBay".
It turns out that it may not be ideal for its intended application, but it would make an excellent case for mounting outdoor electronics. Light, temperature and humidity sensors come to mind, but it could also house a USB WiFi dongle or other active antenna for connections between buildings.
An interesting possibility would be to 3D print custom base inserts for specific applications.
I have a few reservations about its original purpose. The relay switching is not a precise digital event, so it depends on the relay maintaining contact pressure with falling coil current, until it drops out. It may be that it does decisively break the circuit when used like that. Something that is important with inductive loads to minimise arcing.
The other oddity is its use of single insulated cores with no obvious way to cover them. In the case of general maintenance operatives there's a risk that if they get handed something like this to install they will just assume that exposed wires are OK and fit it. That would pose the risk of accelerated UV degradation in addition to the lack of the double insulation required for cables outwith an enclosure.
One scenario this might find use is where it's mounted within a clear fronted electrical enclosure with something like an LED power supply, but that would affect its light detecting ability, and clear front enclosures generally cost more than standard ones, meaning it could be cheaper to use a proper external sensor with a plain enclosure.
The use inside a clear lid enclosure could have advantages in a factory assembled box with everything pre-wired inside though.
I'd say this product is more valuable for its case than its circuitry. Let me know what you think in the comments area.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
It turns out that it may not be ideal for its intended application, but it would make an excellent case for mounting outdoor electronics. Light, temperature and humidity sensors come to mind, but it could also house a USB WiFi dongle or other active antenna for connections between buildings.
An interesting possibility would be to 3D print custom base inserts for specific applications.
I have a few reservations about its original purpose. The relay switching is not a precise digital event, so it depends on the relay maintaining contact pressure with falling coil current, until it drops out. It may be that it does decisively break the circuit when used like that. Something that is important with inductive loads to minimise arcing.
The other oddity is its use of single insulated cores with no obvious way to cover them. In the case of general maintenance operatives there's a risk that if they get handed something like this to install they will just assume that exposed wires are OK and fit it. That would pose the risk of accelerated UV degradation in addition to the lack of the double insulation required for cables outwith an enclosure.
One scenario this might find use is where it's mounted within a clear fronted electrical enclosure with something like an LED power supply, but that would affect its light detecting ability, and clear front enclosures generally cost more than standard ones, meaning it could be cheaper to use a proper external sensor with a plain enclosure.
The use inside a clear lid enclosure could have advantages in a factory assembled box with everything pre-wired inside though.
I'd say this product is more valuable for its case than its circuitry. Let me know what you think in the comments area.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
This LDR is tiny ( ? ) … the US street lamps from the 1960's use a [ BIG BOY ] LDR ( about 1 inch diameter ! ) in a fully sealed glass / metal case ( I have one ! ) great for student demonstrations , because they can dissipate ½ Watt ( ! ) … DAVE™ ……..
Hi
I think those are supposed to be used under a roof on a porch or something like that, since it has delay for by driving car lights or porch lights to come on and not flicker the garden lights.
And can you help me with an electric problem, I have one car battery charger that has lamp or amplifier tube looking thing that let operational smoke out, in an incident where battery indicator led;s came on even it was connected the wrong way.
It charges when you bypass the lamp thingy, and that charger has a function to test car alternator, so the lamp thingy could be for that.
I could take a video of it and link it to you, if you'd be willing to help identify the broken thing and tell if it's possible just to bypass it
Thanks.
I have seen even simpler one. Composed of LDR, heating coil and a bimetallic strip.
ah… Pillow Speakers from Tandy and LDR's that destroyed the world. my first electronics purchases I believe – in the "pocket money" range of parts… Man the 80's were magnificent. Rip tandy / maplin / everything. By the way – if you bump into Andy – The Guy who fixes some famous peoples cough*Will*cough*Sargeant Amps (amongst many others), say Hi from me were were neighbours once, I would bother him in his shop (not open for passing customers) because the most incredible amp noises came out for so long I had to go ask… Sold me a few VERY fine custom pedals. Was sad when he moved to Manx but since he is a biker – with a superb business and a son… – these walls could not hold him. There is NO WAY there are two guys that fit that description.
Nice
“1, 2, 3, 4, 5. It took about 6 seconds.” lol added a second there
Heat shrink the single insulated wires ???
That Hopi in the darkened room has some pleasing Apollo DSKY vibes.
AliExpress junk
The single insulated wires could be made quasi-compliant if they were covered in heatshrink and the top sealed with a blob of silicone.
Despite being named "dusk" sensors, could these types, and their "chinese-y" counterparts, be intended more for indoor purposes than outdoor? Essentially, the "dusk" portion of the name, while misleading, still qualifies since it's a common name for it, and helps with search results and "SEO"?
What is the number of transistor
I love that you cut the big print out, I don’t know if I’ve noticed that before but I guess most boards you show are square