How to wire for automatic lights on/off?

Lonnie Sweet · Post by **Lonnie Sweet** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:14 pm

Can this be done? I want to wire a sensor in the base for a model which will turn the lights on or off with the room lights, as well I want a master switch which can turn the whole thing on, off or on sensor. I'm curious which parts are needed and if there are any diagrams or tutorials out there?

Slide · Post by **Slide** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 3:04 pm

all you need is a photoelectric sensor. it's a little thing that looks like a tiny section of a solar pannel, and it activates depending on the light it picks up [generally it activates when light hits it]

spilce it into the circuit like a switch, and when the lights come on [or go off depending on the kind you get] the model will light up.

i used one in a class project once. i can't remember the exact name of what you're looking for, but if you happen to know an electrical engineer i'm sure he'll be able to tell you precicely what you're looking for. or if you luck out and find a knowledgable electronic bits salesman [haha, oxymoron] they may be able to help.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:28 pm

There are some circuits that will use the photo resistor to trip the on off function. You can do a search fro them if you cant find anything let me know I'll look through the circuit cook books I got and find one that matches what you need.

How much voltage and current does the photo circuit need to turn on and off.

MillenniumFalsehood · Post by **MillenniumFalsehood** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:32 pm

Just use a nightlight circuit. You'll have to adapt it for the low voltages of your model, but that's nothing a voltage regulator can't handle.