Photocell control of 16VAC landscape lights

Thread Starter

bookem1964

Joined Apr 15, 2009
5
I am attempting to power two 3W LED spot lights from my 40VA door bell transformer (which also powers my lighted house number). I would like to use a photocell (CdS) to control the spot lights and house number so that they are only on at night. Is there a simple way to do this using the AC voltage or do I have to rectify it so I can create a control circuit with a relay?
 

Thread Starter

bookem1964

Joined Apr 15, 2009
5
The transformer is 16VAC, 40VA. That is what I have at the lighted house number where I branched off the power for the spot lights.
 

wayneh

Joined Sep 9, 2010
17,496
Simple would be to buy a device ready-built for this. I used to have a CdS cell thingy that controlled my "gaslight" pole light in front of the house. It wired directly to the 120V AC and I'm not sure how it worked internally, but it was small and not expensive.
 

Bernard

Joined Aug 7, 2008
5,784
Some specs on house # lights & LED spots would help. Probably need to rectify AC for LEDs & house #s.; then have about 20V DC @ 2A to play with. Maybe PWM for house & Buck converter for LEDs.
 
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