I have a motion sensing floodlight above my garage with 3 par38 bulbs. I would like it to come on at dark, stay on for about 3 hours, then turn off but come back on if motion is detected.
I have a WYZE switch I can use to schedule the light to go on and off for the time I want. Not sure how to do the rest.
Is there a relay that has two inputs and one output that could trigger the light if one or both the inputs are energized? I would have to run power to the motion sensing part so that it is always energized, then the output from the motion sensor to one of the inputs on the relay then the power from the WYZE switch to the other input of the relay.
If such a relay exists can you recommend a good one that would be ok to mount inside an enclosed metal electrical outlet box?
Would heat be an issue? Would both inputs being triggered at the same time be an issue?
I am a relative newbie. Any help is appreciated!

 

Welcome to AAC.

Does the exsiting fixture have a motion detector, or do you plan to add one?

 

Welcome to AAC.

Does the exsiting fixture have a motion detector, or do you plan to add one?

From the original post:

I have a motion sensing floodlight

 

WIth this time delay relay and any suitable PIR (passive infrared [sensor]) including the exiting one, you can work this out very easily.

The idea is simple. Wire the time delay relay in parallel with the output of the PIR sensor. Use the Wyze relay to apply power to everything. The time delay relay will turn on, then after the time you select will turn off. After that, the PIR sensor will activate the light as usual.

 

Yes, I have the motion sensor. However I am having difficulty understanding what you are saying.

 

Personally I don't know of a way to make an ordinary PIR Motion detection lamp come on at dusk and be on for a set period of time. It turns out that the PIR I recently installed on my porch has that exact feature where I can set it to come on at dusk on a lower intensity and switch to full intensity if motion is detected. After an adjustable timer times out the low intensity lamps shut off and the lights will only come on when motion is detected. It seems to me that this is what you're after.

What I like about this lamp - or more correctly what my NEIGHBOR likes about it is that after dusk it comes on for 3 hours (as I set it for) and then goes out. This doesn't shine a light continuously into my neighbor's bedroom window. However, whenever motion is detected the lights still come on at full intensity. Given that his bedroom window is just on the other side of the driveway he may get up and look to see what has triggered the light. If he sees something suspicious he can call the cops.

HOWEVER, the PIR is still set too sensitive and I'm still working on adjusting that down so that the stray cats don't keep lighting my porch light. I guess there are always drawbacks to everything under the sun. Even the sun itself has its drawbacks.

 

Another thing about PIR's: They are temperature sensitive. In the summer cars pass by and my front porch light doesn't respond. But in the winter nearly every car going by will light my porch light.

 

Yes, I have the motion sensor. However I am having difficulty understanding what you are saying.

 

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I see. So basically the switch would remain on all night to power both the sensor and time delay.
Can anyone recommend a time delay that I could fit inside the metal round housing my light is mounted to?

 

Really, on all of the motion sensor sensor light packages that I have seen, the motion sensor portion is separate from the light socket. So adding a switching scheme will be elementary.
In most cases the motion sensor portion has three wires, White (neutral), Black (Line power), and RED(The motion detection switched output). The light socket has two wires, black and white.
For a standard installation, both of the white wires connect to the mains white wire (neutral), the motion sensor black wire ties to the mains black wire(LINE hot side) and the motion sensor red wire(Switched output) connects to the light socket black wire.
CAUTION!! If the motion sensor includes a low voltage LED light source this does not apply!!!

So the timer contacts would connect between the motion sensor black wire and the motion sensor red wire. That would bypass the motion sensor internal switch.

The bad news is that I am not aware of a small timer that I would be willing to consider using, that will fit inside a standard electrical box. The small timers that I have seen I would not use, or recommend, to anyone, ever.

 

It would mean abandoning the Wyze relay, which is a decent product—I use a couple myself—but it is hard to compare with the Shelly line. Shelly’s products are excellent and the have modules designed to fit into electrical boxes.

Their ecosystem is astoundingly flexible and they directly support several ways of controlling their modules including MQTT, CoAP, and Home Assistant—but actually, their own app is very good.

They are not the cheapest but all things considered, I would say they are the best. Check them out—if you used their modules and app, you would have no problem doing this. Several modules have switch inputs and you can have the module respond to the switch however you want.

You could connect the PIR to one and have it turn on the lights during certain hours, and even use it to alert for motion on your phone.

 

I am not at all familiar with the WYZE timer, but probably it could be used to add the constant on function to the standard motion detector installation. If it is able to provide an isolated set of mains voltage capable contacts then certainly it can work out.