"Set and Forget" tiny dimmer in box with photocell?

[therobthompson]

Hi. I installed some 120V LED pathway lights in the exterior wall of a new bathroom. Also on the exterior is a photocell to turn them on/off at dusk/dawn, and an on/off switch to disable them. Turns out the lights are too bright. In hindsight I should have ran hot to the photocell first, then the switch, so that the switch could be a dimmer (the path lights are dimmable). If I install a dimmer now, it will feed the 'dimmed' power to the photocell, which I'm guessing won't work. Opening the walls at this point is an ugly proposition. Is there a tiny dimmer module of some kind that would fit in the 1 gang box behind the photocell? I don't need to access it and control the brightness, just adjust once and leave it in the box. Or is there another way? Thanks!!
Rob
Oakland, CA

 

[Johnhall30]

Always run power to the photocell first because it needs power to operate, then switch on the load side of the photocell

But im not aware of any device like that

 

[jim dungar]

I have started to use the 'smart home' type switches instead of photo cells or astro-timers.

 

[Barbqranch]

I would try replacing the switch with a dimmer, it is possible that your level of dimming won't keep the photoswitch from working.

 

[James L]

I would replace the switch with a digital timer which has auto dusk-to-dawn and manual override, then change the photocell to a dimmer.

 

[hillbilly1]

As Jim said, a smart switch such as a Cassetta can be programmed for dimming, along with timed on and off function.

 

[synchro]

As Jim said, a smart switch such as a Cassetta can be programmed for dimming, along with timed on and off function.

Another example is the Leviton Digital Dimmer & Timer line of devices that are programmed via a Bluetooth connection with a smartphone, but don't need an internet connection.

https://www.leviton.com/en/products...ort=@wcs_site_tree_rank ascending&layout=card

 

[James L]

Another example is the Leviton Digital Dimmer & Timer line of devices that are programmed via a Bluetooth connection with a smartphone, but don't need an internet connection.

https://www.leviton.com/en/products/residential/automation-smart-home/dimmers/decora-digital-with-bluetooth-dimmers#t=Products&sort=@wcs_site_tree_rank ascending&layout=card

Is there anything that does dimming and timer in one device without being smart? Just thinking of someone who may not want to use a phone to control their lights

 

[mtnelect]

How about changing the light fixtures you installed to the ones that fits your requirements ?

 

[mopowr steve]

Is there anything that does dimming and timer in one device without being smart? Just thinking of someone who may not want to use a phone to control their lights

Yes, there is a dimmer/timer out there. Used one about a year ago for front porch recess lights. I don’t have the brand off the top of my head though.

 

[Amps]

Is there a switch on the fixtures that can be changed to a lower K rating? Or can the LED bulb be changed to a lower K rating?

 

[Amps]

Can you move the photocell to the box the switch is in and visa versa?

 

[James L]

Is there a switch on the fixtures that can be changed to a lower K rating? Or can the LED bulb be changed to a lower K rating?

It sounds like too many lumens, not a Kelvin temperature issue

 

[cadpoint]

How about changing the light fixtures you installed to the ones that fits your requirements ?

I'm just trying to figure out all these new switches... Last Dimming lights I played with played with needed five wires...

 

[Amps]

It sounds like too many lumens, not a Kelvin temperature is

A quick search: As the value of the kelvin units increases on the scale, the color temperature becomes whiter, and therefore, lights higher up in the scale will appear brighter than those lower on the scale.

 

[James L]

A quick search: As the value of the kelvin units increases on the scale, the color temperature becomes whiter, and therefore, lights higher up in the scale will appear brighter than those lower on the scale.

It's a bit more than that. Some of that is the difference between scotopic and photopic (rods and cones), and those are affected by age as well.

 

[therobthompson]

Thanks all for the replies. I swapped the switch for a dimmer, as Barbqranch suggested. It kind of works, a few days will tell whether it works well enough. I suspect not. In which case I'll probably go with an astro timer at the current switch location and a dimmer at the current photocell location.

 

[Todd0x1]

could you put a box extender where the photocell is, put a dimmer in that, and mount a photocell that goes in a 1/2ko to the top of the box extender?