How to Wire a Dusk to Dawn Light

Dusk to dawn lights on or around your home can add the convenience of not having to turn the lights on or off when the outside light changes. The lights have a built-in sensor that detects ambient light and turn the lights on automatically when the sun sets. The lights come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles and can be mounted to a pole or wall. Regardless of the mounting method, all dusk to dawn lights are wired the same way. Always be sure to turn off the electricity before working with electrical wiring.

Phillips head screwdriver
Wire strippers
Wire nuts
Pliers

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the electricity to the area where you'll be working by switching off the circuit breaker or removing the fuse. A good way to do this is by turning on the existing lights where you plan to work and switching the breakers off or removing the fuses one at a time until the lights turn off. Have someone to help you and tell you when the lights turn off. If there is no existing light fixture, play it safe by turning off all electricity to your home by switching off the main circuit breaker.
- 2
  Remove the existing light fixture where you plan to install your dusk to dawn light fixture. Unscrew any mounting screws that are holding the present fixture in place. Once your fixture is dismounted, unscrew the wire nuts that are holding the wires together and remove the light fixture.
- 3
  Prepare your dusk to dawn light fixture for wiring and mounting. Locate any screws or wire nuts that were included with the fixture. If necessary, strip 3/4 of an inch of insulation off the wires coming from your home's electrical box or lamppost using your wire strippers.
- 4
  Connect the ground (bare copper) wire from your home to the ground wire from your light fixture by twisting the two wires together in a clockwise direction using pliers. The ground wire from your light fixture will be green or bare copper. Secure the ground wires with a wire nut by screwing the wire nut onto the spliced ground wires in a clockwise direction. Repeat this process for connecting your hot (black) and neutral (white) wires. Connect the hot black wire from your light fixture to the hot black wire coming from your home and connect the white neutral wire from your light fixture to the white neutral wire coming from your home using wire nuts.
- 5
  Mount your dusk to dawn light fixture according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 6
  Turn on the electricity and test your light fixture by covering the sensor with your hand to block the light. If your light fixture doesn't illuminate, make sure that the light switch controlling the fixture is in the on position.

History of Lighting & Brass Candle Sticks

Why Were Chinese Lanterns First Made?

Lighting