Best way to detect sunset for lights on?

[anitesh.a.kumar]

do you think it'll work better and accurate than the OpenWeatherMap way? OpenWeatherMap wont be that accurate?

Best way to detect sunset for lights on?

If you're built to not rely on internet, an outdoor motion sensor with Luminance or Lux is your solve. I personally am comfortable with internet connectivity - I use OpenWeatherMap. You sort of get the best of all worlds here and it is astoundingly accurate. Note below - Local Sunrise (which is slightly more accurate than HE) and Illuminance and illuminated which give a numerical value for lux you can set as a comparator. I use this in a nice tile on my dashboards to have realtime weather as …

[velvetfoot]

I don't know.
I like to keep it local though.

[marktheknife]

@anitesh.a.kumar

OpenWeatherMap wont be that accurate?

You would need to experiment with OWM’s lux data in your specific location.

Whether the closest station that reports lux is actually useful for you would depend on things like which directions your windows face, surrounding tree cover or other tall structures, etc. All the things that will impact how bright it is inside your home that can’t be generalized based on others’ experiences.

[aaiyar]

@anitesh.a.kumar

Lux, motion, temperature (how accurate is this?)

Very. The temperature readings on my outdoor Hue sensors matched readings from two weather-stations.

For lux I preferred my weather station. Although I used my Hue sensors for a couple years.

[Slate]

@velvetfoot

screw that must be removed

And that does not need to be replaced. I had one rust and seize to where I could barely remove it after using WD-40 and pliers. I guess that makes them easier to take, but that is what the cameras are for.

[velvetfoot]

I think that screw has to be removed before you can replace the batteries though. You'd think they'd splurge on stainless.

I had mine strapped to a tree with Velcro.

[anitesh.a.kumar]

there is a v2 version?

Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor V2

[anitesh.a.kumar]

@velvetfoot

I don't know.
I like to keep it local though.

looks like the hue is the clear winner!

Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor V2

is there V1 and V2?

[ogiewon]

@anitesh.a.kumar

is there V1 and V2?

Yes, there are hardware revisions of the Hue motion sensors.

[hydro311]

@anitesh.a.kumar

is there V1 and V2?

First gen(s?) had 4 super thin & very futzy screws holding the back plate on - they made battery changes quite a tedious and curse-inducing adventure.

The latest gen has a single well-proportioned screw holding that plate on -- a much saner design.

[anitesh.a.kumar]

@hydro311

The latest gen has a single well-proportioned screw holding that plate on -- a much saner design.

this is the sane one?

[mavrrick58]

Honestly i have never had a issue using the Sunset calculated on the Hub. I have my night time automations that run based on sunset start about 30 min before that value on the hub. It has always worked great. Using a Lux sensor just complicates it and i have generally found that just depending on the sunset time is just as reliable.

Ofcourse depending on weather and cloud cover can effect the light output at the calculated time a bit and that is why i start it 30 min early.

[johnwill1]

I could never get things quite right with Sunrise/sunset times. Partly because of weather, but I also think that the transition period between light and dark varies according to the time of year. I have two sensors for lux - one front and one rear. Each has a rule associated with it that sets a boolean (frontDark and rearDark) true/false when the light passes an exact value. That works well for me as I can use the state of those booleans for external lighting and also internal lighting when combined with curtain/shade position in a given room.

[JasonJoel]

@anitesh.a.kumar

Is there any other ways to detect outdoor lux

Weather station with a real lux sensor. All other ways are hacks.

[sburke781]

@JasonJoel

Weather station with a real lux sensor.

To be fair, for some, that may not always detect the conditions for the whole house, if you are suggesting a single weather station / lux sensor. Certainly at my place, which faces East / West, the rear of the unit will get darker much quicker than the front, so it pays to average / consider the lux readings from sensors at both ends of the home when determining anything like Model or lighting transitions based on the lux readings. If you can position the weather station where this "averaging" is done naturally by the light conditions and your rule configuration, all well and good, but that may not always be practical.

[hydro311]

@anitesh.a.kumar

this is the sane one?

I can't tell from that pic since it doesn't show the full back. Mine's inaccessible right now, and I don't recall if all versions had some variation of the center screw or not.

The old version(s) have a small screw in each outside corner of the backing.

[JasonJoel]

Weather stations have to be positioned in open areas where shadows can't affect it. So a properly installed weather station does not have the problem you mention.

In terms of dark side of the house, light side of the house - well that's a different problem than the OP asked for. He specifically asked for outdoor lux, and a properly open air positioned weather station is the right answer to that (in my OPINION).

I would agree that in-room lux sensors can have use cases to, though. I'm just being pedantic saying that wasn't his question. lol

[sburke781]

@JasonJoel

problem than the OP asked for

Fair point. I was commenting more on my own situation. Not necessarily what was asked for.

[JasonJoel]

No worries, I'm just being annoying this morning I think. I'll go get some coffee and quit being "that guy".

[sburke781]

You're just being "that guy" who reads the question, unlike me who should go to bed So no complaints from me...