What I Want to Do: I want to set up some sort of light level sensor outdoors. It will be used to provide a light level to trigger various lighting levels and the like inside the home.
The Problem: I am not sure what sensor to buy. I am looking at the Philips Hue outdoor sensor, but it looks like it is just a dusk to dawn device. I want something that will measure light levels 24/7, and when light levels (lux) are above or below a certain level, then trigger events. Is the Philips sensor providing light levels at all times, or only below certain light levels? Does it just go dormant during daylight hours?
You don't need anything fancy or outdoor.
I use 2 indoor Lux sensors and have them facing out windows that don't get direct sunlight.
They have controlled all my lighting levels (mornring, day, evening) for years.
Just make sure your device has good resolution.
One of my old ones only went to 1000 and that got pegged early in the day so really useless for granular lighting rules/pistons.
My good one is an Aeon Multisensor 6 but I beleive it's up to ver 7 now.
Others may chime in on a good resolution sensor.
PS: Get mains powered ones and not battery so they can become repeaters as well.
I think any dedicated Lux sensor is always pushing events but may bepend on the driver settings like "threshold".
Just be aware of devices like Aqara motion sensors that report Lux but only on a motion event.
I use a Hue indoor motion sensor pointed outside. It is directed to the west and measures lux in the late afternoon to control shades. On overcast days they don't go down. Other lights are tied to sunrise and sunset.
I use Fibaro motion which is an indoor sensor, installed externally with its 'lens' popping through a sealed weatherproof enclosure. A couple of times moisture has got into one of them and I've had to remove it and dry it out (it still works).
If I was starting afresh I'd probably get the Hue outdoor sensor (it can be used to report illuminance levels at set intervals). My reason for modifying the Fibaro one for outdoor use is that the Hue is Zigbee. I have 46 Z-Wave devices but just 3 Zigbee.
I have an Aqara T1 (GZCGQ11LM) light sensor that I placed in a windowsill and it handles my outdoor light sensing needs just fine. I may be blissfully ignorant, but I can't see how a true outdoor sensor would handle my needs any better. (And logistically, any indoor sensor is better than any outdoor sensor.)
And, if anyone is curious, the GZCGQ11LM is performing great with my C7. Paired easy (the first time) and hasn't, at least not yet, dropped off the mesh.
