How does a Photocell work
Introduction
As the pressing need to save power soars with every passing day, and people become more aware of the need to conserve power, one of the best ways to do so is to make sure you aren’t using it more than needed.
However, where you can effectively control and minimize the usage of electricity inside your house, it becomes a bit difficult to manually and effectively control the outdoor usage of electricity, especially when it comes to outdoor lights.
One of the best ways to ensure the minimum wastage of electricity by outdoor lights is to automate their control instead of turning them on and off by yourself. This can be done by various means. One way to do so efficiently is by using photocells.
Since these are controlled by sunlight, you do not have to worry about delays in turning off the lights as the sun comes up. By gauging the intensity of ambient light, the photocells automatically turn the lights on and off at dusk and dawn.
Hence, not only are these units easy on the planet, but also on your pocket as they help reduce your electricity bills. Let’s have a better understanding of how they operate and what makes them a useful invention for energy conservation.
How Does A Photocell Work? A Layman’s Guide
The operating principle of a photocell is simple and yet very efficient. Although you might have come across various types of photocell units, the basic principle behind their operation is the same.
These units have a resistor or semi-conductor at the core of their working. The resistance of this component varies according to the intensity of the sunlight incident on the plates to which photocells are attached.
As the light intensity increases at the dawn, the current flows through the semiconductor and it switches the light fixture off.
Similarly, when the light intensity decreases at the time of sunset, the current stops flowing and the photocell automatically turns the fixture on.
In short, the photocells are operated by resistors or semi conductors which use the stimulus of sunlight. When they sense a decrease in ambient light, they turn the lights on and vice versa.
In some photocell units, the user is also given an option to set a particular level of sensitivity. For example, you do not want your outdoor lights to turn on until it is completely dark, so you would set the sensitivity level accordingly. Or you want your light to be turned on at the earliest possible time when sun rises, so you can set the sensitivity level a bit higher.
Adjusting a sensitivity level will also help avoid the dwindling of lights which is caused by too sensitive sensors used in a photocell.
How Photocells Adjust to Daylight Saving?
one of the best things about photocells is that you do not have to tell them when the daylight time increases or decreases with changing seasons. This is especially true when the photocells are using sunlight as a stimulus, unlike motion sensors which work by sensing movement.
No matter what time the sun rises and sets, photocells will simply, efficiently respond to light’s intensity and turn the lights on and off accordingly.
This means, once you’ve installed a photocell for your outdoor lights, you will be care free for the years to come. You won’t have to worry about timely turning the lights on and off every day for entire year.
This in turn helps in not only reducing the need for manual intervention but also results in increased power saving. Moreover, with these dusk to dawn lights, you can help secure your residence against intruders by giving an impression that the house is occupied even when it is not. So it helps add to safety.
How to Select Best Photocell Units
There is no doubt that photocells are a very useful invention, but a wrong choice can cost you a lot and can become a wastage of resources instead of saving power and money. So, in order to reap all the above mentioned benefits, make sure you have chosen the high quality photocell units which require minimal maintenance and have a perfect level of light sensitivity.
Moreover, don’t go for the overly priced photocells. With a little research you can get the ones which are not only high quality but also budget friendly and hence deliver best value for every penny you spend on them.
At Long-join, we have a range of high quality photocells and related parts for outdoor lighting. You can choose the one that suits your need and be stress free for years ahead. We have got you covered with best quality. Moreover, our prices are competitive and every part is carefully crafted to provide uninterrupted light from dusk to dawn for over the years.
Conclusion
photocells are one of the most useful inventions in the realm of power saving. They add to your convenience by sparing you of the need to turn your outdoor lights on and off manually every time. Besides, they help save energy by ensuring that the lights go off the moment sun starts to set. This magic is made possible by means of semi conductors working as the heart of photocell units.
As the sunlight increases, the current flows through them and they switch off the outdoor lights and vice versa. This simple and yet powerful principle helps provide light exactly when it is needed and also adds to the security of the infrastructure where these photocell lights are installed. Besides, being sensitive to light, these units adjust automatically and efficiently to changes in the time of sunrise and sunset with changing seasons. Hence, all you need to do is install them and then leave it to the sun, be carefree for the times to come.
• References
1-https://constantenergy.net/blog/why-is-it-important-to-conserve-energy/
