Electrical Project - Garden Lights Controller

[Crossy]

OK, here we go with a nice simple project.

Not intended to be copied verbatim (you can if you want), really to give some idea what you can do with simple and readily available bits-n-bobs. Just slightly more advanced than light switches but no micro-controllers / expensive bits. Add timers and relays to enhance functionality without breaking the bank.

Before starting any project we need at least an idea of what we want it to do, nothing to stop us changing our minds during the job.

Design Brief

Garden lights circuits:-

1. Street Lights
2. Garden / Architectural flood lights
3. Celebration (xmas etc.) lights
4. Ghost house

Requirements:-

1. All lights hours of darkness only
2. Garden / Architectural flood lights - off at 10:30PM on at 4:30AM (Mon-Fri)
3. Street, celebration and ghost house all night
4. Has to be absolutely safe

Caveats:-

1. Street lights need to stay on no matter what (if the floods trip, street lights stay on)
2. Flood lights, despite being labelled as IP65 tend to trip the RCD in heavy rain
3. Ghost house same hours as street lights
4. Celebration need to be switched off manually if necessary
5. Celebration and ghost house lights are 'indoor' LED strings out in the rain - yes we are indeed in Thailand

Existing wiring:-

1. Conduit with 5 wires under driveway - celebration, street lights and floods on the far side
2. 3-core - to floods and ghost house

Due to constraints neither of these runs can be altered, have to use as-is.

Please post any ideas, thoughts, comments, this is not intended to be an instructible, more a thought provoker.

EDIT Yes, I have built this, circuits and photos later in the thread of course.

[Issangeorge]

By ghost house, do you mean spirit house?

[bankruatsteve]

AC/DC? (brings a few songs to mind) Maybe could bring up the caveats for going one way or t'other.

[bino]

For the decorative lights and the spirit house, waterproof LED strings with IP65 spec are available on Ebay for not a lot of money. For a little bit more they can include a WiFi controller that can be controlled from your phone via a downloadable app.

If you choose 5050 SMD, RGB colors with remote, and Waterproof from the options on this Ebay listing, the price is $15.59 for a five meter LED strip.

[Crossy]

Has anyone found waterproof LED strings linked with wires like the cheap Chinese 'fairy' lights rather than the less than flexible strips? That's what we really need.

[Crossy]

Anyway, this is my initial solution:-

All parts readily available in Thailand, description of operation and construction detail to follow.

Many bits were 'in stock' but I guesstimate you could do this for < 2k Baht (the RCBOs are the expensive bit at 400 Baht a pop).

Comments welcomed.

[IMHO]

Has anyone found waterproof LED strings linked with wires like the cheap Chinese 'fairy' lights rather than the less than flexible strips? That's what we really need.

There's a few sellers on the usual suspects selling "waterproof" versions of these, but given how junky they normally are, would you actually trust it or pay more for it?

[Crossy]

Has anyone found waterproof LED strings linked with wires like the cheap Chinese 'fairy' lights rather than the less than flexible strips? That's what we really need.

There's a few sellers on the usual suspects selling "waterproof" versions of these, but given how junky they normally are, would you actually trust it or pay more for it?

Agree 100%.

I got a likely looking 100 Baht string from Amorn at the weekend, look like a dab of silicon on each LED will get them pretty water resistant. We shall see.

We have a set of normal indoor LEDs on a tree in the garden, control box is in a small plastic box sealed with silicon.

When it rains they just stop working (not even tripping the 10mA RCD), they start again when everthing dries out. I'm amazed that they haven't fried the works. Obviously not the ideal solution but at 100 Baht a pop ...