Use a photocell if your storefront wall pack should stay on from dusk until dawn. Use a timer or schedule control if the light should switch off or dim at a set time after you close.
Neither one wins in every case. The right pick depends on when you want the lighting to end, and the specific fixture has to support that control.
Photocell or timer: match the control to the desired hours
A photocell reacts to light outdoors, and a timer reacts to the clock. That one difference decides which control fits your hours.
A photocell is a small light sensor. It measures the daylight hitting its lens and sends a signal that switches or dims the lights based on how much daylight there is. DOE guidance on photocell response to daylight says exterior-rated models are usually placed with a clear view of the sky. That way they turn lights on at dusk and off at dawn. This is why dusk to dawn outdoor lamps don't need a clock. The start and end times move with the seasons on their own.
A timer works the other way. The same DOE guidance describes astronomical time switches and programmable schedule controls that turn exterior lights off at preset times. Scheduled control can also lower light levels instead of shutting them off. An astronomical time switch can also turn lights on at dusk, so one device can handle both the dusk start and a chosen end time.
Here is the practical split:
- The light should run all night: a photocell gives you dusk-to-dawn operation with no schedule to set.
- The light should end or dim at a time you pick: schedule-based control gives you that fixed endpoint.
Wall packs don't all support every control, so match the fixture to the control. For example, our Wall E series photocell option is an optional dusk-to-dawn photocell sensor for that series. It is not a timer feature.
What should the wall pack do after closing?
Decide how the lighting should end each night, then pick the control that matches. Closing time and sunrise are different signals, and each control responds to only one of them.
- Lit until dawn: Say you want the facade and entry lit through the whole night. A photocell fits because it turns the light off when daylight returns, not when you lock the door. Your closing time has no effect on it. To compare fixtures built for this, see our wall packs with photocells.
- Off or dimmed at a set time: Say you want the sign wall lit until an hour after closing and then turned off or lowered. A timer or programmable schedule fits because it acts at the preset time you choose. A photocell on its own would keep the light on until morning.
If your hours change often, keep in mind that a schedule has to be updated to match, while a photocell keeps following daylight.
FAQs
Can one setup turn lights on at dusk and off at a set time?
Yes. DOE guidance says lights can turn on at dusk using a light sensor or astronomical time switch, then turn off at preset times using an astronomical time switch or programmable schedule control.
Where should a photocell be mounted?
Exterior photocells are usually placed with a clear view of the sky so they read daylight accurately. A sensor that is shaded or blocked may not get a true reading of dusk and dawn.
Does a photocell follow my business hours?
No. A photocell responds only to ambient light. If you want lighting to match your opening or closing times, you need a schedule-based control.
Can I add a photocell to a wall pack that doesn't have one?
That depends on the fixture. Some models offer a photocell as an option. Photocells are among our outdoor lighting accessories, but confirm the fixture supports one, and have a licensed electrician handle installation.
