Dimatec Porch Light with PIR

[Nick oxford]

Hi just purchased a new porch light, 12V with PIR, it never came with instructions, only three wires Red , Black and White, does anyone know how this should be wired up ? Can't find anything on the web...
If I connect red and black wires as normal, the light stays on... but not sure how the white wire should be fitted... any ideas are welcome...

Found some instructions, but they are a bit vague 

Dimatec PIR Installation Instruction.pdf

[Jen-in-Wellies]

The destructions say connect white wire to negative too. Same as black.

Agree that the switching is unclear, but if you just want the ir detection to work when dark, do that. 

[Tony Brooks]

41 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

The destructions say connect white wire to negative too. Same as black.

Agree that the switching is unclear, but if you just want the ir detection to work when dark, do that. 

 

and if you want a switch, just put it in the red (positive) lead.

[wakey_wake]

I suspect the white can be used to control the light - on, off, auto. Some mains PIR lights use rapid switch on-off-on as a signal to control that.

Else the white is a PIR output, which would allow you to signal to something else? That seems weird.

 

There are experiments you could do to work out its function. Do you have a multimeter? A 10kilohm resistor? The inclination to bother?

 

The 10kΩ is for an experiment of connecting white to positive; put the resistor in series to reduce the risk of damage if that isn't acceptable to the circuit. It would be a stupid design if it let the smoke out for that though, these things should expect to get connected up wrong.

 

Edit to add: hi, welcome to CWDF

Edited April 30 by wakey_wake
ETA

[blackrose]

What's the point of a hardwired outdoor light when there are plenty of cheap battery powered solar PIR lights that are pretty good?

[wakey_wake]

12 hours ago, blackrose said:

What's the point of a hardwired outdoor light when there are plenty of cheap battery powered solar PIR lights that are pretty good?

For me, it would confer the ability to leave it on all evening if I wanted. The usual built in battery and tiny PV won't stretch to that.

The only time I would want it PIRing at anyone is when I'm returning to my boat and have not yet boarded to reach a switch, so maybe 1/100 triggerings of the light. It's the wrong tool for what I need.

 

It seems to me the product is trying to do two things - an on-and-offable light, and a "security" light.

 

I don't believe security lights have any deterrent value, not for cretins nor intentional n'er do wells.

We know they have the effect of annoying passers by by blowing out their night vision.

It's possible some folks are grateful for such devices when they walk past, and are strangely quiet or don't frequent CWDF?

 

I don't want to join in with a game of "interrogate the new member" but I am curious about why people fit these things, and whether they're happy with the result.

(Hi @Nick oxford and welcome to the place where we talk a lot, and often drift away from the original question)

 

~~~~ join?

 

https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/products/dimatec-porch-light-white-with-pir-sensor-12v-cool-white-ip65-dm133 but cheaper elsewhere.

Quote

The compact 364 x 35 x 50mm light features a modern aerodynamic design and PIR sensor

 

I think MC copy-pasted that from some marketing info! Aero design + 4mph =

Less likely to snag on a passing tree. 👍

 

No further useful info on the website, but I believe MC would help if you phoned them.

[MtB]

On 30/04/2026 at 14:22, Nick oxford said:

Hi just purchased a new porch light, 12V with PIR, it never came with instructions, only three wires Red , Black and White, does anyone know how this should be wired up ? Can't find anything on the web...

 

I'd prefer it never to be wired up!

 

Walking the towpath in the twilight or dark is turning into a less pleasant experience nowadays due to ultra-bright PIR lights fixed to the sides of boats coming on and searing one's retinas out.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2 by MtB
Interfering spillchucker

[blackrose]

14 hours ago, wakey_wake said:

For me, it would confer the ability to leave it on all evening if I wanted. 

 

 

For what purpose? If you're sitting outside in summer there's no need for any lights. I guess people sit outside in other seasons under canopies, etc, but the OP specifically mentioned PIR so I assumed they weren't leaving it on all evening in which case a battery powered unit would do the job.

Edited May 2 by blackrose

[alias]

8 hours ago, blackrose said:

 

For what purpose? If you're sitting outside in summer there's no need for any lights. I guess people sit outside in other seasons under canopies, etc, but the OP specifically mentioned PIR so I assumed they weren't leaving it on all evening in which case a battery powered unit would do the job.

 

I've been to barbecues that ran on late into the evening. In that case the light flashing on every time someone moves is quite irritating. Useful to have the option to switch it off or on continuously.

[blackrose]

11 minutes ago, alias said:

 

I've been to barbecues that ran on late into the evening. In that case the light flashing on every time someone moves is quite irritating. Useful to have the option to switch it off or on continuously.

 

The barbeques I go to generally take place on the bank rather than the barbeque, tables, chairs, etc, on the deck of a boat, so a light on the bow or stern of a boat would be of limited use anyway. Plus by the end of May it stays light pretty late into the evening. 

 

Most battery powered solar PIR lights have the option to switch them off.

[wakey_wake]

10 hours ago, blackrose said:

On 01/05/2026 at 11:48, wakey_wake said:

For me, it would confer the ability to leave it on all evening if I wanted. 

For what purpose?

 

For the few moments I'm expecting to be mildly giddy 🍻 on return from the pub, between land and boat.

The wasted electricity is insignificant, and I wouldn't do it if there were neighbours to bother.

I believe it would be less irritating than a PIR light because it doesn't surprise a passer by the way they do.

 

The ideal solution would be Bluetooth recognition of my phone - like a PIR light, but it only lights for me.

Not because I'm stingy with my photons but because I believe other people's photons are pollution.

 

10 hours ago, blackrose said:

If you're sitting outside in summer there's no need for any lights. I guess people sit outside in other seasons under canopies, etc, but the OP specifically mentioned PIR so I assumed they weren't leaving it on all evening in which case a battery powered unit would do the job.

 

Sure, the lights also attract the biters and reduce one's appreciation of the sunset.

The OP has drifted away for a while, so the thread drifts where we like. 😁