Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know if there is a reverse photocell on the market? Something that could be mounted outside to turn the lights of my herp room on when thew sun comes up and off when the sun goes down.
Thanks
StevenO

A friend of mine in AZ had one mounted on his reptile room and I have plans for one on mine when built. My understanding is that it is just the way that you wire the photocell that makes the difference not a special device.
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No good deed goes unpunished!

by reversing the polarity you should be able to get the photocell to work in reverse.

Pitoon

Is this to "flip" the activity periods for nocturnal animals (ie, make them awake during the natural day and sleep during the natural night)?

If you're reversing the light cycle, it's also going to reverse the natural photoperiod--shorter "days" in the summer and longer in the winter.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Actually what this does is activate the interior lights when it is light outside and shut them off at night.
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No good deed goes unpunished!

Correct. I want the sun to turn the lights on for me. How do you "reverse the polarity" to make it turn on with the light? A photocell is basicly a switch that is turned on when it gets dark. Switching the direction it is running shouldn't change that since light will still break the contacts.

I think this is what you want:

http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=PHO601&AC=1

Hope this helps...........

Thats kinda what i'm looking for, but i need it out at the panel. My lights are controled my a light switch, so i need the cell between the breaker and switch.

You can build a box with a photocell on the outside connected to a small light bulb on the inside of the box. This photocell will turn the light off during the daytime. Connect a second photocell inside the box and connect that to your breaker and switch. At night the light inside the box will go on and the reptile lights go off.