Photocell light switch

[RatLabGuy]

Looking for helping finding a particular product. Surely this exists, just not sure what it would be called.

I'm looking for a photocell switch that would go in a standard junction box, e.g. to replace a standard switch, that connects the poles together when it does NOT detect light. E.g. it turns on a light when it's dark in the room.

Application: Recently bought a new bathroom fan. It has a light in it, like many, 2x13w bulbs, but also has "night light" that is a little 4w bulb, all under the same white cover. The night light is kind of neat I guess but seems pointless. It's always on which seems dumb. I happened to have 2 switches from the old unit, so right now I have the night light fed by a switch. I'd rather replace the switch w/ a sensor that detects "Hey its actually dark in here" and then turns it on.
This seems really simple.. there are tons of photocell light-deactivating switches, but none I can find that are intended to be mounted in a standard AC switch box, in a Decora or standard toggle form factor.

 

[Fabrik8]

I suggest removing the night light bulb from the fan, and getting a light-detecting night light for the switch bay to replace the existing (unused switch).

 

[awheelterd]

I'd check grainger or mcmaster

 

[GotWood]

Get a motion activated switch the night light will come on as you walk in.

 

[RatLabGuy]

I'd check grainger or mcmaster

Under what? I can't figure out what his would be called?

I suggest removing the night light bulb from the fan, and getting a light-detecting night light for the switch bay to replace the existing (unused switch).

That's a good backup plan.
It just kills me there's a light in the thing that is kind of useless.
Hell all I need is for said light-detecting night light to instead activate to 14ga poles instead of turning on it's own bulb. I could probably even hack one to do that, but I'd rather not take on that liability...

 

[RatLabGuy]

Get a motion activated switch the night light will come on as you walk in.

I thought about that, but I don't want it to turn on when the main bathroom light is on, which is the first thing people do when they walk in during the day anyway.

I think I am mostly just irritated that Panasonic made an otherwise very well designed unit, but included something they call an ight light but did bother to include a sensor on the housing to turn the thing on and off automatically like you would a night light... and instead assumed it would just be on 24/7.

 

[Fabrik8]

I thought about that, but I don't want it to turn on when the main bathroom light is on, which is the first thing people do when they walk in during the day anyway.

I think I am mostly just irritated that Panasonic made an otherwise very well designed unit, but included something they call an ight light but did bother to include a sensor on the housing to turn the thing on and off automatically like you would a night light... and instead assumed it would just be on 24/7.

If you want it to turn on when someone walks in, but only when the light level is low, then you want a dual technology (IR and photocell) occupancy sensor. They have a mode that can do that. They will turn the light off (after the timeout delay period) after they no longer detect motion.
Unfortunately, still no mode to keep the light on when no occupancy is detected past the delay period, so there will be no nightlight until someone walks in.

 

[shawn]

Not rocket surgery.

Lowe's or HD, aisle where the timers and shit are.