Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I don't write reviews that often but posted my review to let others know that this is a product that will work if you plan ahead. These devices come in white and black. Anecdotally, white seems to cause more light reflection problems than the black versions. Buy a black one if your light fixture conceals the color. I wanted to use energy efficient CFL bulbs to save some energy. The idea was that I would leave my two front door lights on all the time and arrive home at dusk to a well lit front door. Here are some problems that one needs to anticipate: if the light fixture is fully enclosed with reflective or frosted glass, the light from the bulb will bounce back and hit the sensor causing intermittent shut offs or blinking. This seems to occur more often if your light fixture is white or silver and if you use a very bright bulb (100 watt equivalent). I have black light fixtures with frosted glass. If the CFL bulb being used is too long, it sticks out of the bottom of the light fixture and looks ugly. This device also comes with tiny plastic tubular attachments that prevent the light from the bulb from bouncing back into the sensor; but, the problem is that these little attachments will also block the sun. These extension attachments prevent sunlight from reaching the sensor and the light stays on most of the day. Here is my solution, albeit an expensive one. I ditched the little plastic extensions that cover the sensor. The sun now effectively turns the lights off at dawn. I replaced the CFL bulbs with shorter LED bulbs. The LED bulbs are very expensive. I bought mine at a big box retail store for $20 each! Mine are Sylvania brand with clear diffuser at the bottom. Some brands have yellow or frosted diffusers covering their LEDs. I use 8 watt LEDs which are about as bright as a 60watt equivalent and their color is more yellow than a CFL; but, their very short length compensates for the added length of the Dawn/Dusk controller. These new bulbs do not stick out of the bottom of my light fixture. The LED bulbs seem to cast light in a directional downward pattern that is more like a spot light (unlike a standard or CFL bulb which casts light more evenly); this is noticeable since any standard incandescent or CFL bulb will cast light in a 260 degree vertical pattern. You really have to look at the design of your light fixture and decide if a directional LED bulb looks right for you. If the added expense and the limited light dispersion pattern of an LED bulb does not bother you, the shorter profile and limited dispersion pattern of an LED light bulb seems to prevent the intermittent blinking and random On/Off problems that other users have described. With some planning it works for me; besides, my wife really loves leaving the light switch on all day and night. Problem solved.