How do I install an outdoor heat-sensitive driveway floodlamp?

Question

I need to tie in to either an existing outlet or lamp. My problem is threefold:

1. The new floodlamp would have to be installed either ten feet above an existing to-the-outside-but-attached-to-the-house outlet or six feet above an existing outside house door lamp. Which is the best "tie in" and how do I go about getting the new wiring down to these existing fixtures? I have cedar siding over plywood sheathing.

2. I fully want the heat-sensitive apparatus to work which means--I assume--that the new floodlamp must be switched "on" at all times. Am I right? If so, how do I do this, especially with the closer and easier-to-get-to existing door lamp without keeping that existing lamp "on" at all times.

3. Do I "tie in" in a kind of "branch" method or "link of chain" method. Which is best electronically?

My wife is an amputee and really needs this light for the stairs/driveway.

Answer 1

Umm Are you sure you dont mean a motion detecter?  

Answer 2

They way you describe this, sounds like you have a sensor that you are going to wire into the circuit to control an existing light. To do this, you would need to take the feed from the existing light to the sensor, then return a new feed from the sensor to the light.

If you have a new light WITH sensor arrangement, then you should be able to simply swap out an existing outside fixture for the new fixture. If for some reason this is not possible, I suggest you hire an electrician to mount and feed the light.