Steinel NightMatic 3000 Vario 550615 white twilight switch

The white Steinel NightMatic 3000 Vario 550615 is a photoelectric switch that controls connected lighting according to ambient brightness. Its rectangular plastic housing is finished in RAL 9010 and contains the light sensor. This is a lighting controller, not a luminaire or a motion detector.

Dusk switching with a night-time pause

The connected lights switch on as daylight fades and switch off when daylight returns. The switching threshold can be set between 0.5 and 10 lx, while the Teach function stores a chosen ambient brightness level. This matters when you want lighting to start at a particular degree of darkness rather than at a fixed time on a clock.

A night mode allows a break in illumination during the night. Morning light can also be set to remain on or off. These functions distinguish this controller from presence-based switching: it responds to the surrounding light level, not to someone walking past the building.

Check the load, not just the headline wattage

The 1000 W rating is the maximum resistive switching load, not the controller's own power consumption. It must not be used as the LED load limit. Steinel specifies 16 W for LED lamps below 2 W, and 64 W for lamps above 2 W and below 8 W or above 8 W. It also lists a maximum of four LED or fluorescent lamps. Compare the lamp type, individual wattage and number of sources with the installation documentation before choosing the controller.

Wall mounting outside the building

The enclosure measures 99 mm high, 74 mm wide and 37 mm deep. It is intended for surface wall mounting, uses a 230–240 V / 50 Hz supply and has an IP54 rating for outdoor use. The manufacturer identifies facades, entrances, terraces, balconies, courtyards, driveways and shop windows as applications. The plain white enclosure is a functional control component rather than decorative lighting. When planning its position, consider both the space occupied by the housing and the ambient brightness it will measure.