The best twilight switches, compared.
Top pick: ZYWUOY Photocell Sensor, 12–48 V DC Best value: NINMORTH Twilight Switch IP54 – Lowest price after the top pick that still prints IP54 and 80–305 V AC, at about £12.63, with no review line. Updated October 2026.
A twilight switch, also called a photocell, turns a lighting load on at dark and off at daylight. A hard-wired photocell has no BS 1363 plug, but the label still has to cover the supply. 120 V only is the wrong voltage. A range that includes about 230 V can suit if the label is true. A 12 V module stays on the safe side of a transformer. 10 A is not an LED wattage. A wall switch whose sensor only lights a guide LED was removed and is not compared here. If you want a control you trigger without a light sensor, start with the [wireless switch](/hub/electrical-equipment/wireless-switch) comparison. You are buying a control, not a lamp. A usable listing states a voltage that matches the supply, an IP number for the location, and a wattage for the lamp type rather than a bare 10 A figure.
A twilight switch, also called a photocell, turns a lighting load on at dark and off at daylight. A hard-wired photocell has no BS 1363 plug, but the label still has to cover the supply. 120 V only is the wrong voltage.
38 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Which supply are you switching?
The ZYWUOY unit is a button-style photocell at about £10.59, stated as 12–48 V DC, with no current and no wattage. amazon.co.uk lists 4.5 from 8 reviews, and five of the saved texts are labelled United Kingdom. One of those texts says black is negative, red is positive and white is the load. Another says the diagram is wrong, the cell switches the negative, and red is the switched negative, and it reports about 9 V at the lamp from a 12 V supply. A bullet says weatherproof and does not print an IP number. Eight reviews are a short file. The voltage is for the safe side of a transformer, not for UK 230 V mains.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 12–48 V circuit after a transformer, if you can confirm the wire colours on the unit in front of you.
Less suitable: UK 230 V mains, or any fit where the diagram and the wires do not match.
Specifications
Common questions
What voltage is printed?
The title and a bullet state 12–48 V DC. No current or wattage is printed.
What do the UK reviews say about the wires?
One says black is negative, red is positive and white is the load. Another says the diagram is wrong, the cell switches the negative, and red is the switched negative. That second text reports about 9 V at the lamp from 12 V.
Is there an IP number?
No. A bullet says weatherproof and does not print an IP number.
The Electraline 92283 is a pair of white wall photocells at about £7.51. The table states 240 V, 10 A and IP44, and a bullet states an adjustment from 5 lux to 300 lux. amazon.co.uk lists 4.4 from 1,307 reviews. The 50 saved texts are labelled Spain, Italy, France, Germany or the Netherlands, so that count is not a United Kingdom sample. The wattage cell says 240 W and a bullet says 1000 W, and the table also lists a push button, touch, an app and Wi-Fi, which the twilight-switch bullets do not describe. One saved review says no IP44 mark was seen on the body, and one comment says the sheet marked green as earth when that wire was the neutral. It is the top pick in this set because it is the only listing that prints a supply around 230 V, an IP number and a review line together.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Replacing a like-for-like 240 V wall photocell when you want the only large review file in this set.
Less suitable: A job that needs a stated LED wattage, a United Kingdom review sample, or a sheet whose earth colour you can trust.
Specifications
Common questions
What voltage and load does the listing state?
The table states 240 volts and 10 amps. The wattage cell states 240 watts. A bullet states Maximum mower 1000 W. The file prints both figures.
What IP rating is printed?
The title, a bullet and the specification cell state IP44. That cell also lists CE and EN 60669-2-1. One saved review says no IP44 mark was seen on the body.
Are the saved reviews labelled United Kingdom?
The star line is 4.4 out of 5 from 1,307 reviews. The 50 saved texts are labelled Spain, Italy, France, Germany or the Netherlands. None is labelled United Kingdom.
The NINMORTH wall sensor is about £14.54, and the bullets state up to 1000 W and 10 A at AC 220 V, switching on at 8 lux. It is an 86-size wall mount with screw clamps, so the fit is not described as tool-free, and the included line is the sensor itself. The same bullets tell you not to install it directly under permanent artificial lighting. No IP number is printed next to the outdoor uses, and there is no Customer Reviews line. The 1000 W figure does not say LED. Dimensions are printed as 3 × 8.5 × 3 cm and the weight as 75 g, with a claim of 1 million mechanical cycles and 200,000 electrical cycles.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 220 V wall body where 8 lux is the figure you want and you will check ingress protection separately.
Less suitable: An exposed fitting that needs an IP code, or an LED load you are sizing from the 1000 W line.
Specifications
Common questions
What lux figure is printed?
A bullet states 8 lux for switching on in the dark and off during the day.
Is the fit described as tool-free?
No. The bullet says an 86 size wall mount with screw clamps.
Where does the listing say not to fit it?
The bullet says not to install it directly under permanent artificial lighting, to avoid false triggering.
The NINMORTH street-light controller is listed at about £14.46 as 10 A at 220 V on a three-wire system, in an ABS housing, for wood, metal or concrete poles. The bullets say it comes on at dusk and goes off at dawn, and they name a delay for headlights without giving any seconds. They also name LED, fluorescent and incandescent lamps, and resistive, inductive and capacitive loads, still without a wattage. No IP number is printed, though the title says weatherproof. There is no Customer Reviews line, so there is no star score to weigh. The model string is not a catalogue number you can check, and the listed weight is 500 g. At 220 V it sits near UK mains, and the missing IP number and the missing review line keep it off the gates used for the top pick.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A pole-mounted 220 V controller only if you can confirm an IP rating from somewhere other than this listing.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a printed IP code, a review line, or a wattage for the lamp type.
Specifications
Common questions
What supply does the listing state?
The title and a bullet state 10 A at 220 V on a three-wire system. No wattage figure is printed.
Is an IP number given?
No. The title and a bullet say weatherproof and name rain, UV and temperature. They do not print an IP number.
Is there a review count?
No Customer Reviews line is in the file, so the star score and the review count are not stated.
The Segutage photocell is about £12.99. The title states 120–277 VAC, and the table states 277 V, 1 A and IP65. It is a through-hole part, 35 × 15 × 21 mm, with a normally closed contact and a MOSFET switch type printed in the table. No wattage and no lux figure are printed, and there is no Customer Reviews line. The included line says only that the contents match the packing list shown. ISO 9001 is named, and UKCA is not in the file. It is a small component rather than a wall photocell you screw to a porch, and the title range and the 277 V cell do not say the same thing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A through-hole photocell in a fitting you are building, if the label on the part matches the voltage you have.
Less suitable: A wall-mounted replacement for a UK porch light, or a load you are sizing in watts.
Specifications
Common questions
Which voltage is printed?
The title says 120–277 VAC. The operating-voltage cell says 277 volts and the current cell says 1 amp. No wattage is printed.
What IP rating is printed?
The international protection cell says IP65. The specification-met cell says ISO 9001.
How is it mounted?
The table says a through-hole terminal and through-hole mount. Dimensions are 35 x 15 x 21 mm. Number of items is 1.
The NINMORTH body at about £12.63 prints IP54 and 80 V to 305 V AC at 50/60 Hz, so the range covers a nominal 230 V supply if that label is the one on the unit. No current, wattage, lux or delay is printed, and there is no Customer Reviews line. The title says 7.6 cm and the dimensions cell says 15 × 10 × 5 cm. The title says blue and the colour cell says As Picture Show. A bullet says lightning-proof with no standard number, and the file was first listed on 7 September 2026. It is the best value in this set only as the lowest price, after the top pick, that still prints one IP code and a voltage range covering about 230 V. The missing load and the missing reviews are the reason to hesitate.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A wide-range AC photocell when IP54 is the figure you need and you can accept a listing with no reviews.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a wattage, a lux setting, or a star line before they buy.
Specifications
Common questions
What IP rating is printed?
A bullet states IP54 against dust and splashing water. It also says lightning-proof, with no standard number.
What voltage range is printed?
A bullet states 80 V to 305 V AC at 50/60 Hz. No current or wattage is printed.
Do the size lines agree?
The title says 7.6 cm compact. The dimensions cell says 15 x 10 x 5 cm. The title says blue and the colour cell says As Picture Show.
The Flylin pair is about £14.49. The title and the bullets say two hardwired photocells at 120–277 V and IP65, while the table says 120 V, 1 A, 200 W and IP00. Both versions are in the file, so the higher line is not the only specification. A delay is named for sudden light changes, with no seconds given. The included line is two photoelectric switches, the dimensions are 35 × 35 × 15 mm, and the fit bullet says a lock nut rather than a tool-free fit. There is no Customer Reviews line. A further bullet says LEDs require DC power, which cuts against reading this as a straightforward mains photocell for LED lamps. CE is named and UKCA is not in the file.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A pair only if you can see which label is on the body before it is wired, because the bullet and the table disagree.
Less suitable: A like-for-like UK mains swap where you need one voltage and one IP code.
Specifications
Common questions
Which voltage should you read?
The title and a bullet say 120–277 VAC. The operating-voltage cell says 120 volts, and the current cell says 1 amp.
Which IP rating is printed?
A bullet says IP65. The international protection cell says IP00. Both lines are in the file.
What is in the pack?
The included-components line says 2 x photoelectric switches. Number of items is 2. The fit bullet says minimal tools and a lock nut, not a tool-free fit.
The NINMORTH four-pack is about £19.43, and the title states 120 V and IP54. A bullet states up to 600 W for incandescent lamps, a delay of 5–10 seconds, and a swivel bracket for walls, poles or junction boxes. The temperature line is −40 °C to +75 °C. The connection is described as a 3-cable lead with the colours not named, and the bullet says it can be installed without tools. The file names UL and does not print UKCA. There is no Customer Reviews line, and the pack of four comes from the title rather than a number-of-items cell. 120 V does not match UK mains, and the 600 W line is incandescent, not an LED rating.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Four 120 V photocells where that supply is real and you want a short delay printed in seconds.
Less suitable: A UK 230 V light, or an LED load you are reading off the 600 W incandescent line.
Specifications
Common questions
What voltage and lamp load are printed?
A bullet states 120 VAC and up to 600 W for incandescent lamps. No separate LED wattage is printed.
What delay is printed?
The bullet states 5–10 seconds, to ignore short light changes such as headlights.
Does the listing say the fit is without tools?
Yes. The bullet says a swivel bracket and a 3-cable connection, and that it can be installed without tools on walls, poles or in junction boxes.
The B.E.G. cds-t-su is listed at about £24.00 as a white twilight switch, part number 373606, and the file gives no voltage, current, wattage, IP rating or lux. There is no Customer Reviews line. The dimensions cell says 50 × 50 × 28 cm and the weight is 240 g, which is a large printed size for that weight. The material cell reads Kunststoff. The title says white and the colour cell says N.a. The only bullet repeats the title, and batteries are listed as not included. At about £24 it sits with the sparse prices in this capture, not with a proven premium unit, because the electrical lines are empty.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A purchase only if you already know the cds-t-su datasheet and you are not using this listing for the electrical figures.
Less suitable: Any decision that has to be made from the amazon.co.uk specification table.
Specifications
Common questions
What electrical figures are printed?
None. Voltage, current, wattage, IP and lux are absent from the file.
What size and material are printed?
The dimensions cell says 50 x 50 x 28 cm and the weight is 240 g. The material cell reads Kunststoff.
What colour is printed?
The title says white. The colour cell says N.a.
This NINMORTH listing states 120 VAC at 50/60 Hz, up to 600 W or 480 VA ballast, at about £15.60. The on band is 10–20 lux and the off band is 30–60 lux, which is a printed gap between switch-on and switch-off. The bullet says fail-on, and the temperature line is −20 °C to +70 °C with up to 96% humidity. No IP number is printed, mounting is not stated, and there is no Customer Reviews line. 120 V is the wrong supply for UK mains at a nominal 230 V, so the lux bands do not make it a fitting for a British outdoor point.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A genuine 120 V circuit, if you have one, where you want a printed gap between the on lux and the off lux.
Less suitable: Any UK 230 V outdoor light.
Specifications
Common questions
What voltage is printed?
A bullet states 120 VAC at 50/60 Hz. That is the only supply figure in the file.
What lux band is printed?
The switch-on band is 10–20 lux and the switch-off band is 30–60 lux.
Is there an IP rating?
No IP number is in the file. The bullet names −20 °C to +70 °C and up to 96% humidity.
The HQ TEC module is listed at about £51.29 as 12–28 V DC, one in the pack, at 62 g. The file has no current, no IP rating, no lux figure and no dimensions, and there is no Customer Reviews line. The included line is one twilight-switch module, and batteries are neither included nor required. The manufacturer cell says CPC and the part number is HQ|M197/PN. The material cell says Made By High Quality Material, which is not an electrical specification. A bullet tells you to read the full description, and the saved file has no further description. about £51.29 is the highest price in this set, and it does not print the current or the IP number that the cheaper listings at least start to show.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 12–28 V module only when you already hold a datasheet that this listing does not print.
Less suitable: UK mains, or a low-voltage job you can judge from a listing that prints a review line.
Specifications
Common questions
What voltage is printed?
The title and the included-components line state 12–28 V DC.
What is in the pack?
One module. Number of items is 1. Batteries included: no. Batteries required: no.
Are current and IP printed?
No. The file has no current, IP, lux or dimensions.
We compared 11 twilight switches and photocells on amazon.co.uk, captured on 15 October 2026, and scored them from the listing facts in this set. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK lines. This is not a laboratory test and it does not rank the wider UK market. A listing claim is not a measured result. The five weights below sum to 100.
Star evidence
40%Where a Customer Reviews line exists, the star rating is multiplied by 6 and a count band is added. A count under 10 is capped. A missing review line scores nothing here.
Supply and load
25%A single figure from 220 V to 240 V scores higher than a wide range, a stated DC range, or 120 V only. Current and one wattage printed together score higher than one figure, or neither.
IP code, lux and delay
20%One uncontradicted IP code scores higher than two clashing codes, or the word weatherproof with no number. A lux figure, or a delay printed in seconds, adds a smaller amount.
Conflicts on the listing
10%A sheet that mislabels a conductor, a large drop at the lamp, a missing IP mark on the body, an LED-needs-DC line on an AC listing, or a title size that clashes with the dimensions cell reduces the score.
Price band
5%Price points apply only when the star line is 4.0 or above and the count is at least 10: more at £12 or under, less from £12.01 to £20, and none above £20.
A twilight switch only earns its place if the voltage, the lamp load and the IP number match the point you are switching. The notes below follow that order for these eleven listings. The checks are set out again in the [twilight switch buying guide](/hub/electrical-equipment/twilight-switch/sub/twilight-switch-buying-guide).
A twilight switch, also called a photocell or dusk-to-dawn sensor, turns a lighting load on at dark and off at daylight. You are buying a control, not a lamp. A usable listing states a voltage that matches the supply, an IP number for the location, and a wattage for the lamp type rather than a bare 10 A figure. UK mains are nominally 230 V AC. A hard-wired photocell has no BS 1363 plug, but the label must cover the supply. 120 V only is the wrong voltage.
Two NINMORTH listings are 120 V only. That is the wrong supply for UK mains at a nominal 230 V. A 12 V module and a wall switch whose sensor only lights a guide LED are also the wrong buy for a mains photocell.
10 A is not an LED wattage. Trade pages print a lower LED figure than the tungsten figure. On Electraline the wattage cell says 240 W and a bullet says 1000 W. Quote the figure for the lamp you are fitting.
One Electraline comment says the sheet marked green as earth when that wire was the neutral. ZYWUOY texts labelled United Kingdom disagree on which wire is which. Do not invent an earth: no listing states Class I or Class II.
Start with the supply. UK mains are nominally 230 V AC. A hard-wired photocell has no BS 1363 plug, but the label must cover that supply. 120 V only is the wrong voltage. A range that includes about 230 V can suit if the label is true, which is what the NINMORTH IP54 body claims at 80–305 V AC. A 12 V module stays on the safe side of a transformer. Then read the load for the lamp, not a bare current. 10 A is not an LED wattage.
Ask for an IP number, not the word weatherproof. IP44 is splashing, not immersion. One uncontradicted code is the useful line. Flylin prints IP65 in a bullet and IP00 in the table, so both stay in view. Several listings name rain or outdoor use and print no code at all. A lux figure, and a gap between switch-on and switch-off, limits dusk flashing. Electraline prints 5–300 lux. One 120 V listing prints on at 10–20 lux and off at 30–60 lux.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are swapping a like-for-like photocell on an existing outdoor point, and you still match voltage, IP and lamp type. The Electraline pair is the only listing here that prints a supply around 230 V, an IP code and a review line together. The saved texts are not labelled United Kingdom.
You want one IP code and a voltage range that includes about 230 V, at the lowest price in this set after the top pick. That is the NINMORTH body at about £12.63, marked IP54 and 80–305 V AC. There is no review line, and no current or wattage is printed.
You are running 12 V garden or water-feature LEDs after a transformer, where polarity matters more than a 10 A headline. The ZYWUOY unit is 12–48 V DC at about £10.59, with 4.5 from 8 reviews. United Kingdom texts disagree on the wire colours, and one reports about 9 V at the lamp from 12 V.
Across these eleven amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Electraline 92283 pair at about £7.51. It is the only listing in this set that prints a supply around 230 V, one IP code, and a review line together: table 240 V, 10 A and IP44, a bullet of 5–300 lux, and 4.4 from 1,307 reviews. Those saved texts are not labelled United Kingdom, and the wattage lines disagree. The best value is the NINMORTH IP54 body at about £12.63, the lowest remaining price that still prints one uncontradicted IP code and a voltage range that includes about 230 V. It has no current, wattage or review line. Segutage is 36p more, and its voltage cell says 277 V against a 120–277 V title. The 120 V listings are the wrong supply for UK mains.
NINMORTH Twilight Switch IP54
Lowest price after the top pick that still prints IP54 and 80–305 V AC, at about £12.63, with no review line.
Editorial
Products Compared publishes British-English buying guides based on amazon.co.uk listings and public UK sources. We do not run a lab and we do not invent test scores.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are from amazon.co.uk on 15 October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK listing lines. We did not run a lab test.
