Where should Feit's dusk-to-dawn bulb go?

Feit's ST19 dusk-to-dawn LED needs daylight on it during the day and darkness at night, and a bright outside light shining on it can trigger its sensor.

My new Feit dusk-to-dawn bulb came on in daylight. Is it broken?

Not necessarily. Fitted during the day, Feit's ST19 dusk-to-dawn LED turns on at first, then stays off until night.

Outdoor and Porch Light Bulbs: Wet or Damp, Dusk to Dawn

Match the old bulb’s base and shape, then check two things on the box: a damp or wet rating for where the light hangs, and, on a light that switches itself on, that the bulb works with photocells or motion sensors.

Does the outdoor light switch itself on?

Turn the light off and give the bulb time to cool before you unscrew it.

No, it’s on a wall switchA porch, wall or lantern light Yes, at dusk, on motion or on a timerA dusk-to-dawn, motion sensor or timer light

What fits

A bulb rated for wet or damp locations

Match the old bulb’s base and shape, then pick the rating for where the light hangs.

On the package: Wet rated, or damp rated under a roof

Available on Amazon

Wet-rated LED bulbs Damp-rated LED bulbs

Under a porch roof or an awning, a damp rating is the minimum.
Where rain and weather reach the fixture, as with path and garden lights, choose wet-rated. Choose wet-rated too if you’re not sure which applies.
A lantern whose glass closes around the bulb also needs an enclosed-fixture rating.
Where winters are cold, check the box for the lowest temperature the bulb starts or runs at.

Damp or wet

OSHA’s electrical definitions put roofed open porches and spots under canopies in the damp group. Places that are unprotected and exposed to the weather are wet.

Glass lanterns: see enclosed fixtures.

Dusk-to-dawn (photocell), motion sensor and timer lights

Until ENERGY STAR ended for bulbs on December 31, 2024, its rules required a certified bulb not made for these controls to say so on the box, with lines such as “not compatible with photosensors”, “not compatible with motion sensors” or “not compatible with timers”.

Bulbs with a sensor built in

Feit’s ST19 dusk-to-dawn LED has its own photocell: it turns on when night falls and off in daylight. It’s rated for damp locations and made for outdoor fixtures, such as patios and entryways, that get daylight.
Feit’s PAR38 motion LED switches on at night when it detects movement. It’s rated for wet locations and isn’t dimmable.

Cold weather

Under the same ENERGY STAR rules, a certified bulb’s box had to give the lowest temperature it starts or runs at.

Brightness and color

For how bright, see watts to lumens. The color of the light is your choice. 2700K vs 3000K vs 4000K compares the options.

Changing the fixture, or wiring in a separate sensor, means working on house wiring. Turn the breaker off, and call an electrician if you’re unsure.

Another bulb to replace?

Bulb finder

What light bulb goes in an outdoor or porch light?

Damp or wet

Dusk-to-dawn (photocell), motion sensor and timer lights

Bulbs with a sensor built in

Cold weather

Brightness and color

Common questions

Where we get our information from

What light bulb goes in an outdoor or porch light?

Damp or wet

Dusk-to-dawn (photocell), motion sensor and timer lights

Bulbs with a sensor built in

Cold weather

Brightness and color

Common questions

Keep going

Where we get our information from