A 10 mm encapsulated light dependent resistor ldr here works as the twilight detector. The circuit can be used to switch on incandescent garden light bulbs at desk and switch off them at dawn.

Light Activated Switch Circuit Using Ldr Sensor
Ldr wiring diagram. Circuit of a compact and true solid state automatic lawn light is described here. A voltage divider made using ldr ldr1 and a potentiometer rv1 b output led d1 in our switching circuit made using a. When light falls on ldr the resistance of it goes very high about in mega ohm. Ldr circuit diagram at day when light falls on ldr then conductivity increased and current flows between supply to the base of the transistor and then transistor q1 will on. In the morning time this sensor has a low resistance around 100ω. Transistor q1 and transistor q2 are connected as not gate.
As you can see in the ldr circuit diagram it can be a distinguished as two smaller circuits. The ldr circuit diagram works like this. This makes the voltage at the base of the transistor too low to turn the transistor on. The circuit of light detector is very simple and easy to build with very few components. Light detector sensor circuit diagram. When its dark the ldr has high resistance.
Thus the power supply flows through the ldr ground through the variable resistor and resistor as shown in the above light sensor circuit. When transistor q1 is on by conducting even small current on base the output of transistor q2 is low off. As its specified property ldr act as the light and dark sensor. How the ldr circuit diagram works. Therefore no current will go from the collector to the emitter of the transistor. Light dependent resistor circuit diagram.
Ldr is a special type of variable resistor which value can be increased or decreased according to light falling on it. Ldr is light dependent resistor.