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OT: looking for photocell for 6W @...
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Topic: | OT: looking for photocell for 6W @ 120VAC LED for dusk to dawn operation This thread has 16 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15. |
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Post 1 made on Monday January 30, 2017 at 18:26 |
Ernie Gilman Yes, That Ernie! |
Joined: Posts: | December 2001 30,104 |
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The lighting guys I'm able to talk to have no idea that LEDs take different kinds of control. I don't know of a manufacturer I can call, since the brands I see refer only to amazon pages or Home Depot pages, with no tech info.
I'll bet someone out there has solved this problem. Anyone?
Thanks.
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A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw |
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Post 2 made on Monday January 30, 2017 at 19:47 |
Fins Elite Member |
Joined: Posts: | June 2007 11,627 |
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Why does the photocell need to be different? I understand the issue with dimmers, but isn't a photocell just on and off?
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Post 3 made on Monday January 30, 2017 at 19:54 |
highfigh Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | September 2004 8,322 |
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On January 30, 2017 at 18:26, Ernie Gilman said...
The lighting guys I'm able to talk to have no idea that LEDs take different kinds of control. I don't know of a manufacturer I can call, since the brands I see refer only to amazon pages or Home Depot pages, with no tech info.
I'll bet someone out there has solved this problem. Anyone?
Thanks. "...able to talk to..."- you mean "stuck talking to", right? I installed a photocell on the light over one of my doors and it's made for incandescent bulbs. If it can't handle an LED, I would ask "Why?". It's getting close to ten years and I started with incandescent, went to CFL and now I have an LED. I think I got it at Home Depot. It's either open, or closed- what kind of control are you thinking of?
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My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder." |
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Post 4 made on Monday January 30, 2017 at 23:42 |
buzz Super Member |
Joined: Posts: | May 2003 4,382 |
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Is this an indoor or outdoor location?
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Post 5 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 00:49 |
pilgram Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | November 2004 5,684 |
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I'm running a standard photo cell to turn my outdoor cans with LED bulbs on and off without any issues.
Your just turning the power on and off,not dimming them.
The photo sensor doesn't care what the load is.
I think your over thinking this.
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OP | Post 6 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 01:50 |
Ernie Gilman Yes, That Ernie! |
Joined: Posts: | December 2001 30,104 |
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Yes, I guess I was overthinking it. I haven't put in a photocell in years and I didn't remember they're made with a neutral. So they don't have the problems that dimmers without neutrals have. Of course, you know I'll be back if this doesn't work....
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A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw |
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Post 7 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 08:20 |
highfigh Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | September 2004 8,322 |
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On January 31, 2017 at 01:50, Ernie Gilman said...
Yes, I guess I was overthinking it. I haven't put in a photocell in years and I didn't remember they're made with a neutral. So they don't have the problems that dimmers without neutrals have. Of course, you know I'll be back if this doesn't work.... What neutral? They have two wires- in and out. When light reaches a certain level, it's conductive. If they're controlling a heavy load, you could use it to latch a relay.
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My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder." |
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Post 8 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 08:59 |
Bubby Advanced Member |
Joined: Posts: | July 2007 942 |
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On January 31, 2017 at 08:20, highfigh said...
What neutral? They have two wires- in and out. When light reaches a certain level, it's conductive. If they're controlling a heavy load, you could use it to latch a relay. They have neutral wires. At least all of them I have ever seen.
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Post 9 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 09:48 |
I've encountered some issues with minimum load on photocells. Mostly from the mini "button" type before they started rating for LED and that was trying to fire 4w candelabra lamps. 6w of load will be try and see but I would think should be fine, especially if it says LED rated and has the neutral wire.
Most now have a neutral wire, still encounter a few fixture-installed generics that don't.
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Post 10 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 09:51 |
highfigh Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | September 2004 8,322 |
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On January 31, 2017 at 08:59, Bubby said...
They have neutral wires. At least all of them I have ever seen. I don't remember mine having that, but it was almost ten years ago. I remember using these for the LED on car alarms when people didn't want it to be a "Steal Me" indicator.
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My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder." |
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Post 11 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 12:16 |
Bubby Advanced Member |
Joined: Posts: | July 2007 942 |
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On January 31, 2017 at 09:51, highfigh said...
I don't remember mine having that, but it was almost ten years ago. I remember using these for the LED on car alarms when people didn't want it to be a "Steal Me" indicator. That's why. Cars are DC so no need for a neutral.
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OP | Post 12 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 13:53 |
Ernie Gilman Yes, That Ernie! |
Joined: Posts: | December 2001 30,104 |
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Fins, highfigh, pilgram, none of you are apparently informed as to the state of things. BisyB talks about EXACTLY the issue I'm wondering about. Thanks for speaking up, B. On January 31, 2017 at 09:48, BisyB said...
I've encountered some issues with minimum load on photocells. Mostly from the mini "button" type before they started rating for LED and that was trying to fire 4w candelabra lamps. 6w of load will be try and see but I would think should be fine, especially if it says LED rated and has the neutral wire.
Most now have a neutral wire, still encounter a few fixture-installed generics that don't. On January 31, 2017 at 08:20, highfigh said...
What neutral? They have two wires- in and out. When light reaches a certain level, it's conductive. If they're controlling a heavy load, you could use it to latch a relay. Again, you're not informed. In my book, you're talking about wall dimmers. (The kind of light switches that are called 'photocells' have three wires.) Maybe not, but try using a two-wire model with LED lamps. I've got a six-lamp fixture on a two-wire dimmer that won't dim worth a damn unless one of the lamps is an incandescent. Those two-wire guys also have to have a MINIMUM load to work. And with LEDs, they'll slam from about 30% to zero, so their dimming is crap. Then, to turn them on, you have to raise the control to about 50%, where they slam ON. What I'm talking about is the outdoor light sensor that turns lights on and off, and I had not realized they have a neutral. Having the neutral makes it less likely that the load actually matters.
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A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw |
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Post 13 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 14:10 |
rmalbers Founding Member |
Joined: Posts: | October 2001 778 |
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I've been running one of those cheap lamp post photo cells with a very low watt led for several years now and it's still running. I think the newer lamp post photo cells have something in them to prevent the 'flicker' that old ones used to have, I think that's why you can use them on about any type of bulb now. I think if you put an LED bulb into one of the older type photo cells that do 'flicker' it might be a problem. Edit: I think this is what I'm using: Woods 59408 Outdoor Hardwire Light Control with Photocell, Light Sensor Switch
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Post 14 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 14:12 |
3PedalMINI Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | July 2009 7,860 |
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way over thinking this dude...
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The Bitterness of Poor Quality is Remembered Long after the Sweetness of Price is Forgotten! - Benjamin Franklin |
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Post 15 made on Tuesday January 31, 2017 at 20:31 |
highfigh Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | September 2004 8,322 |
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On January 31, 2017 at 12:16, Bubby said...
That's why. Cars are DC so no need for a neutral. If it's only providing a NC or NO connection, why would it need a neutral? A regular paddle-type switch has a ground screw but it doesn't need a neutral- it's performing the same function, just manually.
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My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder." |
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