Dusk to dawn switch

stef · May 3, 2013

Hi chaps,

Well, I have one of them

[ElectriciansForums.net] Dusk to dawn switch

Fitted it 10 years ago, still working! Till recently. Going green I decided to replace the outside lights
with LED types and splashed out 40 quid. Now, after dusk, the lights come on for 5 seconds and then go off for a couple of minutes and so on. Pretty annoying.
first I suspected the sensor, so I removed it, took it inside and connected it to a lamp (filament) and it is working OK.
I assumed there is a relay inside but now it appears to me that the load of the LEDs is not high enough
to operate the sensor correctly. Do you know any alternatives which are suitable for low loads?:frown2:

Thanks.

telectrix · May 3, 2013

Guest55 · May 3, 2013

your average royce thompson plug in photocell is not load dependant and should work whether its a 1w led or a 5000w halogen.
i've wired them to activate contactors in the past , which pulls a current of around 0.
just try another sensor , they all fail eventually , and youve had you monies worth after 10 yrs.

Richard Burns · May 3, 2013

Agree with Biff it should not be load dependent.
Have you now got the LED lights shining onto the sensor so the photocell then switches off once the light come on?
Did you have permanent line in the output and power to lights on the input?

Jimsparky · May 3, 2013

As above ive had this on a breakdown before and the feed and load was the wrong way round on the cell.

Silly Sausage · May 3, 2013

The only thing I can think of with this thread is...

Brightspark2 · May 4, 2013

Ive had this problem before, I used a titan photocell instead. Tell the wholesalers you want a photocell for switching an LED load of X watt. Let them ring the manufacturers for you. Thats what I did....

Archy Styrigg said:
The only thing I can think of with this thread is...

Dont mind of I do...

Outspoken · May 4, 2013

I have a Royce Thompson in my back yard (bloody hurt getting there I can tell you) that operates a contactor for LED lights for "mood lighting" (It was the Missus idea honestly) and then another running a couple of 70w Metal Halide units for proper lighting when working on my Land Rovers. never had a problem with the unit on the LEDs and that unit must be more than 20 years old now as it was used in a previous life doing other lights...

stef · May 6, 2013

Jimsparky said:
As above ive had this on a breakdown before and the feed and load was the wrong way round on the cell.

Nahh, connected correctly, was working ok before I used the LEDs. Yesterday afternoon I put the old filament lamp back and it was working fine. Must be a faulty sensor. Thanks anyway.