electronic switches hate low energy lights

[Matthew M]

I have had several failures with electronic switches e.g. timeguard R1 timeswitch, motion sensors trying to control low energy or fluorescent lights.

The manufacturers are really bad at warning you of these. Last one was a Timeguard RS1 with a tiny piece of paper in the back of the packet saying 'not suitable . . .'


Some appliances have a small capacitor you can use to short across the load. This feels to me like a dubious bodge, probably it affects the load factor and wastes most of the energy the 'low energy' appliance was meant to save.

Does anybody know of a source of time switches, motion sensors, PIR's which can safely be used to switch e.g. 28 watt fluorescent lights?

 

[Sintra]

I have had several failures with electronic switches e.g. timeguard R1 timeswitch, motion sensors trying to control low energy or fluorescent lights.

The manufacturers are really bad at warning you of these. Last one was a Timeguard RS1 with a tiny piece of paper in the back of the packet saying 'not suitable . . .'


Some appliances have a small capacitor you can use to short across the load. This feels to me like a dubious bodge, probably it affects the load factor and wastes most of the energy the 'low energy' appliance was meant to save.

Does anybody know of a source of time switches, motion sensors, PIR's which can safely be used to switch e.g. 28 watt fluorescent lights?

The firm i work for uses the luxomat range, although i have come accross the odd faulty unit in comparison to the number that we have installed it is very low. Check out manufacturers website for full range and spec. B.E.G. Brück Electronic GmbH

 

[Spudnik]

Best bet is to install a standard timer with a contactor.

I believe the start up on CFL and the like is so high that it can melt the contacts together.

Not so much of a problem with LEDs though.