failing lights...

[bilbo_88]

hi all. i'm an apprentice electrician and on a job which my superior couldnt explain to me.

We put lights in the communal area of flats to be operated by PIR's. There are 3 floors and about 16 lights on each circuit.

After about a month the lamps started to burn out and also the geartrays(they just stopped working?). This has been happening for a few months now and the problem not solved. Aparently the fittings were blamed but i don't know.

Any ideas (sorry about lack of detail, did my best lol)

 

[Sintra]

Is the PIR the correct type and rating to switch the load? That's what i would have a look at.

 

[bilbo_88]

the PIR is the right type, switch load capable of 16amp. Its the ballasts that are burning out on the geartray

 

[telectrix]

and what kind of fittings. PIRs don't like fluorescent or any inductive load.

 

[bilbo_88]

they are 28w 2D lamps

 

[malcolmsanford]

Is the enviroment where they are in leading to overheating on the fittings, or are we just talking about cheap fittings

 

[bilbo_88]

Is the enviroment where they are in leading to overheating on the fittings, or are we just talking about cheap fittings

U might be right. they might just be cheap fittings. Its a communal corridor which isnt hot.

 

[malcolmsanford]

As you say there are 16 of them and unless landlords have changed or these are really up market flats the chances are they are not going to be top quality. It might pay to replace the upper most one with something a bit better quality wise and see how it goes.