Light via photo cell and timer and contacter help Please!!!!!!

[piz]

Hello all
I am a little confused,here is the short story
I have been to an electrical fault on some Arms Houses
there are 11 outside lights all have 2 flourscent 9 watt lamps installed there is a time switch a photocell and a contactor installed but they have stopped working
Please correct me if I am wrong i think the power comes from the 6 amp mcb to the time switch then to the photo cell this would then activate when dark and power up the contactor which in turn will switch the lights on
The problem being I have not been able to find why they wont work I have replaced the contacor and photocell and still nothing
1 is there any way of testing the contacor and photocell
2 does it even need a contactor
3 if I bypass the contactor and photocell all lights work
Cheers

 

[telectrix]

you need to test the contactor and photocell separately. start by linking the L and S/L on the photocell. if it works, then its the photocell. that would be my first suspect esp those cheap mushroom ones

 

[Hawk81]

Have you checked what voltage you get at the coil on the contactor when the photocell is activated?

 

[piz]

No Might sound a bit thick but never done one before I have a1 1234 I take it the a1 terminal is the coil??

 

[ezzzekiel]

if youve already replaced the cell and contact then the problem must be further upstream

 

[telectrix]

A1and A2 are the coil.

 

[Hawk81]

I tale it that it is a 230v coil. You will have an A1 and A2 they will be the coil. Check the voltage between these 2 points.

 

[telectrix]

if youve already replaced the cell and contact then the problem must be further upstream

he's not repacede them, ezzz, he's by passed them and the lights work. it's either the cell or the contactor. my money's on the cell. ( the money i had on 2 horses at newbury that is )

 

[piz]

Yeah 230 v contactor I will try ahain tomorrow now I am a little clearer cheers

 

[Hawk81]

he's not repacede them, ezzz, he's by passed them and the lights work. it's either the cell or the contactor. my money's on the cell. ( the money i had on 2 horses at newbury that is )

He does say in his op that he did replace them both

 

[telectrix]

sorry, ezzz and hawk, i missed that bit, just saw the bypassed bit.

 

[Hawk81]

You needed the Hawk eyes lol