Comments on: Installing Dusk to Dawn Photocell in Exterior Lighting to Save Power http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/ Watt Hackers is all things energy. How to produce it, how to reduce it. Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:09:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: sblackb http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2455 sblackb Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:09:19 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-2455 You can use either wire in either order. Just connect one to the hot wire coming from the electrical box, then the other to the power wire on the light. As for the two different switches, not really sure what you're asking, but it sounds like you are dealing with a 3-way switch. Not sure if you are trying to bypass the photo cell or if it's not working on the second switch. You can use either wire in either order. Just connect one to the hot wire coming from the electrical box, then the other to the power wire on the light. As for the two different switches, not really sure what you're asking, but it sounds like you are dealing with a 3-way switch. Not sure if you are trying to bypass the photo cell or if it's not working on the second switch.

]]> By: GBSTC http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2444 GBSTC Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:32:35 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-2444 I am trying to install a Hampton Bay Photocell # 594-135 but am having trouble with the directions because they say to take the "longer" black wire to the black power supply wire and the shorter black wire of the photocell to the black wire from the light fixture. One would think this is an easy instruction but both black wires from the photocell ARE THE SAME EXACT LENGTH. That's the confusing part. Which goes where? On the black photocell itself there is a diagram showing one wire going to "lamp load" and the other wire going to "120V AC". Can anyone please help me distinguish which goes where? Which do I interpret as the short black and which as the long black? I'd hate to misconnect the wiring and burn up the photocell before I see if it works or not. The other question I have involves the fact that I have two - each with a photocell to turn on at dusk and off at dawn and each has a switch that controls both lights, one in the front entry and one in the garage. How do I set those switches so that both operate the light fixtures the way they are supposed to. Thanks for any help anyone can provide. I am trying to install a Hampton Bay Photocell # 594-135 but am having trouble with the directions because they say to take the "longer" black wire to the black power supply wire and the shorter black wire of the photocell to the black wire from the light fixture. One would think this is an easy instruction but both black wires from the photocell ARE THE SAME EXACT LENGTH. That's the confusing part. Which goes where? On the black photocell itself there is a diagram showing one wire going to "lamp load" and the other wire going to "120V AC". Can anyone please help me distinguish which goes where? Which do I interpret as the short black and which as the long black?
I'd hate to misconnect the wiring and burn up the photocell before I see if it works or not. The other question I have involves the fact that I have two – each with a photocell to turn on at dusk and off at dawn and each has a switch that controls both lights, one in the front entry and one in the garage. How do I set those switches so that both operate the light fixtures the way they are supposed to. Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

]]> By: sblackb http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-1392 sblackb Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:42:33 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-1392 Mine finally blew up too after a couple years. Switched to the ones I listed off amazon and have not had a problem. Mine finally blew up too after a couple years. Switched to the ones I listed off amazon and have not had a problem.

]]> By: sblackb http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-1391 sblackb Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:41:35 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-1391 Sounds to me like you have a three way switch where the red wire is a carrier leg. I'm no electrician, so you may want to get a pro's opinion but is the red wire hot? Sounds to me like you have a three way switch where the red wire is a carrier leg. I'm no electrician, so you may want to get a pro's opinion but is the red wire hot?

]]> By: DanfromEssex http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-1390 DanfromEssex Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:48:16 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-1390 I have power coming from panel that is 4 wire (w,b,r,gnd) but the light that was purchased only has 3 wire ( w,b,gnd) and the sensor I bought has 3 wire (w,b,r ). Is it possible to make this work ? right now light stays on , I capped off the red wire at the light. I have power coming from panel that is 4 wire (w,b,r,gnd) but the light that was purchased only has 3 wire ( w,b,gnd)
and the sensor I bought has 3 wire (w,b,r ).
Is it possible to make this work ? right now light stays on , I capped off the red wire at the light.

]]> By: sblackb http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-1321 sblackb Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:33:31 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-1321 Not really a candidate for a thread in photocell. I would try a wire in style like I used and see if that solves your problem. since the photocell you used switched the bulb, you would need one for each of your bulbs. My fear is that they would cast light on each other's photocell and you would get a really annoying flicker. Not really a candidate for a thread in photocell. I would try a wire in style like I used and see if that solves your problem. since the photocell you used switched the bulb, you would need one for each of your bulbs. My fear is that they would cast light on each other's photocell and you would get a really annoying flicker.

]]> By: Dennis http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-1290 Dennis Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:49:26 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-1290 I have outside lighting that consits of 2 candle type light bulbs in each fixture. The type of dusk to dawn sensor is one that screws into the socket. Problem that I have is I can't get both lights in the fixture to work at the same time. I have outside lighting that consits of 2 candle type light bulbs in each fixture. The type of dusk to dawn sensor is one that screws into the socket. Problem that I have is I can't get both lights in the fixture to work at the same time.

]]> By: sharo dubosh http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-1116 sharo dubosh Fri, 31 Dec 2010 09:25:55 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-1116 out of the six hampton bay photo sensors i bought, only one worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 out of the six hampton bay photo sensors i bought, only one worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

]]> By: Amy http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-1103 Amy Wed, 29 Dec 2010 07:45:55 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-1103 My light only goes on every other night! This fixture is on my front porch and it had been working just fine since 2003 -- until now. As far as I know it is controlled by a photocell as it always seemed to go on at dusk and off at dawn. Then at the end of October, I thought the light had blown but before I could change it, the light was on the next night - but off the following night... And to my surprise, ever since then, it has gone on and off every other day! I just don't get it! I don't think there is a timer anywhere, but even if there was, I can't imagine one exists that can be set to go on every other day! Any thoughts about what could be going on? (For what it's worth, I've been using a CFL in the fixture for some time now.) My light only goes on every other night!

This fixture is on my front porch and it had been working just fine since 2003 — until now. As far as I know it is controlled by a photocell as it always seemed to go on at dusk and off at dawn.

Then at the end of October, I thought the light had blown but before I could change it, the light was on the next night – but off the following night… And to my surprise, ever since then, it has gone on and off every other day!

I just don't get it! I don't think there is a timer anywhere, but even if there was, I can't imagine one exists that can be set to go on every other day!

Any thoughts about what could be going on? (For what it's worth, I've been using a CFL in the fixture for some time now.)

]]> By: sblackb http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-747 sblackb Fri, 29 Oct 2010 01:33:30 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-747 Well, it sounds like the same situation that I had when mine failed, but the one difference is you said lights instead of light. If you have more than one light that failed at the same time, I would suggest you have a wall mount photo cell or a timer, not light mounted photo cells like I used. Check around and see if you have any electrical plates that have a pencil eraser size cylinder protruding from the face. My guess is that you have one sensor that controls a circuit, but I'm just guessing based on the info you provided. do you know the type of lights you have? Well, it sounds like the same situation that I had when mine failed, but the one difference is you said lights instead of light. If you have more than one light that failed at the same time, I would suggest you have a wall mount photo cell or a timer, not light mounted photo cells like I used. Check around and see if you have any electrical plates that have a pencil eraser size cylinder protruding from the face. My guess is that you have one sensor that controls a circuit, but I'm just guessing based on the info you provided. do you know the type of lights you have?

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