To change an outdoor sensor light fixture photocell, first, turn off the power at the circuit breaker to ensure safety. Remove the light fixture from its mounting, typically by unscrewing it from the wall or ceiling. Locate the photocell, which is usually a small cylindrical or rectangular component, and disconnect the wiring by unscrewing it or unclipping it. Replace it with a new photocell, reconnect the wiring, and reassemble the fixture before restoring power.
# Turn off the power to the lamppost circuit at the breaker box. # Unscrew the mounting screws holding the lamp in place, and pull the lamp fixture from the post. Remove the wire nuts, and use the circuit tester to be sure the power is off. # Disconnect the wires to the fixture and the photocell. # Disconnect the locking nuts that hold the existing photocell on the post, and remove the photocell. If your lamp doesn't have a photocell, you'll need to drill an access hole in the post to install one. # Install the adhesive foam ring (provided with the photocell) around the mounting hole. # Run a bead of silicone sealant around the photocell where it will press against the interior of the lamppost. # Push the sensor through the mounting hole, and secure it with a locking nut. # Add silicone sealant inside the lamp fixture at any point where moisture might leak through to the photocell. # Connect the white wires from the power supply, lamp, and photocell together. Secure the connection with a wire nut. Connect the black photocell wire to the black power supply wire in the same manner. Connect the black lamp fixture wire to the red photocell wire and secure the connection with a wire nut. # Reainstall the fixture on the lamppost.
how do you turn a light sensor on, on a outdoor wall light fixture
To install a motion sensor for an outdoor light, follow these steps: Turn off the power to the light fixture at the circuit breaker. Remove the existing light fixture and disconnect the wires. Attach the motion sensor to the mounting bracket and connect the wires according to the instructions. Secure the sensor in place and mount the light fixture. Turn the power back on and test the motion sensor to ensure it is working properly.
Bypassing a motion sensor on outdoor lights can be done by disabling the sensor feature, often through a manual switch or control setting on the light fixture itself. Another method is to cover the sensor with tape or a similar material to block its detection. However, it's important to consider safety and security implications, as disabling motion sensors may reduce the effectiveness of outdoor lighting in deterring unwanted activity. Always consult the manufacturer's guidelines before making modifications.
The sensing unit on the fixture is thinking that it is night time. If your fixture has a switch before the light, that has to be left on for the sensor to work, try the following. Turn the fixture off with the switch and leave it off for about ten minutes. Turn the switch back on and the fixture will turn on. If the sensor circuitry is working the fixture will turn off after your "delay on" setting is reached. If there is no switch before the fixture check to see if the sensor has been covered, fooling the sensor into thinking it is night time. If it is a hollow tube type sensor, sometimes hornets will lay an egg in there and cover the sensor with a mud patch. As a last resort change the sensitivity control so that is senses daylight sooner, allowing the sensor to shut off earlier. If none of the above work its time to buy a new sensor. These can be bought individually and installed into the old fixture.
Outdoor sensor lights can be purchased at most home improvement stores. Home Depot and Lowe's both sell outdoor sensor lights in their stores and online.
To adjust the EML Series 100 outdoor light, locate the adjustment mechanism typically found on the fixture itself. Depending on the model, you may need to rotate or tilt the light head to direct the beam where needed. If the fixture has a sensor, you can adjust the sensitivity and timing settings according to the manufacturer's instructions. Always ensure the light is powered off before making any adjustments for safety.
It could be that you have a bad connection behind the fixture. If the wire nut is loose you will have voltage, but not as much current making the light dim. If the connection is bad, then it gets hot, the hotter it gets, the worse the connection can get. You get the picture. Also, the porcelain or bakelite plastic socket the bulb goes into has rivets at the base of it up inside the fixture. Sometimes these can become loose causing the same situation as above.
Check to see if the fixture has a sensitivity setting or switch. Perhaps it needs to be adjusted or set correctly? I'm looking for the proper settings for mine now. Here is THE ANSWER: The photo cell that senses light and darkness is sensing the light coming from the fixture being controlled. Reposition the sensor away from the light of the fixture. Or shield the sensor from the light. Ideally the sensor should be located away from the light source.
Most Mercury Vapor Lamp Fixtures have a PLUG IN module on top of the fixture. Most are about the size of an inverted "shot glass" and have a photocell "eye" somewhere on the outside surface. Typically, you turn the Module counterclockwise to "unlock" the module from the socket and pull the module UP and off the top of the lamp fixture. Failure mode for these Light Sensors are twofold: Either [ 1 ] the electric eye's lens gets cloudy and the light stays on unless it is VERY sunny....or [ 2 ] the Module, being mounted ABOVE the light fixture gets HOT...and over the years the module gets COOKED and fails. Take the light sensor with you to an electrical supply house and match it up with a new one !! BYW: Inspect the socket and plug of the Light Sensor module & lamp fixture. Often the "cooked module" will fail because of socket/plug failure. The plug/socket Phenolic materials break down from the heat over the years . Or the contacts corrode. NOTE: It is important , when installing the Light fixture...that the plug-in Light Sensor' photocell lens is pointing AWAY from the building or other mounting structure. If the "electric eye' is facing the structure..the reflected light will confuse the light sensor and the lamp will come on DIM[*] , flicker or turn off & on constantly. [ * ] Do not confuse the " comes on DIM " statement with the normal DIM warmup cycle of the lamp. It is also advised to have the High Output Merury Vapor LIght on a dedicated electrical circuit. If you are using an existing circuit for outside-the-house loads..... such things like pool pumps etc will extinguish the lamp when the pump kicks in.. The pump's heavy inductive load in-rush current on startup will cause the lamp to go out..... in a few minutes the lamp will restart, warm up and come back at full intensity.
Your outdoor sensor light may not be working due to a variety of reasons, such as a burnt-out bulb, a faulty sensor, a loose connection, or a power issue. Check these components to troubleshoot and fix the problem.
The relevant theory for connecting a line voltage photocell to operate a lamp is based on the principles of light sensing and electrical control. A photocell, or photoresistor, detects ambient light levels and changes its resistance accordingly; when light levels drop below a certain threshold, the photocell closes a circuit, allowing current to flow and turning on the lamp. This operation utilizes basic concepts of electrical circuits and sensor technology, enabling automatic lighting control based on environmental conditions.