Frustration with motion lights...

[rhastings80]

Hi Everyone,

I have replaced the motion light on my garage about 4 times in the past 2 or 3 years. I'm getting sick of having to replace them all the time. The problem is after a while the darn light stays on during the day. I have looked at replacing only the photo eye or whatever its called but its always just cheaper to buy a whole new fixture. The current one I think I got at Home Depot and believe it Commercial Electric brand.

Does anybody know of any good makes or models? I don't care how much I have to spend. I would like to just replace the darn thing one more time and be done with it. I'm also somewhat linted as you can see in the picture I have limed room to mount it. I'm guessing I will have to buy Hubbell brand or something like that but haven't had much luck navigating their website.

Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks
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[tonydanzah]

off topic, was it you that the book of proto history that was supposed to be passed around the board if shipping was paid?

 

[Matt M PA]

I got three of the ones that Lowes sells. I cannot remember the name, but they look similar to yours except the bulbs have "shades" that keep them from being in the rain. Mine do the slow-on ramp up thing so they don;t go on hard.....it's supposed to help the bulbs last longer. I think they were like $30 each.

They've been running two years with the same bulbs..no issues.

 

[rodnok1]

That's strange, I had the cheapst damn motion lights ever for 5 years and they never gave me a problem... Have you considered putting a remote sensor on, maybe the location of the sensor is causing you issues for some reason.

 

[sberry]

I was having a fit with one, found a grounding issue sort of, re-done a couple things and havnt replaced one since.
Also putting some slightly smaller wattage lamps in might not hurt.

 

[rhastings80]

Nope, sorry it wasn't me.

off topic, was it you that the book of proto history that was supposed to be passed around the board if shipping was paid?

 

[rhastings80]

I wonder if that could be it. My garage has been totally rewired about 3 years ago as it is from the 1950's but the two runs to the two motion lights are really old romex with no ground. Do you think it would be worthwhile to rewire them so they have a ground. I would be able to do it fairly easily. Think that could keep breaking the photo eye's by not having a ground?

I was having a fit with one, found a grounding issue sort of, re-done a couple things and havnt replaced one since.
Also putting some slightly smaller wattage lamps in might not hurt.

 

[Zeke]

I wonder if that could be it. My garage has been totally rewired about 3 years ago as it is from the 1950's but the two runs to the two motion lights are really old romex with no ground. Do you think it would be worthwhile to rewire them so they have a ground. I would be able to do it fairly easily. Think that could keep breaking the photo eye's by not having a ground?

Having a ground should have nothing to do with the operation and longevity of the lights. You could, however, check the voltage at the box. I doubt you have that much of a "leak," but low voltage could have an effect on the circuitry.

I'm just past my league on that last comment, so take it or leave it.

I would go to an electric supply house and purchase better grade units. I put mine on photo electric switches and let them burn all night.

I've had bad luck also with the last few years of Chinese made light fixtures.

 

[Teken]

If you have a Costco near you purchase the motion light that they sell . . . I have bought four of them and they work in extreme weather with out falter . . .

Price is $19.99 right now, and is normally $25.** . . . They are made rock solid, and the unit has a dual beam for locations where someone could creep under the sensor, this unit will detect that movement and turn on the light. . .

With respect to grounding: If the unit requires a grounding strap, this must be installed to ensure the frame does not become energized, and to shunt the electronics . . .

If the electronics are not well grounded, or at all the behavior you're writing about can happen . . .

 

[chopper1]

Not to be a smart ***, but could it be as simple as the photo eye is dirty? Thus fooling the unit into thinking there is activity.

 

[Striker]

If I had to guess the photo eye is not receiving enough natural light to keep the light switched off. That is an issue a lot of people seem to overlook when installing that particular type of light fixture. You seem to have a fairly large overhang on the garage. Plus, it's also a cloudy day from the looks of the picture.

An easy remedy to your situation is to install a remote photo eye into the eave or wall that receives direct sunlight. The eye with a metal plate and weatherproof gasket should run about $10.00. Something like this would work:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Z997TQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I hope that helps.

 

[BetterDays]

Stupid question - - -

Have you (or someone) flipped to the switch to change it from "motion" to "always on"?

 

[walrus]

Home Depot light fixtures and such are ****

 

[scrumpy]

I respectfully disagree with the lack of ground not causing an issue. These devices contain there own switching components that may contain a relay. When the coil is de-energized it will cause a spike due to the collapse of the magnetic field. This is usually shunted to ground. If there is no ground it will find a place to go. This may be what is causing the short life on the lighting control circuit. As a safety it may be designed to fail on. I understand that in a 120 circuit the neutral is essentially a ground at the panel but internally on the device the ground is separate until it hits the panel. I would run a ground and see if it makes a difference over time.

Scrump.

 

[Mickey O]

You can buy commercial/industrial ones that I would think would hold up better but they cost considerably more money, have a look at Grainger.

 

[BetterDays]

My $40 HD light wouldn't shut off when I had my Christmas lights on, yet I could knock the street light out. It has been a great motion light for the money...

 

[Zeke]

I respectfully disagree with the lack of ground not causing an issue. These devices contain there own switching components that may contain a relay. When the coil is de-energized it will cause a spike due to the collapse of the magnetic field. This is usually shunted to ground. If there is no ground it will find a place to go. This may be what is causing the short life on the lighting control circuit. As a safety it may be designed to fail on. I understand that in a 120 circuit the neutral is essentially a ground at the panel but internally on the device the ground is separate until it hits the panel. I would run a ground and see if it makes a difference over time.

Scrump.

OK, if that's the case and he has 1x/2 romex and not 1x/3, all he has to do is connect the green and white in the box. Now the green and white are consistent at the box and the panel.

"Consistent" may not be an EE term, but it's mine.

 

[Flatmotor]

Give RAB lighting a look. I've had good luck with the "stealth 360" models. They are somewhat pricey compared to the home improvement stores. Bill

 

[knucklebusted]

rhastings80, you don't have them set to test mode do you? They will come on at any time with any movement even in broad daylight in test mode. Also, turn down the sensitivity. I have most of mine set to near minimum and they work fine. No cats, dogs or blowing wind will set them off.

I got three of the ones that Lowes sells. I cannot remember the name, but they look similar to yours except the bulbs have "shades" that keep them from being in the rain. Mine do the slow-on ramp up thing so they don;t go on hard.....it's supposed to help the bulbs last longer. I think they were like $30 each.

They've been running two years with the same bulbs..no issues.

I have those. They are Heath-Zenith and HQ is here in Bowling Green, KY. They have a 10year warranty. I have them all over my property and set them to 3 hours of low light at dusk and then they are regular motion sensing lights after that.

Works well and the only time they stay on all night is if the power blips. They reset in the morning and I haven't had but one go out in three years. It wouldn't come on with motion except in test mode.

Lowes Heath-Zenith Motion Lights

 

[scrumpy]

OK, if that's the case and he has 1x/2 romex and not 1x/3, all he has to do is connect the green and white in the box. Now the green and white are consistent at the box and the panel.

"Consistent" may not be an EE term, but it's mine.

That is what I would do but it is not my garage!

Scrump

 

[rwhite692]

I am in the same boat with one motion light I have currently, this is probably the fourth or fifth one I have installed at this one location in the 11 years we have owned our place.

It just started the "staying on all of the time" business, and I will probably take it down and smash it.

The damn things just don't survive. We get a lot of wind-blown dust from the farm fields across the road, which is like a fine brown talcum powder that gets into the motion sensor and kills it...None of the ones I have had are ever very well sealed to prevent water and dust from getting into the sensor...I've tried taking them apart/ blowing out with compressed air, etc and never had any luck bringing one back from the dead.

I have one in the back yard, which is I think a Regent brand (halogen one) and that one has been up around 7 years now, but it doesn't see the environmental abuse that the one out front gets.

I would not mind paying a premium price to get one that I could have at least some amount of confidence in it, that it would last.

I just hate the idea of another $40 experiment (and trip up the ladder) on these damn things.