I need a small photocell replacement

[Gore]

The photocell on my Hampton Bay outdoor light went bad...surprise surprise...and I need a replacement. There are two problems though; the light housing is too small to accommodate the basic photocell replacement you see at most stores, and the replacement that Hampton Bay sells is only for incandescent lights and won't work with my particular light (I already tried).

I do not want to mount a photocell separately.

I called the Hampton Bay helpline and they will not sell me a replacement photocell.

Does anyone know of a small photocell that might work or even where I should look? I Googled but just kept seeing the generic replacement photocell that Lowes and HD already sell.

 

[wrench409]

Ebay?

 

[frankush]

It might help to post some of the dimensions of what you're looking for. The problem with most of the decorative fixtures these days, is that they are throwaways. I will generally install any fixture a customer supplies, but if the fixture dies and I have to come back, they have to pay for my time. I just replaced 2 outdoor wall lights because of bad photocells. The fixtures themselves were home center junk and didn't make it 2 years. I installed them and replaced them with something more robust, along with a time clock to control them.

 

[StumpjumperDave]

try a Tork 3000

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/8406/TORK-3000.html

 

[Aceman]

Is the fixture obsolete? Can you buy another one?

 

[frankush]

I'd be willing to bet that Tork 3000 is going to be too big.

 

[Gore]

It might help to post some of the dimensions of what you're looking for. The problem with most of the decorative fixtures these days, is that they are throwaways. I will generally install any fixture a customer supplies, but if the fixture dies and I have to come back, they have to pay for my time. I just replaced 2 outdoor wall lights because of bad photocells. The fixtures themselves were home center junk and didn't make it 2 years. I installed them and replaced them with something more robust, along with a time clock to control them.

You're probably right, but I don't know what qualifies as "junk." I paid about $100 a piece for wall lanterns, but I'm sure there are much pricier units out there.

Is the fixture obsolete? Can you buy another one?

I can buy another one, but again, at $100 just to fix a $10 photocell...I would call this plan C.

I'd be willing to bet that Tork 3000 is going to be too big.

Yup, it would be. This looks exactly like every other photocell replacement out there...too wide...threaded sensor way too big...blah blah

UPDATE: So after work I had the grand idea to go by HD to see if there was another light for sale that used a photocell that I could cannibalize. I found a light for $17 that also used the stupid gu24 bulb...I get home and it also uses the same exact photocell unit...and it came with a gu24 bulb, AWESOME! I don't think I could even buy a replacement photocell and a bulb for $17, plus I got a new fixture that doesn't look too bad to boot. I put it on the side of my house where I needed a better looking light.

It was a good day.

 

[darcyh]

What's the diameter of the photocell? I have one that's about 1/2 inch you can have if it will help.

 

[Norcal]

The residential fixtures which have photocells and or motion detectors seem to be a problem when the components fail, & being built for that fixture makes them hard to replace, for that reason I have no use for them. The only suggestion that I can give is see if a cheaper fixture w/ the same parts exists & rob it to repair the OP's ChiCom special.

 

[Speedy Petey]

Is the fixture obsolete?

Unfortunately this is probably the answer. I have installed literally hundreds and hundreds of customer supplied fixtures like this.
Sorry to say, Hampton Bay, and all the other home center house brands (Portfolio, etc) are complete ****. They are throw away and replace type fixtures.
They make absolutely NO effort at replacement parts and globes, and they are only made to last a few years at best. They also change design at random and very often. So finding an additional fixture later on is nearly impossible.

 

[Gore]

What's the diameter of the photocell? I have one that's about 1/2 inch you can have if it will help.

Thank you that is very generous, but I found a light at HD that used the same photocell and parted it out. I do appreciate the offer.

 

[subarub4]

The Hampton photocell you saw was this one?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-...TOCELL/202022460?keyword=594-135#BVRRWidgetID

I have a 70W HPS fixture with a bad photocell and I want to put in a Lithonia VR2 CFL fixture it has no photocell, however it's a CFL fixture so I don't know how it's going to work out.

 

[Gore]

The Hampton photocell you saw was this one?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-...TOCELL/202022460?keyword=594-135#BVRRWidgetID

I have a 70W HPS fixture with a bad photocell and I want to put in a Lithonia VR2 CFL fixture it has no photocell, however it's a CFL fixture so I don't know how it's going to work out.

That is the photocell replacement/add-on they sell, but it was too big for my light fixture so I did not use it. Aside from that I noticed that certain photocells only work on certain types of bulbs...although I cannot remember which one (incan/flour?). Be sure to check the package before you buy. As I said I wound up buying the cheapest light fixture that they sold which came with a photocell. It was the same part # and I even got a bulb for like $17.