Photo eye keeps quitting

[tipsy]

I'm a handyman and I have a customer with a front yard post light. It has a dusk to dawn photo sensor installed that I have replaced about five times in the last year and a half. They seem to only last a few months. I've tried different brands but that doesn't help. Its an LED bulb but I've made sure the eye is compatible.
Can anyone shed any light on what could be causing this?
Thanks!
Jeff

 

[Norcal]

Name brand or off breed junk? Although they are mostly ChiCom now so can be hard to tell.

 

[walta]

Does the sensor have 2 or 3 wires?

Do they work if you install an incandescent bulb?

The 2 wire type will not have a neutral wire and seems unlikely to work with LEDs regardless of what the package says.

Walta

 

[cybrdyke]

Use Intermatic EK4036S and nothing else. It's the only brand with zero cross switching. All the others "fake" that they're compatible with LED by using larger contacts.
https://www.intermatic.com/en/photocontrols/fixed-mount-electronic-photocontrols/ek4036s
CD

 

[Terry D]

Is it in direct sunlight

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Sumboodie]

I'd just replace the whole unit with an LED one.

They are $40-60 area for name brands.

 

[Norcal]

I'd just replace the whole unit with an LED one.

They are $40-60 area for name brands.

If you use built in photocell the whole fixture becomes garbage when it fails due to the difficulty of sourcing a replacement. Most residential lighting fixtures are of ChiCom origin and who knows where they got their parts.

 

[dogdog]

If you use built in photocell the whole fixture becomes garbage when it fails due to the difficulty of sourcing a replacement. Most residential lighting fixtures are of ChiCom origin and who knows where they got their parts.

My LED flood light have been working since 2014 or 2015, I would say it's pretty dam good. Before jumping off your ******* in to speculations... I would think OP needed to show some pic or brand(s)/ make model of the photo sensor.. How do you know that he didn't source a Made IN the USofA part eh!?

 

[dogdog]

Is it in direct sunlight

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

I have one of those motion sensor head that failed because of direct sunlight after 3 or so years... but I could see plastic yellowing and the plastic lense cracking then water from rain / spider finally destroyed it...

 

[Wrench97]

The maintenance guys where I use to work changer the light sensors once a month saying well we got this one from Lowes it'll be better then the HD one............................. after about 6 sensors I suggested they just go down the street to Graybar electric and get a good one he answer was they cost too much..........................after the 8th time he figured maybe not and went and got a Intermatic from Graybar.

 

[Bert_]

I try to use a twist lock socket and photo cell for most stuff. Little hard to do that with most residential lights though

 

[tipsy]

Norcal: not a good brand, it's junk from Ace and Menards.
Walta: 3 wires and It's always been an LED bulb.
Terry D. Not in direct sunlight, faces mostly northward, slightly NE.
I think I'll try the Intermatic and see what happens.
Thanks all!

 

[Zeke]

Just buy a bulb with the photocell built in. I use these even on table lamps near windows.

 

[BillK]

Tipsy,
I replaced the one on my post lamp about 3 years ago with whatever replacement Home Depot has. It has been fine and it does have an LED bulb in it.

 

[gpiggaz]

We had a similar problem. I think the post must have been haunted. I replaced the cell almost annually until I did this. I bought a smart bulb and now the internet turns it on and off at dusk and dawn. It’s been working for two years. I bought the $10 light bulb from HD I think it was a Phillips branded bulb but was a rebranded Wiz bulb. Not their mainline ones. Works just fine for our application

 

[Wrench97]

We had a similar problem. I think the post must have been haunted. I replaced the cell almost annually until I did this. I bought a smart bulb and now the internet turns it on and off at dusk and dawn. It’s been working for two years. I bought the $10 light bulb from HD I think it was a Phillips branded bulb but was a rebranded Wiz bulb. Not their mainline ones. Works just fine for our application

WIFI? how far away from the router is it?

 

[Sumboodie]

If you use built in photocell the whole fixture becomes garbage when it fails due to the difficulty of sourcing a replacement. Most residential lighting fixtures are of ChiCom origin and who knows where they got their parts.

And your point is?

It lasts 5 or 10 years and you replace it.

 

[Bert_]

And your point is?

It lasts 5 or 10 years and you replace it.

I'd be pissed if I had to replace an expensive fixture that often vs a $10 photo switch

 

[The Cobbler]

The issue with fixtures that have built in LED lamps is when the LED fails you toss the entire fixture & replace it.
somehow we have come to accept this as okay? I think it's crazy
A fixture that costs , lets say $20 rather than replacing a $1 bulb... plus many people need an electrician now too.

and in this case a built in photo switch is no more reliable than a replaceable one .

 

[gpiggaz]

WIFI? how far away from the router is it?

About 50 ft It’s been working well so far. But our WiFi network is ubiquiti based so it’s one of the more reliable brands