I've had a lamp post in front of my house for many years that I have utilized a screw in light sensor that activates the bulb at dusk and turns it off when the sun comes up in the morning. It worked fine for many years but several months ago stopped working. I have purchased several replacement screw-in sensors and none of them seem to work as the light stays on all of the time. Has anyone else experienced a problem of this nature? Are all of these screw in light sensors defective or is there another problem??
Problem with a lamp post light sensor
- Thread starter swatman
- Start date
Have you tried these?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-...l-Dawn-CFL-Light-Bulb-2-pack-171770/203320817
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-...l-Dawn-CFL-Light-Bulb-2-pack-171770/203320817
waterss
Well-known member
I've been using these on the lights we put on our gates and have not had any issues with them. Aside from one turns on alittle sooner than the other.
http://m.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Button-Style-Photo-Control/3438344
http://m.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Button-Style-Photo-Control/3438344
No, I threw out the original one. Also, I brought in one of the replacement sensors that I had bought and didn't work on the lamp post and screwed it into a table lamp that I have and shone a flashlight directly on the sensor and it still wouldn't shut off. This seems to indicate that the sensor is kaput. Pitiful!
Redwolf947
Well-known member
What kind do you have now? are you sure there isn't some tape or an override setting or something of that nature blocking the light thus keeping the light on. I have a dusk till dawn light on my Flag, it has a small plastic piece that rotates on it so I can keep it on all the time or use the sensor.
Syberia
Well-known member
What kind of bulb? I've read that many of the light sensors don't play well with CFLs or LEDs. The only one I have is in my porch light, and it's a bulb with a sensor built into it. It's lasted for 2 years now, on every night and off every morning.
Redwolf947
Well-known member
opps
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Commendatore
Well-known member
Can you control the lights manually with a switch? I would suggest getting rid of the daylight sensors and installing a quality timer. I've been really happy with this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004AP92N2
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004AP92N2
As an update- the Philips bulb with the built-in sensor is only available at Home Depot and is not a 'stocked' item. I had to order it from them on-line and it arrived in about 3 days. I installed it yesterday and lo and behold - IT WORKS!! This put an end to a lot of frustration with other cheap/non working screw in sensors. Many thanks to all for their input on this!!
TDWendt
Well-known member
Anyone found one to work with led bulbs? The one I bought says it does but doesnt.
waterss
Well-known member
Sorry just seen your response. Yes it is hardwired in the hot wire. We just took off the lamp head drilled a hole for the sensor and wired it in. We used this because we wanted to use the Edison style bulbs and still wanted the dusk to dawn style light.
According to the questions asked of this photocell on Lowe's site it can be used on them. I don't know as I don't use led
Zeke
Well-known member
That's fine if there is a neutral wire in the switch box.
Glad to hear it! My local store stocks them.
Having the same problem. Installed new sensor, but light stays on all the time. The bulb I put in IS an LED dimmable bulb. Could that be the problem? You'd think the sensor should be an on/off switch so bulb wouldn't matter, but I see some posts about that maybe being an issue. I will try a "regular" bulb and report back.
walta
Well-known member
The screws in sensors were made to work with incandescent lamps and were so so on the best day.
To work with LEDs and CFLs look for a sensor with 3 wires like this one.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sigma-Electric-Photocell/3345318
Walta
To work with LEDs and CFLs look for a sensor with 3 wires like this one.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sigma-Electric-Photocell/3345318
Walta