Changed my lightbulbs and timer issue…
I recently changed my outside lightbulbs in the posts alongside my driveway to those new energy-efficient curled bulbs since they are on all night and I wanted to save some money. I have a timer that is hooked up to these lights and it is adjusted from within my house. It is one of those that has a dial and you set the current time, the time it goes on, and the time you want them to shut off. You can have it come on and off in different cycles if you want but I just have an on time and an off time.
Surprisingly, once I installed these new lights, the time started acting up. It will work fine the first night as the lights come on at say 8:00. But the next night the lights will come on earlier and it is because the lights shut off too early in the morning. So after a couple of days the lights come on about 2 hours early.
My question is: could it be the new lights that is causing this issue? Or is it just the time is not working correctly anymore and it has nothing to do with the lights? I am thinking of replacing the lights with the old ones to see what happens. I don’t know much about electricity so I was hoping someone who does would be able to tell me if it could be the lights?
Regards,
Buzzsaw
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Gil Bailie
Replies
How many wires on the timer? If it's a two-wire device (not counting any ground wire), with no neutral connection, then it's plausable that the CFLs don't draw enough current to energize the timer properly, or that the waveform of the current through the CFLs upsets the timer logic.
You are one smart dude. We may have to start paying you soon.
You can't afford me.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
It would only be a token amount, an honorarium. You have to continue to do the heavy lifting at no charge, in the name of supporting your personal status in the industry. The trick is to make yourself appear financially secure while taking on a number of these low-pay high-status endeavors. You could write for FHB to bring in a few extra bucks.
Sounds too much like work. As it is I get paid pretty well for surfing the net.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
I'm pretty sure it is a 2-wire timer with a ground as well. This is interesting so it looks like the light bulbs may be causing the issue...Yesterday I changed my bulbs back to the original 60 watt bulbs to see if the problem went away. If it does then I will buy the ones that dim and see if those work. Thanks guys...Regards,
Buzzsaw
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I have a similer problem. I have a room-occupancy sensor on the light switch in the kids' secret playroom.
With CFLs in the fixtures, they just flicker continuously. On and off still work fine; sensor function just does that flicker thing.
Luckily, the kids like the strobe effect better!
Forrest - making lemonade from lemons
replace the CFL's with the type that are supposedly dimmable and the problem goes away.
I wouldn't be surprised. The dimmable ones likely are designed to provide a more uniform waveform to any device in series with them.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
After reading the replies, which seem to me to be on the mark, I wonder if the timer would work correctly if you replaced ONE of the CF's with an incandescent.
It might be worth a try.
Ed
Probably would work with just one incandescent and one CFL, or even a Christmas tree bulb in parallel with the CFLs.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
It will, until the incandescent burns out.
Slightly OT, but why do you leave the lights on all night? Replacing the timer with a motion sensor would save a lot more energy than those CFLs.
I understand what you are saying but I live in NH and there are no street lights. I just think it is a hell of a lot safer to have light outside at all times. Other people do the same thing for the same reason. The money is worth it to me, especially when we are away...Regards,
Buzzsaw
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
"I live in NH and there are no street lights. I just think it is a hell of a lot safer to have light outside at all times."Every year in this country, we waste the energy equivalent of a month of oil imports to run unnecessary outdoor lighting. For some strange reason we light empty school parking lots, trees, flagpoles, and all manner of facades. Much of it is done in the name of "safety" even though the amount of lighting used far exceeds what is really needed. I hope you and your neighbors will rethink these outdoor lights.http://tinyurl.com/28tyld
Not only that, but probably 2/3s of the light is simply broadcast out into space, due to a lack of simple hoods on the lights.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
That's how they know we're here, and how they'll find us.
Acutally, it's all a plot to keep us from seeing them.Back when I was a kid there were these things called "stars" ...
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
I've heard about those. Now you have to close your eyes and rub them to see any. Of I guess you can shell out $200K to one of the space tourism outfits.
For those who are interested, there is a group known as the "Dark Earth Society", mostly folks who want to eliminate nightime light pollution. They have all sorts of suggestions on their web site (last I checked) for reducing light pollution cheaply and without reducing lighting effectiveness.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Anyone who has flown into or out of a metro area at night knows how profoundly much excess light there is, and that figure of 1 month's oil imports doesn't sound wrong at all.
Dan, it's called the IDA -- International Dark-Sky Association -- a nonprofit group dedicated to reducing light pollution and educating the public on better lighting techniques. http://www.darksky.org/They are not against all outdoor lighting, just stupid and excessive outdoor lighting.
flagpoles, and all manner of facades. Much of it is done in the name of "safety" even though the amount of lighting used far exceeds what is really needed.
And, that's the crux of it. The Flag Code requires that you illuminate Stars-n-Stripes if hoisted at night--does not really address "how much" illuminated, though. Too many seem to feel get the one big fixture and call it even.
My gripe is wattage. Just about every one uses too much. The "why?" of that is simple--a strong light actually makes unlit areas 'darker.' Simple physiology, really--you puplis will not dilate enough with that 40W lamp on nearby. So, too many jsut add more 40W fixtures (or put a stinkin' 100W MV lamp up <eyeroll>).
Me, I like to program lighting around .25-.375 FC per sf (which is about what the edge of municipal lighting falls to. Makes it a very achievable number of lumens with 5 & 7W LV lamps/fixtures. But, I also like motion detection outdoors, too--it's convenient and deterrant. But, I find I often wind up preaching to the empty chior loft on the topic, though . . . <sigh>Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
The compact florescent bulbs that you installed do not have enough load for the switch. When I researched timer switches and CF bulbs, I found that they need a minimum load. I can't remember what type of minimum load that the following switch needs, but I think it's 14 watts or something like that. I have them and they work great with a 30 watt or so CF bulb.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-White-Swylite-LST100-Digital-Wall-Switch-Timer_W0QQitemZ140130951874QQihZ004QQcategoryZ115711QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
30 Watts seems incredibly high for that type of bulb. My driveway would be glowing..I changed to the other bulbs but may just put one incandescent bulb in as someone suggested that should also fix the problem. Thanks for your post...Regards,
Buzzsaw
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I'm sure you are right, I put in an equivilant 60 W incadensent bulb, maybe that's 14 watts or something? You are right, it's a very low wattage.