I have a motion detector light outside my door. One of the bulbs burned out, so we replaced it. However the lights stay on instead of coming on with motion. I’ve checked the manual that came with it(can’t believe I found it) it didn’t help. My question is, do photocells wear out?
Thanks
Replies
It may have been damaged when the bulb blew out. The bulb can sometimes consume very high current when the filament fails. If the bulb was very black on the inside, it probably arced internally which may have blown the triac out in the lamp fixture. Turn the power off for about 5 minutes then back on. If it still operates incorrectly, it's time for a new fixture.
Might just need reset...like said above. Flip the switch. Jeff.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......
In addition to the possibilities mentioned, yes the sensors do burn out sometimes. Annoyingly, the sensors (as a separate part) are more expensive than a whole new assembly, with sensor. When I've bothered to cover my sensors in the summer with aluminum foil, they seem to last longer. But then, I have the unique lattitudal situation of needing no lights in the summer.
True story . . . picture this.
I put up motion detector lights when they first came out, maybe 13 or 14 years ago. We had a party one night, and we bought a keg. Living out in the sticks, the guys would just head out to the bushes, as they'd done before.
Long into the night, one friend commented, "Hell, every time I go out to take a leak, somebody turns that damn light on !"
:) Greg