Photo-cells and CFLs, Part II

Posted by nielloeb@hotmail.com on October 19, 2009, 9:01 am

Let's try this again.
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. It is not compatible with CFLs. If I cover
the eye so it thinks it's always dark and therefore will always be on,
will a CFL work, or is the circuitry different such that the CFL will
have a shorter life, even though it will always be on?
Part II: If, for the previous question, it will work, I will add a
screw-in photo-cell that works with CFLs for only $8. Then, it will
be on only at night and will be cheaper than buying a new fixture.

Posted by LouB on October 19, 2009, 10:55 am

nielloeb@hotmail.com wrote:

> Let's try this again.
> I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
> at dusk and off at dawn. It is not compatible with CFLs. If I cover
> the eye so it thinks it's always dark and therefore will always be on,
> will a CFL work, or is the circuitry different such that the CFL will
> have a shorter life, even though it will always be on?
> Part II: If, for the previous question, it will work, I will add a
> screw-in photo-cell that works with CFLs for only $8. Then, it will
> be on only at night and will be cheaper than buying a new fixture.

Q 1 is easy. Try it.
Q 2 A little math is suggested, Cost of power to that CFL, assuming CFL
rating is accurate (ie 13 watt or whatever) times hours of elec saved

Posted by DD_BobK on October 19, 2009, 1:06 pm

wrote:

> Let's try this again.
> I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
> at dusk and off at dawn. It is not compatible with CFLs. =A0If I cover
> the eye so it thinks it's always dark and therefore will always be on,
> will a CFL work, or is the circuitry different such that the CFL will
> have a shorter life, even though it will always be on?
> Part II: If, for the previous question, it will work, I will add a
> screw-in photo-cell that works with CFLs for only $8. =A0Then, it will
> be on only at night and will be cheaper than buying a new fixture.

rewire the fixture with a non-photo cell socket ,....add the CFL
rated screw in photo cell socket

OR

if the photo cell is a remote one, jumper it

cheers
Bob

Posted by jamesgangnc on October 19, 2009, 1:42 pm

wrote:

You need to bypass the photo-cell. Forcing it on does not solve the
problem. Or replace it with one that is compatible with cfls.

Posted by hr(bob) hofmann@att.net on October 19, 2009, 3:06 pm

> wrote:

> > Let's try this again.
> > I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
> > at dusk and off at dawn. It is not compatible with CFLs. =A0If I cover
> > the eye so it thinks it's always dark and therefore will always be on,
> > will a CFL work, or is the circuitry different such that the CFL will
> > have a shorter life, even though it will always be on?
> > Part II: If, for the previous question, it will work, I will add a
> > screw-in photo-cell that works with CFLs for only $8. =A0Then, it will
> > be on only at night and will be cheaper than buying a new fixture.

> You need to bypass the photo-cell. =A0Forcing it on does not solve the
> problem. =A0Or replace it with one that is compatible with cfls.

The usual photocell lights may not turn on fully at twilight
conditions, and the CFL's don't like that. If the photocell operates
a relay, so the light is fully off or fully on, then the CFL will work
ok.

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