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Posted by Don Young on April 17, 2008, 9:37 pm
>I have one of those Mercury Vapor yard lights. Normally when the bulb
> burns out it starts getting dim and tends to go one and off. This
> time it just stopped working. I went up and replaced the bulb and
> noticed the socket had some black staining on it. The fixture should
> not be leaking water. Of course anything is possible. I am
> considering that dust and stuff combined with moisture could cause
> this too, however I do not recall seeing this in the past.
>
> With the new bulb, it still does not work. This makes me wonder if
> it's the sensor or could the ballast have gone bad and that's the
> black stain? I realize no one can answer this for sure, but has
> anyone ever seen a ballast die, and does it leave a stain on the
> socket? I suppose I got to take the whole fixture down, and working
> on poles is not my idea of fun....
>
> Thanks
The control sensor is a common source of problems. On many lights it plugs
into a twist-lock socket on the top of the fixture. Turn it counterclockwise
(looking down on the top) a little, then wiggle it as you pull up.
Replacements are usually available anywhere they sell the lamps.
Be aware that you can cover the sensor with a dark heavy cloth to turn it
on, but it may take a minute or so for it come on as there is a built-in
time delay.
Be careful!!
Don Young
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