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Message |
    
Trent_Daddy
Citizen
Username: Tcedwards
Post Number: 191
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 4:11 pm: | 
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Hi,
Need some help. I have two lights in a hallway. The first floor light fixture has a light sensory attachment that automatically comes on when not enough light is available (home depot purchase). The second floor light is a normal fixture. I have observed two things:
1) I attempted to place a low volt light bulb in the second floor light fixture and found it would not work. Why is that?
2) The second floor light appears to burn out light bulbs at a high rate. I am guessing there could be a type of current issue but I am no electrician.
Both lights are controlled by a switch at both floor levels. The switch position is only important when attempting to turn on the light. Up or down can be off depending on which initiated a physical power on event.
How do I test and resolve one or both problems?
Any help out there?
TD |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11406
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 6:16 pm: |
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Low voltage? A low voltage light is designed to work with low voltage current.
A three way switch works that way. If the lights were turned on downstairs and you turn them off upstairs you do so by moving the switch up.
Check the wattage rating on the fixture upstairs. If you are using 100 watt bulbs in a fixture rated for 60 watts they wouldn't last very long and is a fire hazard as well.
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Trent_Daddy
Citizen
Username: Tcedwards
Post Number: 192
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 9:46 am: |
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Bob K,
I should not have said "low voltage" that was an incorrect statement. What I meant to say is I put one of those efficency light bulbs (those that use less watts per hour then the traditional bulb) in and it did not work. Only a tradition light bulb works.
I can doubt check the figure but I have been using 45 to 65 watt bulbs. |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4559
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 10:21 pm: |
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Those effiency light bulbs are florecent bulbs in a small package. They do not always work as the internal ballast needed can not get the power needed to fire the bulb. Thing get worse if you have dimmers or auto light switches.
This can be cause by an imbalance in your line voltage due to odd wiring. Plus, in my opinion, the bulbs are crap.
Use traditional bulbs, or pay an electrican to check out and re-wire the 3-way wiring to remove what are known as "ground loops".
I would go with the old style bulbs and forget about it.
Later,
George |
Trent_Daddy
Citizen
Username: Tcedwards
Post Number: 193
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 9:06 pm: |
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My take aways.
Imbalance in line voltage and a ground loops
Thanks |
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