Outdoor Lights
#1
03-17-03, 03:24 PM
Outdoor Lights
I have this problem and it's driving me nuts!!!!! I have these 2 outdoor lights, one over my porch and one over my garage. Both are controlled by a switch from my house. they never work right. Sometimes both go on...sometimes just one or the other go on. I always have to switch the switch in these crazy combinations and I can't figure it out. Now, the one over my door refuses to work no matter what I do. This happened once before and I shut all the power in the house and it reset them, but now that doesn't even work. Pleae help!!!!!!!!! 
#2
03-17-03, 04:40 PM
Member
Are both these lights on the same switch? Do the lights have movement or light sensors? If the answer to both is yes, then that's your problem. Almost all of these lights have installation instructions telling you not to put multiple ones on the same switch for exactly the reasons you've just discovered.
If the answer to either question is no, ignore my post.
If the answer to either question is no, ignore my post.
#4
03-18-03, 03:22 PM
Yes the lights are on the same switch and yes they have motion sensors. But there is nothing in the instructions that says anything against multiple lights. So what do I do? Should I shut one of the sensors off?
#5
03-18-03, 04:28 PM
Dou you want them to work with the sensors? If so, turn them off for 5 mins then turn the switch on and leave it on, flipping it back and forth is what is messing you up. In the one that doesnt work at all check the bulbs.
#7
03-20-03, 05:09 AM
Originally posted by Science
Turn the light switch off in the house, or on the actual light? Because I did have the light switch off in the house before.
Turn the light switch off in the house, or on the actual light? Because I did have the light switch off in the house before.
What do they control? I thought you had one switch that was controlling both lights. Now it sounds like you have more than one switch.
#9
03-21-03, 01:29 PM
Did you install these fixtures yourself? Which one is closest to the switch? You may have a shoddy connection at your splice at the first fixture which is creating an intermitent problem. If you installed the sensor over or too close to the bulbs the heat can cause problems. How old are the fixtures? If not too old, then you shouldn't have corrosion problems.
I would check the connections on the switch itself and at the closest fixture to the switch. A loose wire could be causing all your problems. Be sure to check your neutral connection at the switch as well as the wires on the switch itself.
I would check the connections on the switch itself and at the closest fixture to the switch. A loose wire could be causing all your problems. Be sure to check your neutral connection at the switch as well as the wires on the switch itself.
#11
03-24-03, 04:26 AM
Given that these lights are motion sensor lights they will act this way, if for some reason they have been turned on and off independently of each other.
To correct your problem, turn on the switch inside of the house. Go to each light and put the switch on the light in the TEST position. Walktest each light and make sure that they are operating correctly while in the test position. Once this is done switch each light back to it's normal setting and allow them to reset. Once they have gone out then you can go back inside and use the inside switch.
Keep in mind that most of these types of fixtures have an override setting, by turning the power off for about ten seconds and then turning it back on you can override the motion sensors and the lights should stay on as long as the switch is on. To put them back on motion sensor just turn the switch off for ten seconds and then back on again.
Hope this helps.
To correct your problem, turn on the switch inside of the house. Go to each light and put the switch on the light in the TEST position. Walktest each light and make sure that they are operating correctly while in the test position. Once this is done switch each light back to it's normal setting and allow them to reset. Once they have gone out then you can go back inside and use the inside switch.
Keep in mind that most of these types of fixtures have an override setting, by turning the power off for about ten seconds and then turning it back on you can override the motion sensors and the lights should stay on as long as the switch is on. To put them back on motion sensor just turn the switch off for ten seconds and then back on again.
Hope this helps.
