Outside Security Lights Not Working
- Thread starter markjg123
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They look pretty old so could be knackered.....but is there one of these about
if so you could swap the head.....but my initial thoughts were timer somewhere
if so you could swap the head.....but my initial thoughts were timer somewhere
Optical sensor?
But you really should not be touching it
But you really should not be touching it
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I'll have a proper look in the daylight.
If it's above my reach then I absolutely won't be going up ladders.
Circuit breaker tripped?
I used to get called out regularly to a small block of flats. The post type lights attracted ant nests which in turn tripped the RCD or idiots who liked kicking them
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What's an optical sensor?
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There are two gate post lamps around ¼ mile from me, but they still light up my bedroom, if the turned off at midnight it would not be so bad, but I would think the owners are unaware of how annoying they are.
So it could well be that the lights you show, have also caused problems in the past, so have been switched off as a result.
In days gone by, we would use light sensors like @pete01 shows, but the country went mad about waste of energy, today I have lights which I can program to switch on at dusk and off at dawn, plus have a timer to turn off dead of night, and it gets the time from the internet, not any PIR or light cell.
The problem is if turned on after dawn, I made this error with a light for the milkman, it turned on at 6 am and off at dawn, but once dawn was before 6 am, it stayed on, so I have to remember to turn them on winter only.
So to repair without knowing why switched off, could cause problems, asking permission to look into why the lights don't work, fair enough, but need to liaise with management company, as may have been turned off, rather than simply failed.
So it could well be that the lights you show, have also caused problems in the past, so have been switched off as a result.
In days gone by, we would use light sensors like @pete01 shows, but the country went mad about waste of energy, today I have lights which I can program to switch on at dusk and off at dawn, plus have a timer to turn off dead of night, and it gets the time from the internet, not any PIR or light cell.
The problem is if turned on after dawn, I made this error with a light for the milkman, it turned on at 6 am and off at dawn, but once dawn was before 6 am, it stayed on, so I have to remember to turn them on winter only.
So to repair without knowing why switched off, could cause problems, asking permission to look into why the lights don't work, fair enough, but need to liaise with management company, as may have been turned off, rather than simply failed.
There's a PIR sensor just above the main door. I've absolutely no idea what its purpose is because it seems to trigger nothing. There's also another sensor like the one @pete01 described. Pics below. I suspect the lead from the white topped sensor almost certainly goes into the common electrics cupboard.
Good call. I'll see if I can trace it.
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Can you reach to put a towel over it during the day?
If it's connected to those lights and is working, they should come on.
I'll try that, but given they don't come on at night I'm thinking it won't work. I've tried locating the wiring in the cupboard, but it's a mess of cables.
First thing would be to to swop the photocell and see if that fixes it. This thing
After that, given the unknown nature of the installation, where there might be an on/off switch for the lights, the mess of cables and (with respect) your lack of skill and - I guess - test equipment then you'd need a competent electrician to sort it. Probably first call is to the management company.
After that, given the unknown nature of the installation, where there might be an on/off switch for the lights, the mess of cables and (with respect) your lack of skill and - I guess - test equipment then you'd need a competent electrician to sort it. Probably first call is to the management company.
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Fair comment!
Is the sensor out of reach?
Did you find any circuit breakers tripped or switches turned off?
There may be a timer module in a fuseboard or a stand alone timeswitch. These can have switches that override the timer or turn it off.
Or you may find a double pole switch for maintenance purposes.
In a neat installation, all these things will be labelled, so it will be obvious what they are for.
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