low energy and PIRs?

[doake]

Hi folks - apologies but i haven't found a related topic on this - maybe i'm not searching properly.

I have outside lights which have low energy bulbs in them - can i fit a PIR to these to control them at night? Every pir i look at tells me it's not suitable with low energy lighting. Is there one that is?

Thanks for your help
Ed

 

[Steve]

The thing with low energy lamps is they can take a few minutes to come up to full brightness. By the time they're at full brightness, the PIR will have switched off.

Also, fluorescent tubes of any variety dont like frequent switching, though the modern ones are more tolerant.

The contacts in certain PIRs (cheap ones) are quite . . . weedy, and dont like the higher starting current demanded by a fluorescent fitting.

 

[securespark]

This one doesn't say it's not suitable...

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ST3100.html

 

[doake]

Thanks for those replies. Thing is, i only want to instal a pir to allow some light when going out the back and locking up - very dark and fiddly with the keys. So don't mind that it won't get that bright. If it's a case that things would burn out, or go pop regularly making it a silly option i suppose i could change the bulbs to standard or just not bother with the pir idea.

 

[Tim 77]

You could be out, locked up and tucked up in bed by the time some energy savers take to warm up

 

[bernardgreen]

Thanks for those replies. Thing is, i only want to instal a pir to allow some light when going out the back and locking up - very dark and fiddly with the keys.

In which case the pay back time ( from reduced electricity use ) for low energy would be very long. Use incandescents for instant light and maybe think of two lamps in case one blows.

 

[breezer]

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