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Author Topic: n00b electrical question  (Read 1161 times)

taurusowner

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n00b electrical question
« on: July 07, 2009, 04:00:32 AM »
I am trying to install a floodlight with a day/night photosensor that will illuminate a flag as well as a front porch.  I wanted to get one that just plugs into an outlet, since I have numerous outlets on said porch.  But I cannot find one, so I purchased a double floodlight fixture made by Brinks that has a photosensor on it.  It's meant to be hardwired, and has 2 wires pre cut and stripped on the ends, 1 white and 1 black.  I also purchased a 2 prong male plug that has terminals to connect bare wires to on the inside.  The inside terminals are even labeled "black" and "white".  So I attached white to white, black to black and....nothing.  The light doesn't turn on.  New bulbs, new fixture, and what I thought was simple wiring.  Any idea what could be causing this?  I don't know a whole lot about wiring beyond a shop class I took about 8 years ago in high school.

Also, I know it's not the power outlet as other stuff works on it.  I know they are the right floodlight bulbs, because I got the ones recommended on the box for the fixture.  Also there is no AC/DC adapter that I know of.  I'm not sure if that would even be the case.  Aren't wall sockets AC as well as light fixtures?  Why would a conversion even be necessary?
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taurusowner

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Re: n00b electrical question
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2009, 04:42:52 AM »
Disregard.  Apparently the light isn't supposed to turn on the first time you connect it.  It stays off for about 5 minutes initially, and then activates.
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Scout26

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Re: n00b electrical question
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2009, 09:17:45 AM »
I was going to guess that it was daylight out and ......... ;/ ;/
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RoadKingLarry

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Re: n00b electrical question
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2009, 09:34:53 AM »
Don't you just hate it when things work exactly like they are supposed to?
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K Frame

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Re: n00b electrical question
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2009, 09:45:43 AM »
Quote from: scout26 on July 07, 2009, 09:17:45 AM
I was going to guess that it was daylight out and ......... ;/ ;/

My first thought, too...
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taurusowner

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Re: n00b electrical question
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2009, 12:51:12 PM »
To respond, there is a cap you can place on the sensor to simulate constant dark in case you want to have the lights on all the time or connected to a flip switch.  I had this cap on when I tested it.  Light was not an issue.  I looked up the problem online.  Apparently after plugging it in for the first time, you have to give it a few minutes for the "system to stabilize" before it turns on.  This is the first light fixture I've heard of that has a "system" that needs "stabilization".  But whatever, it works now.
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Strings

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Re: n00b electrical question
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2009, 04:26:54 PM »
>This is the first light fixture I've heard of that has a "system" that needs "stabilization". <

Happens sometimes. Buying an upgraded flux capacitor for it will usually eliminate the stabilization problems. So will using the newer dilithium crystal bulbs...














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never_retreat

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Re: n00b electrical question
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2009, 06:52:07 PM »
Since you kind of home built what you needed, I'll assume that you mounted said fixture on a waterproof box and used a sealing type connector were the cable enters said box. You should use a 3 prong cord though and ground the box. Especially since this is outside.
Also if you used a regular flood holder it should not point up in the air because water will fill up the socket. You should either use a holder that has a lens over the bulb, or what is cheaper would be a rectangular halogen flood light. They make them in the 100 watt range you don't have to use the big 500 watt monsters.
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