Rant abour PIR spotlights
Discussion
The spotlight unit in the back yard failed a few days ago, stayed on all the time, so I bought a nice new stainless steel 'Ring Lighting' unit.
Spent a freezing cold hour fitting it this afternoon, and tested it tonight, New Years Eve. Great, it comes on, as intended, when I wave a hand in front of it, but then stays on! No matter what I do it stays on once it is activated by movement.
Reset it by cutting power for a few minutes, and it stays off, until next time I activate it.
And just to make it a real fun evening the diagram on the instructions is different to what is actually on the adjustment dials. And the written instructions differ yet again!
My wife has suggested about ten times 'have you checked the switch', and I'm delicately trying to explain, between gritted teeth, that the switch to the lights makes no difference to what the light does automatically.
I've been in and out of the back yard fifty times already tonight and I'm getting unreasonably irritated and annoyed by this, and it is New Years Eve, and I really ought to chill out and do it another night.
Spent a freezing cold hour fitting it this afternoon, and tested it tonight, New Years Eve. Great, it comes on, as intended, when I wave a hand in front of it, but then stays on! No matter what I do it stays on once it is activated by movement.
Reset it by cutting power for a few minutes, and it stays off, until next time I activate it.
And just to make it a real fun evening the diagram on the instructions is different to what is actually on the adjustment dials. And the written instructions differ yet again!
My wife has suggested about ten times 'have you checked the switch', and I'm delicately trying to explain, between gritted teeth, that the switch to the lights makes no difference to what the light does automatically.
I've been in and out of the back yard fifty times already tonight and I'm getting unreasonably irritated and annoyed by this, and it is New Years Eve, and I really ought to chill out and do it another night.
CDP said:
What I'd like to know is if I can get something that uses less power; the halogen lamps are 150 to 500 Watts. Something LED based perhaps but mains powered.
You can yes, my neighbour has something that looks like a halogen yet is led, nice soft light, not mega bright but bright enough to be useful.Ill ask him where it came from, he away until sunday mind.
King Herald said:
The spotlight unit in the back yard failed a few days ago, stayed on all the time, so I bought a nice new stainless steel 'Ring Lighting' unit.
Spent a freezing cold hour fitting it this afternoon, and tested it tonight, New Years Eve. Great, it comes on, as intended, when I wave a hand in front of it, but then stays on! No matter what I do it stays on once it is activated by movement.
Reset it by cutting power for a few minutes, and it stays off, until next time I activate it.
And just to make it a real fun evening the diagram on the instructions is different to what is actually on the adjustment dials. And the written instructions differ yet again!
My wife has suggested about ten times 'have you checked the switch', and I'm delicately trying to explain, between gritted teeth, that the switch to the lights makes no difference to what the light does automatically.
I've been in and out of the back yard fifty times already tonight and I'm getting unreasonably irritated and annoyed by this, and it is New Years Eve, and I really ought to chill out and do it another night.
Stupid question, but have you turned the timer down to minimum about 5 seconds? Some of the timers have a maximum setting of 20 mins so if you have it around the wrong way tht could be your problem.Spent a freezing cold hour fitting it this afternoon, and tested it tonight, New Years Eve. Great, it comes on, as intended, when I wave a hand in front of it, but then stays on! No matter what I do it stays on once it is activated by movement.
Reset it by cutting power for a few minutes, and it stays off, until next time I activate it.
And just to make it a real fun evening the diagram on the instructions is different to what is actually on the adjustment dials. And the written instructions differ yet again!
My wife has suggested about ten times 'have you checked the switch', and I'm delicately trying to explain, between gritted teeth, that the switch to the lights makes no difference to what the light does automatically.
I've been in and out of the back yard fifty times already tonight and I'm getting unreasonably irritated and annoyed by this, and it is New Years Eve, and I really ought to chill out and do it another night.
Generally there are two setting dials:
- how dark (or light) it is when the light is first allowed to come on in the evening.
- how long it stays on for.
A midpoint setting on both should be good for starters. Flicking the light on and off can cause the system to go to continuous mode. Switch off, leave for a few minutes to reset then restore power and just leave the unit to sort itself out. Fine tune the two settings over a few days - trying to do it in one evening would try the patience of a saint.
Strong winds blowing past the PIR can sometimes cause it to trip, as can nearby foliage blowing about, but most of the time it's the local wildlife. Mine generally ignores the local moggies, possibly because of their fur. The local foxes now just ignore it
.
For PIR lights which come with a 500w bulb I prefer to change down to a 300w which is about the lowest wattage that fits. The 150w bulbs are shorter so won't fit. The stronger the light the bigger the contrast between light and shadow and the better chance anyone lurking in the shadows has of not being noticed. Also not so annoying for the neighbours.
- how dark (or light) it is when the light is first allowed to come on in the evening.
- how long it stays on for.
A midpoint setting on both should be good for starters. Flicking the light on and off can cause the system to go to continuous mode. Switch off, leave for a few minutes to reset then restore power and just leave the unit to sort itself out. Fine tune the two settings over a few days - trying to do it in one evening would try the patience of a saint.
Strong winds blowing past the PIR can sometimes cause it to trip, as can nearby foliage blowing about, but most of the time it's the local wildlife. Mine generally ignores the local moggies, possibly because of their fur. The local foxes now just ignore it
.For PIR lights which come with a 500w bulb I prefer to change down to a 300w which is about the lowest wattage that fits. The 150w bulbs are shorter so won't fit. The stronger the light the bigger the contrast between light and shadow and the better chance anyone lurking in the shadows has of not being noticed. Also not so annoying for the neighbours.
dilbert said:
Are you sure that the IR sensor isn't being affected by the Halogen lamp?
It's a single unit, sensor mounted underneath he lamp, no foliage nearby, nothing to reflect from or move.mickk said:
Stupid question, but have you turned the timer down to minimum about 5 seconds? Some of the timers have a maximum setting of 20 mins so if you have it around the wrong way tht could be your problem.
I've tried it at all settings, max to minimum. It seemed to work okay once, turned off after five minutes, even when on the 5 second end of the dial, then next time it simply stayed on permanently.Dogwatch said:
Generally there are two setting dials:
- how dark (or light) it is when the light is first allowed to come on in the evening.
- how long it stays on for.
A midpoint setting on both should be good for starters. Flicking the light on and off can cause the system to go to continuous mode. Switch off, leave for a few minutes to reset then restore power and just leave the unit to sort itself out. Fine tune the two settings over a few days - trying to do it in one evening would try the patience of a saint.
I've tried numerous settings, and tried leaving it powered down for a few minutes to reset itself, but it still doesn't play ball when it is turned on. I have an inkling that even the labels on the knobs are swapped vice verse, as the diagram shows them on opposite sides. The instructions are totally wrong in every respect.- how dark (or light) it is when the light is first allowed to come on in the evening.
- how long it stays on for.
A midpoint setting on both should be good for starters. Flicking the light on and off can cause the system to go to continuous mode. Switch off, leave for a few minutes to reset then restore power and just leave the unit to sort itself out. Fine tune the two settings over a few days - trying to do it in one evening would try the patience of a saint.
RichB said:
On mine I can set it be constantly on by flicking the on/off switch twice. It then stays on until dawn when it reverts to being triggered by the PIR at dusk. Don't know if that helps?
parents one has three modes off/pir/on (i think) that you select by flicking the power switch on and off.jjones said:
RichB said:
On mine I can set it be constantly on by flicking the on/off switch twice. It then stays on until dawn when it reverts to being triggered by the PIR at dusk. Don't know if that helps?
parents one has three modes off/pir/on (i think) that you select by flicking the power switch on and off.But I don't need it, as it refuses to turn off anyway.
King Herald said:
jjones said:
RichB said:
On mine I can set it be constantly on by flicking the on/off switch twice. It then stays on until dawn when it reverts to being triggered by the PIR at dusk. Don't know if that helps?
parents one has three modes off/pir/on (i think) that you select by flicking the power switch on and off.But I don't need it, as it refuses to turn off anyway.
The “TIME” adjustment is arrived at by turning both the “LITE” AND “TIME” adjustment control knobs fully anticlockwise, (so this setting must be carried out first before “LITE” adjustment), then turn the mains switch on, wait 60 seconds for lamp to warm up, the lamp then turns itself off. Then wait a further 10 seconds and walk within range of the PIR, lamp should then light up, adjusting the length of time the light stays on is by turning the “TIME” control knob clockwise to increase time, anti clockwise to decrease/lesson the time.
Now that we have done the time, now on to the light’s sensitivity day/night mode, “LITE” adjustment.
On my PIR the “LITE” control adjustment when turned fully anti clockwise will stay on all day, so then turn the control fully clockwise, then BACK anti clockwise until light comes ON, will set the sensitivity of the PIR/light.
Wings said:
Same as mine King Herald, but your light will also have a “LITE” adjustment knob and a “TIME” adjustment knob, both requiring adjustment for obvious reasons.
The “TIME” adjustment is arrived at by turning both the “LITE” AND “TIME” adjustment control knobs fully anticlockwise, (so this setting must be carried out first before “LITE” adjustment), then turn the mains switch on, wait 60 seconds for lamp to warm up, the lamp then turns itself off. Then wait a further 10 seconds and walk within range of the PIR, lamp should then light up, adjusting the length of time the light stays on is by turning the “TIME” control knob clockwise to increase time, anti clockwise to decrease/lesson the time.
Now that we have done the time, now on to the light’s sensitivity day/night mode, “LITE” adjustment.
On my PIR the “LITE” control adjustment when turned fully anti clockwise will stay on all day, so then turn the control fully clockwise, then BACK anti clockwise until light comes ON, will set the sensitivity of the PIR/light.
Is the prelim setting done in daylight, or dark?The “TIME” adjustment is arrived at by turning both the “LITE” AND “TIME” adjustment control knobs fully anticlockwise, (so this setting must be carried out first before “LITE” adjustment), then turn the mains switch on, wait 60 seconds for lamp to warm up, the lamp then turns itself off. Then wait a further 10 seconds and walk within range of the PIR, lamp should then light up, adjusting the length of time the light stays on is by turning the “TIME” control knob clockwise to increase time, anti clockwise to decrease/lesson the time.
Now that we have done the time, now on to the light’s sensitivity day/night mode, “LITE” adjustment.
On my PIR the “LITE” control adjustment when turned fully anti clockwise will stay on all day, so then turn the control fully clockwise, then BACK anti clockwise until light comes ON, will set the sensitivity of the PIR/light.
Mine calls it 'Lux': daylight Adjustment. Thing is it tells me to turn it fully anticlockwise, and that is the max setting on Time and Lux, according to the markings on the light itself.
They are marked the opposite way round on the diagram on the instructions.
So, where the Lux (Lite) has a Sun and Moon at the ends of the scale, which should it be turned to for preliminary settings?
RichB said:
I'd suggest setting the sun/moon (lux) to full sun setting (this should be the most sensitive) and the time to shortest duration then set the walk past if it comes on and stays on it does sound like you've got a faulty unit.
I'm about to smash it down, or take it back, one of the two. Whatever I do to it it just seems to want to stay on once it has been activated. I bought a decent one, £30, rather than the £7 tat plastic model too.......
RichB said:
I empathise, I fitted a new PIR floodlamp only a couple of months ago (after my neighbour was burgled) and I bought one from Homebase, cost about £20.00 - I did follow the setting up instructions to the letter and it worked, which is what makes me think yours is faulty...
King Herald could have the PIR upside down, therefore having his anticlockwise mixed up with his clockwise/I had the same problem with a unit I bought from B&Q for around £30-00. Tried everything but it stayed on once activated. Took it back and the replacement (same style) did exactly the same. Started doubting myself but all logic told me it was faulty, so I took it back again. I was furious by now, got the money back and even managed to get some petrol money off them for the inconvenience.
Went to Focus for a similar style but different make, put it up, prayed like hell, switched it on and it worked a treat first time. Happy days.
There's probably a factory somewhere in China churning out faulty PIRs by the thousand.
Went to Focus for a similar style but different make, put it up, prayed like hell, switched it on and it worked a treat first time. Happy days.
There's probably a factory somewhere in China churning out faulty PIRs by the thousand.
Wings said:
RichB said:
I empathise, I fitted a new PIR floodlamp only a couple of months ago (after my neighbour was burgled) and I bought one from Homebase, cost about £20.00 - I did follow the setting up instructions to the letter and it worked, which is what makes me think yours is faulty...
King Herald could have the PIR upside down, therefore having his anticlockwise mixed up with his clockwise/Jan 1st, not April 1st.
This is the position they are in now, and I just tried it, and it went off in dead on ten minutes.
I then moved the time knob towards the other end, to reduce the 'on' time to a minute or two, and it stayed on......TEN MINUTES!.
Tomorrow it goes back, refund, six hours of my time down the toilet!
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