Incorrectly wired photocell?

[LenBeach]

I have a light above my front door which we tend to keep switched on as a security feature.

Upon clearing out some bugs from the fitting, I realised that the light has a dusk till dawn photo-cell fitted however this doesn’t seem to operate as the light is always on.

On inspecting the wiring, the switched live into 2 meets the photo-cell (3 core off to the left) and also the live from the ballast so effectively the photo-cell is bypassed.

My thinking was that the live from the ballast should go into No 1 which in theory is the live out from the cell leaving live in, in No 2.

Thoughts?

 

[dannyboi2003]

Looks like someone has intentionally by-passed it or at least disconnected it, what does the brown core of the grey cable connect to? I suspect that would have originally connected to No 1 with your switch inside only then acting as an override, when the switch is in the off position the photocell would bring the light on at dusk and off at dawn.

 

[LenBeach]

Looks like someone has intentionally by-passed it or at least disconnected it, what does the brown core of the grey cable connect to? I suspect that would have originally connected to No 1 with your switch inside only then acting as an override, when the switch is in the off position the photocell would bring the light on at dusk and off at dawn.

The live is just “terminated” in a connector block.

So if I connect the constant live to 1 that should activate the photocell when the light is switched off with he switch acting as an override?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Possibly. Put the brown on 1, turn the over-ride switch off and see if it works.

It may be the case that the detector circuit is knackered, so its been rewired as a straight on/off light. If it has died and you want to have PIR/photocell facility, then a new fitting may be required.

 

[LenBeach]

All sorted. Constant live into 1 and turned off at the switch. Works like a treat. Thanks for your help.