Photocell

[willbones]

Hello again

I connected up photocell today as shown in the diagram below. Its only controlling 1 light. When I switch the live in on the lights comes on and stays on - i.e. the photcell doesn't switch the light off.

Am i missing something? I have tesed the line in and line out wires, and they are working ok, but the photocell doesnt do anything.

I've tried it with a neutral and without and it doesn't make any difference. The only thing I can think of is the photocell is broken - but its brand new out of the box.

Untitled

• willbones
• 11 Mar 2011
• 1

 

[MrTinker]

What type of photocell are you using?
There are photocell's that give an output when light is shining on the cell. I'm assuming you want this light to come on when it is dark.

 

[willbones]

its one of these

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/11330/Lighting-Lamps/Floodlights/PIRs-Photocells/Photo-Cell-5A-Load

I want the lights off in the day, on at night,

 

[MrTinker]

Well it looks like you are using the right thing.
For some reason i thought you where making it from components, and had got the wrong type of photocell(it's been a long day)
What you've done should work, could be a duff photocell, try swaping the live feed with the out first.

 

[willbones]

i've tried covering it over too to black it out to see if that made it turn off, and thus suggesting the LI and LO were the wrong way round, but made no difference.

Does it need a neutral? Initially i treated it like a normal switch, i.e. just had live and switched live to photocell and it was the same.

 

[MrTinker]

I think you've got a duff photocell to be honest.

 

[joinerjohn]

Did it not come with a wiring diagram?
I don't know why your asking if it needs a neutral,,,, as far as I know all electrics (apart from digital thermostats for combi boilers ) need a neutral, otherwise nothing will work at all.

 

[xr4x4]

Have u tried playing with a multi meter and a blanket?!

 

[MrTinker]

Have u tried playing with a multi meter and a blanket?!

Yes but that's a different story

 

[westie101]

Does it need a neutral

In a word - yes!

 

[ricicle]

From your diagram you have not supplied the photocell with a neutral !

 

[MrTinker]

Initially i treated it like a normal switch, i.e. just had live and switched live to photocell and it was the same.

I took this to mean at first not, but has since connected the neutral.

 

[ricicle]

From your diagram you have not supplied the photocell with a neutral !

 

[MrTinker]

From your diagram you have not supplied the photocell with a neutral !

Granted yes, but how the hell has he got the light to work without a neutral

 

[TicklyT]

What type of lamp are you switching with the photocell?

Some (many?) 'low energy' lamps don't meet the minimum load requirement for the switching to operate as expected, and may remain iluminated even when 'off'

If you are trying to switch a low energy lamp, substituting it with a conventional incandescent filament lamp may work.