security timer switch

[purefilth]

I installed a timer switch to turn an outside light on and off at certain times, it worked fine for a day, but the it stopped, I'm told that its because I out in an energy saving lamp but I don't se
e how this should affect it, as its just a switch isn't it? Any ideas?

 

[17thman]

one reason could be...Is it a manual dial timer with the little pins or an electronic one? and where is it sited? If it is a manual one and in lets say sited in a garage or similar, they can be susceptible to cold temperatures, i think they only guarantee them working down to about 4 degrees.

 

[purefilth]

It's a digital one, and its in a front porch, so it may well be the cold weather affecting it, thanks

 

[RF Lighting]

No it's the compact fluorescnt lamp that's making it not work, not the cold

Try a normal light bulb. Bet you it starts working again.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I installed a timer switch to turn an outside light on and off at certain times, it worked fine for a day,

Did it work fine for a day with the CFL lamp installed? Does it have a battery backup to keep the settings if there's a power cut?

its just a switch isn't it?

No - it's an electronic switch.

Is it a straight swap for a normal switch, i.e. it doesn't need a neutral? If so it will rely on there being a current path through the lamp to keep the timer circuit working. This current is small, and doesn't cause the lamp to light up. But it will not flow through a CFL.

You say you were told that it stopped because you put a CFL in - who told you?

What do the installation instructions say?