On Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:24:40 -0400, mm
wrote:

I live in the last house in a line of townhouse. The HOA wanted me or
the guy whose building is at right angles to mine to put up a
motion-detector controlled floodlight. I volunteered so that I could
turn the light off entirely if I ever sleep outside.

The fixture has broken three times in the last 10 or 15 years. Each
time the electrician the HOA uses installed a new fixture, a different
model each time. Do you think it likely the electrician uses the
cheapest fixtures they sell and that is why they fail so soon????

I sort of thought those generic fixtures electricians use are as good
as any others, just cheaper because there is no famous brand name
attached, with the advertising costs that go with one.

(The first time, the light wouldn't go on when I walked in front of
the motion detector, even though the little red light went on. The
second time, nothing went on and I found a burned out connection
inside the fixture after the trician replaced it and gave it to me.
Now the light goes on if there is a short power failure, even one
second, which is fine. but doesn't turn off when the sun comes up the
next day. It will stay on 24 hours a day until I notice it. In
Baltimore County we get short power failures all the time.)


If the theory the electrician buys cheap stuff is reasonable, I'm
ready to buy my own. All that Home Depot sold is Zenith/Heathkit.

Is that good? What would be better?

What would you reccomend,
one that uses standard floodlight like they've made for 50+ years, two
150 watt bulbs (probably not, huh)

halogen floodlights (they seem to make those now, smaller than regular
floods;

or those halogen lights the shape of glass cigarettes or pencils, that
fit behind rectangular windows?

If you like the thin halogen lights, which would be better/brighter,
One 500 watt bulb, or
Two 150 watt bulbs?


Now, if I want to change the bulb, I have to have them call the
eleectrician. If I get the fixture lowered a few feet, I'll still
have to borrow an extension ladder.

The yard is small but the fixture is 20 to 25 feet up the wall and now
barely illuminates the yard when its on.

Thanks a lot.


I have 4 motion detectors mounted under the eaves. They work well,
none have broken, and they are all Healthkit. Look for floodlamps
with a waffle texture, those are specifically for outdoor use. Make
sure you do not exceed the wattage rating of the fixture. Neighborhood
cats trigger the lamps sometimes, and that is somewhat annoying.