On 3/27/2015 5:29 PM, Rebel1 wrote:
The post was installed when the development was built in 1999. The
photocell I thought was bad has a date code of 2006. Here's the company:

http://gaslightconversions.com/kits.html

I have the low-voltage version, but instead of today's LED lamps mine
are a pair of 1156 12-volt auto bulbs in series across 24VAC. The shells
of the sockets are mechanically (and electrically) connected to each
other. Each supply line goes to the center contact of one bulb socket.

The installation guide is he
http://gaslightconversions.com/Low_V...tall_Guide.pdf

The replacement cell didn't solve the problem, and the company has not
answered my request of how the cell works. It turns out that there was a
bad crimp that connects one of the supply wires to the center contact.
Couldn't fix it by soldering. I'm waiting for a replacement. Probably be
here tomorrow.

Odd thing about the transformer. Even with no load across the output, it
gets quite warm to the touch; my thermometer gun gives the reading at
85F. But it puts out 24 VAC.

R1

On 3/27/2015 5:34 AM, micky wrote:
On Wed, 25 Mar 2015 17:05:07 -0400, Rebel1 wrote:

The circuit is simply three-components across the 24VAC supply: a

Is this a circuit you made, or is this something that came already made?

If the latter, what all came already made? Were the lights included in
the package?

If the latter, does the thing have a brand name and model number, or is
there a website about it?

If you made the circuit, could you draw the circuit and post it on
something like flickr.

two-wire photocell and two 12V (1156 auto bulbs) in series. One would
expect that the resistance of the photocell is close to zero in the
dark, to apply the full voltage across the bulbs, and highest in
daylight to turn them off.

My actual measurements on the cell alone are opposite: about 10,000 ohms
in bright light and close to infinity in the dark. Thinking the cell was
bad, I ordered a replacement; same oddball measurements.

What am I missing? My ohmmeter uses a 1.5 volt battery.

On anything other than a simple resistance, don't expect to get the
same resistance with a 1.5v battery as with 24 volts. The way to
measure is to measure the voltage drop across the photocell and the
current in one of the leads, while everything is in operation, and
calculate the resistance. At least in a low voltage item like this.

But Mako's post is right on.

It turns out that the problem was a bad crimp where one of the wires
going to the center contact in one socket was bad.

So it's fixed? So you have no quesions? So what did you write to the
manufacturer about? I wouldn't expect much help from them except the
spec sheet, which might well be online.

What was the question you asked them.

(Do not reply to the non-working email address next to From.)