Photo-cells and CFLs
 

I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

wrote in message
...
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.


*Put a CFL in the fixture and see if it works before you spend money on an
accessory. If the existing photocell worked with a regular bulb it should
work with a CFL.

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

wrote in message
...
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.


If the existing photocell won't work with a cfl, it won't matter if you add
one that is designed to work with cfl's to the system. Do as John
recommends, and see if it works. Be aware that not all Par38 CFL lamps will
fit in every PAR holder socket. Many are built in such a way that the
transformer hits the lip of the socket before the lamp screws down to the
tongue of the socket.

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

On Oct 18, 2:41*pm, "
wrote:
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? *It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.

Why are you making more work for yourself, why havnt you just put in a
cfl to see what happens.

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:46:50 -0400, "John Grabowski"
wrote:


wrote in message
...
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.


*Put a CFL in the fixture and see if it works before you spend money on an
accessory. If the existing photocell worked with a regular bulb it should
work with a CFL.

I've seen one instance where the CFL bulbs would flicker.. (new
construction/fixture/bulb(s), etc.) Never learned what the problem
was - the photo cell or the bulb.

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

RBM wrote:
wrote in message
...
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.


If the existing photocell won't work with a cfl, it won't matter if you add
one that is designed to work with cfl's to the system. Do as John
recommends, and see if it works. Be aware that not all Par38 CFL lamps will
fit in every PAR holder socket. Many are built in such a way that the
transformer hits the lip of the socket before the lamp screws down to the
tongue of the socket.


Yeah, garage door opener light sockets are notorious for that.

Don

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

"IGot2P" wrote in message
...
RBM wrote:
wrote in message
...
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.


If the existing photocell won't work with a cfl, it won't matter if you
add one that is designed to work with cfl's to the system. Do as John
recommends, and see if it works. Be aware that not all Par38 CFL lamps
will fit in every PAR holder socket. Many are built in such a way that
the transformer hits the lip of the socket before the lamp screws down to
the tongue of the socket.

Yeah, garage door opener light sockets are notorious for that.

Don


You should use an "appliance lamp" in garage door operators, they are
physically smaller and handle the vibration better

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:03:53 -0500, IGot2P wrote:

RBM wrote:
wrote in message
...
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.


If the existing photocell won't work with a cfl, it won't matter if you add
one that is designed to work with cfl's to the system. Do as John
recommends, and see if it works. Be aware that not all Par38 CFL lamps will
fit in every PAR holder socket. Many are built in such a way that the
transformer hits the lip of the socket before the lamp screws down to the
tongue of the socket.


Yeah, garage door opener light sockets are notorious for that.

Don


Last month I bought my first CFL bulb for 49 cents. Grabbed four more
for that price.

My GD opener is 5 years old. I put the CFL bulbs (two) in and presto.
Worked like a charm. The 3rd bulb went into a single ceramic light
socket on the ceiling. Same result.

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

IGot2P wrote:
RBM wrote:
wrote in message
...
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.


If the existing photocell won't work with a cfl, it won't matter if
you add one that is designed to work with cfl's to the system. Do as
John recommends, and see if it works. Be aware that not all Par38 CFL
lamps will fit in every PAR holder socket. Many are built in such a
way that the transformer hits the lip of the socket before the lamp
screws down to the tongue of the socket.

Yeah, garage door opener light sockets are notorious for that.

Don


Hi,
My garage door opener has LED bulbs.

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

On 10/18/2009 1:21 PM RBM spake thus:

Be aware that not all Par38 CFL lamps will fit in every PAR holder
socket. Many are built in such a way that the transformer hits the
lip of the socket before the lamp screws down to the tongue of the
socket.

Easily remedied by screwing in a socket extension (male-female extender,
available everywhere).


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...
On 10/18/2009 1:21 PM RBM spake thus:

Be aware that not all Par38 CFL lamps will fit in every PAR holder
socket. Many are built in such a way that the transformer hits the
lip of the socket before the lamp screws down to the tongue of the
socket.

Easily remedied by screwing in a socket extension (male-female extender,
available everywhere).

I just ran into some, that a ceramic socket extension wouldn't fit either

--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

On 10/18/2009 4:53 PM RBM spake thus:

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...

On 10/18/2009 1:21 PM RBM spake thus:

Be aware that not all Par38 CFL lamps will fit in every PAR holder
socket. Many are built in such a way that the transformer hits the
lip of the socket before the lamp screws down to the tongue of the
socket.

Easily remedied by screwing in a socket extension (male-female extender,
available everywhere).

I just ran into some, that a ceramic socket extension wouldn't fit either

Hmm; guess there are all kinds of oddball lamps out there.

Wonder if there are any standards for CFL packages now, and if not, when
there will be? Don K?


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 10/18/2009 4:53 PM RBM spake thus:

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...

On 10/18/2009 1:21 PM RBM spake thus:

Be aware that not all Par38 CFL lamps will fit in every PAR holder
socket. Many are built in such a way that the transformer hits the
lip of the socket before the lamp screws down to the tongue of the
socket.

Easily remedied by screwing in a socket extension (male-female
extender, available everywhere).

I just ran into some, that a ceramic socket extension wouldn't fit either

Hmm; guess there are all kinds of oddball lamps out there.

Wonder if there are any standards for CFL packages now, and if not, when
there will be? Don K?


How did that quote go again? 'Standards are wonderful- there are always
so many to choose from', or something like that. Attributed to several
different people, including Grace Hopper, according to Google,.

--
aem sends...

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

John Grabowski wrote:

wrote in message
...
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.


*Put a CFL in the fixture and see if it works before you spend money on
an accessory. If the existing photocell worked with a regular bulb it
should work with a CFL.


It will work, sort of. Then the CFL will die in just a few
weeks. They don't like that transition when the photocell is
just turning on for 5 minutes or so. BTDT.

Bob

Photo-cells and CFLs
 

zxcvbob wrote:
John Grabowski wrote:

wrote in message
...
I have an outdoor floodlight fixture with a photo-cell to turn it on
at dusk and off at dawn. I can buy a screw-in photo-cell that works
with CFLs for only $8. If I cover the regular eye so it thinks it's
always dark and therefore will always be on, will the CFL work? It
would be cheaper than buying a new fixture.


*Put a CFL in the fixture and see if it works before you spend money
on an accessory. If the existing photocell worked with a regular bulb
it should work with a CFL.


It will work, sort of. Then the CFL will die in just a few weeks. They
don't like that transition when the photocell is just turning on for 5
minutes or so. BTDT.

Bob

For a heavily cycled, but short run-time light like that, CFL doesn't
make much sense. And in cold weather, lag time on startup will be annoying.

--
aem sends...