I have a porch lamp that is mounted in what appears to be a simple ceiling fixture. The lamp goes ON/OFF with a switch, but if left on it will turn off in a couple of hours. The timer isn't in the switch or the bulb and I didn't see it in the fixture. How can I modify the lamp so it stays on until I turn it off?

Thanks!

On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:49:46 -0800 (PST), Theus
wrote:

I have a porch lamp that is mounted in what appears to be a simple ceiling fixture. The lamp goes ON/OFF with a switch, but if left on it will turn off in a couple of hours. The timer isn't in the switch or the bulb and I didn't see it in the fixture. How can I modify the lamp so it stays on until I turn it off?

Thanks!
Is the lamp cutting off due to a thermal overload protector cutting
out? (If it comes back on after it cools, that is what is happening).

If that is the case, check what might be blocking air movement above
the fixture or use a smaller bulb.

Pat

Theus wrote:
I have a porch lamp that is mounted in what appears to be a simple
ceiling fixture. The lamp goes ON/OFF with a switch, but if left on it
will turn off in a couple of hours. The timer isn't in the switch or the
bulb and I didn't see it in the fixture. How can I modify the lamp so it
stays on until I turn it off?

Thanks!

While I find it strange that the timing device isn't visible within the
fixture or switch, I see a few options, in no particular order.

1 - Trace the wires from the switch to the fixture and you might find the
timing device (if there really is one) somewhere along the run. It might be
in a closet or in the basement.

2 - I assume that to turn the light back on after it times out, you have to
toggle the switch to turn it back on. Have you tried toggling the switch
very quickly, like within one second? Many motion detector controlled
lights can be forced into "always on" mode by toggling the switch on
on-off-on within one second. Perhaps that will work with your light also.

3 - Grab another fixture, even a cheap plastic one like shown below and try
it. Use a different bulb too. If it doesn't time out, then either the
timing device was in the fixture or something else was causing the light to
go out after some amount of time.

http://www.pro-handyman.com/Pro-Hand...-Light-Fixture

4 - You could even try one of these with any lamp or device:

http://compare.ebay.com/like/3706465...pes&va r=sbar

While it wouldn't take anything out of your original circuit, it would
probably eliminate any heat related issue and the bulb itself. If it didn't
time out with something plugged in that wasn't heating up the fixture,
you'd be closer to finding out what was going on.

In article ,
says...

I have a porch lamp that is mounted in what appears to be a simple
ceiling fixture. The lamp goes ON/OFF with a switch, but if left
on it will turn off in a couple of hours...

Is there a a WARNING label inside the fixture which says
Maximum Wattage Bulb?

What is that wattage and what wattage bulb is installed?

Note there is a temperature sensor which will shut off the fixture
if it gets to be too hot. Try a lower wattage bulb, fluorescent,
or LED.

On 11-24-2012 09:42, Pat wrote:
On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:49:46 -0800 (PST), Theus
wrote:
I have a porch lamp that is mounted in what appears to be a simple ceiling fixture. The lamp goes ON/OFF with a switch, but if left on it will turn off in a couple of hours. The timer isn't in the switch or the bulb and I didn't see it in the fixture. How can I modify the lamp so it stays on until I turn it off?

Is the lamp cutting off due to a thermal overload protector cutting
out? (If it comes back on after it cools, that is what is happening).

A similar effect occurs with poor quality connections after they get old
enough. They get hot and disconnect. Can take quite a while before
they cool and re-connect. Sometimes only physical jarring restores the
connection.

Can even be fixed in rare cases by unscrewing the bulb and putting it
back in.

--
Wes Groleau

I won't burn your Koran because I don't want you to burn my Bible;
but if you burn my Bible, no one's going to die.
€” Robert Rhee

On Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:43:16 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I have a porch lamp that is mounted in what appears to be a simple
ceiling fixture. The lamp goes ON/OFF with a switch, but if left on it
will turn off in a couple of hours. The timer isn't in the switch or the
bulb and I didn't see it in the fixture. How can I modify the lamp so it
stays on until I turn it off?

Thanks!

Timer might be in basement (or other location) next to the breaker box.
That's common placement.

On Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:43:16 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I have a porch lamp that is mounted in what appears to be a simple
ceiling fixture. The lamp goes ON/OFF with a switch, but if left on it
will turn off in a couple of hours. The timer isn't in the switch or the
bulb and I didn't see it in the fixture. How can I modify the lamp so it
stays on until I turn it off?

Thanks!

After the light turns off automatically, what happens when you turn the switch off and then back on right away?

It isn't a heat-related problem. I actually have 3 of the lamps - two over my garage and one over my porch. I put LED lamps in all 3 of them.

I'll try resetting the porch light quickly, as a couple of you suggested. If I recall correctly, though, that function is in the switch.

The lights over the garage are turned on by a light sensor, but I haven't found it yet.

THANKS for the responses!

On Saturday, November 24, 2012 1:51:33 PM UTC-7, Guv Bob wrote:
On Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:43:16 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03

The lamp operates as usual... it still times out. Thanks.

wrote:



I have a porch lamp that is mounted in what appears to be a simple

ceiling fixture. The lamp goes ON/OFF with a switch, but if left on it

will turn off in a couple of hours. The timer isn't in the switch or the

bulb and I didn't see it in the fixture. How can I modify the lamp so it

stays on until I turn it off?



Thanks!



After the light turns off automatically, what happens when you turn the switch off and then back on right away?