Outside Light

[MoonRiver]

I have an outside light that automatically comes on at dusk and goes off at dawn. The light quit working last night. I just bought the house so I don't know how the light works. The bulb is fairly large and doesn't look like any bulb I am familiar with.

So my question: Can I use any bulb or do I need a special bulb? Where would the light sensor be located?

Thanks
Rich

[sisterpine]

When i worked for the power company i know they installed those lights and charged a flat fee monthly for them. They also replace the bulbs and sensors as needed. I'd give your electric co. a call on this. Do not I repeat, do not attempt this yourself. I believe there is some deal about the wires always being hot?

[paulaswolfpack]

Is the light on your house or on a pole outside like by the Elt meter?Paula

[MoonRiver]

The fixture is mounted on a 4x4 post in the backyard. I'm pretty sure this is something the original owner put in. The only way to turn it off is at the breaker box.

Rich

[rambler]

These are often sodium or mercury or other special long-on, higher efficiency type bulb and last for years & years and years.

I'd not mess with it, it sounds like it is working?

Take a pic or any numbers you can find on the bulb, and go to a box or hardware store & see if you can track down a similar bulb style. Some types are being phased out, mercury concerns, etc........

Really can't help much without a better idea of what you have. Most photo sensitive type have the sensor on the top back of the housing, would be a little tiny solar cell diode.

--->Paul

[MoonRiver]

No markings or numbers on the bulb.

Rich

[Bricker]

There is a sensor at the back of the light.

[agmantoo]

The big box stores sell these. Often it is cheaper to buy a complete light than to buy the components. Sounds as if the photocell is not functioning to control the off /on since you can turn the light out at the breaker. The photo cell is the round mushroom appearing thing. Typically they are twist lock mount. The photocell is the thingy on top of this light
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...4-M&lpage=none

Does the photo cell look like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/LOT-3-OUTDOOR-PH...QQcmdZViewItem

[SolarGary]

Originally Posted by MoonRiver

I have an outside light that automatically comes on at dusk and goes off at dawn. The light quit working last night. I just bought the house so I don't know how the light works. The bulb is fairly large and doesn't look like any bulb I am familiar with.

So my question: Can I use any bulb or do I need a special bulb? Where would the light sensor be located?

Thanks
Rich

Hi,
I'm not trying to be flippant, but do you really need the light on all night?

To me, the all night lights just waste electricity and make it hard to see the stars.
My 2 cents

Gary

[tiogacounty]

On a typical "street light" style, mercury vapor, metal-Halide, or High pressure sodium light fixture, you will see a disc about the size of a hockey puck attached to the top of the unit. This is the photocell, and it can be unscrewed by turning it counter-clockwise to release, then you pull it upward. This is typically NOT the problem however, if the light DOES NOT come on. They are design to fail in the on position, to make it obvious that they need to be replaced. Chances are the issue is the lamp, and the place to get a new one, particularly if you cannot identify it, is at an electrical supply house. The guy at the counter should be able to identify the size and type of the lamp for you. Good luck. Although it is quite common to have rural electrical utilities install these fixtures on their poles, chances are that yours was installed by the previous owner, as the utility would of put them on a real "telephone pole" not a 4X4. Remember to turn the power off before you do anything. I one had a bad photcell that shot a visible track of power into my hand as I reached for it. It scared the snot out of me! Good luck.

[quadcam79]

if it is a HPS or MH bulb...do not....touch that bulb with bare hands, fingerprints on the bulb will kill it in a hurry

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

In my neighborhood people will shoot out lights such as this with pellet guns. People value their darkness and the stars. Much better to install motion activated floodlights.

[WisJim]

We always called these lights "burglar lights" as they are generally for the benefit of burglars who aren't familiar with your property. They don't make sense in rural areas, but might be of benefit in a city where everything else is already lit up by street lights and other lights on buildings. In rural areas, they just provide a few spots of bright light so a burglar doesn't get hurt when robbing you, and then sue you.

[Nel frattempo]

Those things are a pain. We had one at our other house, it was silly and we finally broke it on purpose and just let the pole there for decoration. We have switched over here to the motion triggered solar lights. They work very well for our needs. Check them out at Lowe's or Home Depot. We have 3 now and are pleased.

[ace admirer]

You are correct, they make great burgler lights....worst security idea ever....usually used by displaced city folk whom seem to fear the dark. try an experiment: have someone stand near the light at night. have another person "burgler" stand about 175 feet away from the light...the burgler will see everything,,,the person near the light will be blinded.

[sammyd]

That'a a hoot. We didn't have one and I put one up. I much prefer having light as opposed to no light. And I like the wide area covered much better than the floods I had installed on the front of the garage. Don't do much stargazing but if I do I just walk around to the back of the property. With a good dog I don't get too many unannounce "visitors" either.

When removing and installing pressured light bulbs I like to use those cloth gloves with the rubber knobs on the palms and fingers. Better grip for removing and no fingerprints on the bulb when installing.

[Westwood]

It's probably the photocell.

But, it's been my experience that those "pole lights" only point out when you're NOT at home. Get one with a switch or a motion sensor.

[haypoint]

Foolish way to use electricity. I have to laugh at the folks that put one up near their cabin that sits 100 yards from the road and 1/4 mile from the nearest neighbor. The light is on 365 night a year, while the property owners are 400 miles away for 358 of those nights. Doesn't deter anything. Burglers can do what they want in broad daylight without being seen. That light doesn't do anything but provide burglers with better lighting. Motion sensors are nearly as worthless, no one to notice it came on except the burgler. I guess if you had a motion sensor and turned it on when you were at home and also had it hooked up to a siren, it would help deter criminals. But after about the third time a racoon set it off your neighbors would be taking a chainsaw to your light pole.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by haypoint

Foolish way to use electricity. I have to laugh at the folks that put one up near their cabin that sits 100 yards from the road and 1/4 mile from the nearest neighbor. The light is on 365 night a year, while the property owners are 400 miles away for 358 of those nights. Doesn't deter anything. Burglers can do what they want in broad daylight without being seen. That light doesn't do anything but provide burglers with better lighting. Motion sensors are nearly as worthless, no one to notice it came on except the burgler. I guess if you had a motion sensor and turned it on when you were at home and also had it hooked up to a siren, it would help deter criminals. But after about the third time a racoon set it off your neighbors would be taking a chainsaw to your light pole.

I want them to think Im 400 miles away and with that light shining I can see the expression on their face when they find out Im not quite that far away,when those buckshot find their mark. LOL