I thought it would be a good idea to replace my outdoor lamp with this one which features a daylight sensor that will turn the light off in the morning and back on at dusk. I wired it in and tested it and it works! I'm feeling fine. Problem #1: the lamp sits so close up under the eave that the light goes on even in the middle of the day if it isn't a bright cloudless day. I'm going to try to put a piece of aluminum foil or something above the sensor to reflect more light onto it. Problem #2: neighbor from across the street shows up at my doorstep the next day and asks me to turn off the light at night because it shines right in her bedroom window and keeps her up at night! WTF! I laugh and explain incredulously that I just put it in! We talk and laugh about it for awhile. We come up with some options. How about I try to paint the outside of the globe to dim the light a bit? If that doesn't work, I could hang something in front of it. She agrees. I rummage around and find some yellowish paint, take off the globe, paint half - the half facing her, let it dry, then remount the globe. I called her and told her it was up and to let me know if it works for her or not. She says she has plenty more paint in various colors if I need it. It looks kind of funny, but she hasn't complained so far.
Dead. No go. Damnit!
Disgusted, I tore it out, put the original 69 cent switch back in, screwed it all in with the plate cover and all, and sat down in my man cave and watched an episode of Lost, 2nd season.
Next day I decided to wrestle with it again. This time I tried wiring it into a different light. Same thing! Dead!! I was pissed. No wonder these things were so cheap. But that can't be. They are brand new and made by Lutron, a quality brand.
Then I saw it. At the very bottom was a tiny on/off toggle set to the off position. Wasn't mentioned in the directions. Hardly visible. Can't understand the function since there is a big button that turns the light off. This little switch makes the whole assembly go dead. Why? Anyway, I moved the toggle to the on position and to my relief, it worked. Wired in the other one. They've been great.
But, I fear this is my lot in life when it comes to this house. Everything seems to be a struggle. Even the little things.
IT is always the little things.
ReplyDeleteLance-
ReplyDeleteThe little switch gives you a "hard OFF" that fully disconnects the lamp from the source...See, when those types of dimmers are "Off", there is actually a tiny leakage current going through them. If you were to work on the wiring at the fixture and touched the hot (without turning off the breaker or that switch), you would feel a tingle! I have felt the tingle and it's more like a knife cut.
Of course, you are supposed to turn off the breaker before you work on this stuff, but electricians are lazy and will only turn off the light switch. The good one's will even put a piece of tape on it.
BTW, Lutron calls your switch the F.A.S.S (Front Accessible Service Switch).
Hope I can make the world less mysterious
-Mike-
Light pollution, Man! You don't need an outside light on all night, really huh? Do ya'? Give your sweet neighbor a break! I thought you were trying to be efficient with energy? Need a light? Turn on a light.
ReplyDeleteMy two cents.