light switches

[bro]

I've been attempting to cut into my power bill at work...


I bought a motion sensitive light switch and it says that it shouldn't
be hooked up to compact flourescents, why, it doesn't say, it's OK for
"fast start" tubes. I hooked it up to about 300 or 400 watts of
incandescent and it seems to be working fine of course. I did some
research on the web and I can't find out why? It was Zenith's model.



I plan on buying five or so more, I would like to hook them to compact
flourescents if possible. Is the warning to be ignored or is there a
better model?

 

[Terry]

I've been attempting to cut into my power bill at work...


I bought a motion sensitive light switch and it says that it shouldn't
be hooked up to compact flourescents, why, it doesn't say, it's OK for
"fast start" tubes. I hooked it up to about 300 or 400 watts of
incandescent and it seems to be working fine of course. I did some
research on the web and I can't find out why? It was Zenith's model.



I plan on buying five or so more, I would like to hook them to compact
flourescents if possible. Is the warning to be ignored or is there a
better model?

It may be because fluorescent and other circuits contain ballasts and
transformers that have inductive reactance and the motion sensitive switch
that you have is suitable for switching only non inductive i.e. resistive
circuits such as incandescent lamps.

 

[CFoley1064]

Subject: Re: light switches

From: "Terry" [email protected]
Date: 12/7/2004 7:30 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id: <[email protected]>



It may be because fluorescent and other circuits contain ballasts and
transformers that have inductive reactance and the motion sensitive switch
that you have is suitable for switching only non inductive i.e. resistive
circuits such as incandescent lamps.

Absolutely. Use the output to drive a relay. The relay will be better able to
handle the inductive load.

Good luck
Chris

 

[bro]

You guys are awsome thanks.

 

[Terry]

You guys are awsome thanks.

Agree; use the switch to operate a 115 volt relay; most (conventional)
relays because they have a coil winding, will be very slightly inductive)
but operating only the relay the current will be so low that it won't cause
a problem. The contacts of the relay which will switch on/off the lights
should be rated for the amount of current for the lights and for an
inductive load.
I'm no expert on what type of light switching relays are available; someone
knowledgeable of electrical supplies can probably advise? Depending on your
motion sensitive switches circuitry it might be possible to have several of
them operate the one same relay; to operate exterior lights around a
building, say. But that's getting more complicated.