this it the third one all do the same thing
2007-11-18 14:12:14 · 6 answers · asked by richard f 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
By "straight wired" do you mean you bypassed the photocell? If not, the light may be turning itself off by reflecting back into the photocell. Check the positioning and sensitivity of the photocell. Other circuit interrupters (GFCI, for example) could also be causing it - make sure your circuit is properly wired.
Otherwise, it's probably a bad ballast or voltage mismatch, as others have suggested.
2007-11-18 15:14:55 · answer #1 · answered by injanier 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you mean the third total change from scratch...I would say that you have a voltage mismatch....In a merc/vap light there is a ballast that many times is multi tapped (like 120/208/220 etc)....if its set up for 220 and your at 110 you just doubled the heat in the ballast and well probably came very close to melt down...if its the other way around it might work for about three to five seconds then go off because the transformer is frying the mercury in the bulb....and overloading....if your having that many failures try your best to look for a very simple solution first..It is very uncommon to have three in a row go out.....Best of luck with this...From the E.....
2007-11-18 22:29:05 · answer #2 · answered by Edesigner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we will need more info on this one.
Some lamp fixtures have built in circuits that are made for detecting the presence of someone or something.
These have setting knows for sensitivity and for delay time.
And can be set.
If it is not of this kind, then it can be that the lamp has an overheat safety feature.
This is common in street lights, and people witness the street light go out, and think that they caused it to go out simply because they walked under it, or drove by.
Yet in fact it is not that the street light has burned out, but a mere safety feature to prevent it from burning out.
So we can say that the light "Rests" in then cools down and will come back on once it has "rested" enought.
2007-11-18 22:20:20 · answer #3 · answered by mixmaster2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a bad ballast to me or the photo cell is shutting it off.
2007-11-19 10:36:32 · answer #4 · answered by mark r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to replace the ballast. Check with grainger.com for a proper replacement.
2007-11-18 22:19:25 · answer #5 · answered by ifixit54 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "ballast" is bad.
2007-11-18 22:15:46 · answer #6 · answered by WOMBAT, Manliness Expert 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋