Recomended Photo eyes for lighting contactor

[washregal]

I have been using an intermatic K4141C for my lighting at my wash's. I have not had much longevity out of these. the specs are listed here: Watts Tungsten: 3000
VA Ballast: 3000
Amps Tungsten: 25
Amps Ballast: 25
Volts AC: 120
Replaced By: -
California Title 24 Compliant: Yes

Can anyone give me a recommendation on a better photo eye that might last longer - My lights are staying on during the day much longer with these.. I hate burning daylight.

 

[2Biz]

Another option...Ditch the photo eye and put in a manual or programmable timer. I replaced the Photo eye at my wash when I realized the lights stayed on, even on an overcast day. If my current mechanical timer ever quits, I'll replace it with a programmable one that you can plug in your latitude/longitude so it automatically allows for changing daylight hours.

Its advisable to let a relay handle the load instead of the timer. Are your lights set up that way? If not, maybe your photo eye will last longer letting an additional relay handle the load.

 

[cantbreak80]

Like this one!
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/3381/ELEC-ET8215CR.html

Mine works marvelously with my "Over-the-Top" lighting controller.

 

[MEP001]

I used that same lighting controller, and it's perfect. I have to set the lights to come on about 20 minutes before sunset otherwise it gets pretty dark in the bays before the lights come on. I don't have to worry about the lights staying on all day if it's overcast.

 

[RAATCB]

Another option...Ditch the photo eye and put in a manual or programmable timer. I replaced the Photo eye at my wash when I realized the lights stayed on, even on an overcast day. If my current mechanical timer ever quits, I'll replace it with a programmable one that you can plug in your latitude/longitude so it automatically allows for changing daylight hours.

Its advisable to let a relay handle the load instead of the timer. Are your lights set up that way? If not, maybe your photo eye will last longer letting an additional relay handle the load.

Do you have a diagram on how to wire it? I know where to get the Dayton power relays but do not exactly know how to wire it.

 

[2Biz]

I use a manual intermatic timer similar to what CB80 posted a link to, except mine is manual. This is the relay I use...It has a 120v coil.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GBPSEK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

The timer and relay come with wiring instructions. I don't have a diagram, but its very easy to wire. This link has about every wiring diagram needed to wire a timer....

http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-Intermatic-sprinkler-timers.html

 

[Greg Pack]

As mentioned- Wire either the photocell or timer through a contactor and they will last longer.

As far as your lighting staying on too long: I had the same problem on my photocell. A piece of electrical tape took care of that.

 

[mjwalsh]

For the most part, we chose to go the more precise route using some analog inputs on two of our working PLCs. I rely on time settings some ... but not as much as the more precise 0-10 VDC that the analog sensor outputs to the analog VDC input of the PLCs. I have previously posted many times in the past the specific analog sensor that has proven itself for over 10 years now for us.

mike walsh www.kingkoin.com

 

[Randy]

I don’t know why everyone gets all excited about turning there lights off to save a few pennies on their power bill. We’ve used a Intermatic T103 for the last 30 years to turn on and off the light with no problems. In the winter time it’s so dark and dreary here it’s like washing your car in a cave so about the first of November we pull the tops out of the timer and leave the lights on 24/7 until about early April. When we had T-12 HO fluorescent lights it added about $30 a month to the power bill, now that we have installed LED lighting I wonder what it’s going to cost to run LED lights 24/7.

 

[seattleguy]

I don’t know why everyone gets all excited about turning there lights off to save a few pennies on their power bill. We’ve used a Intermatic T103 for the last 30 years to turn on and off the light with no problems. In the winter time it’s so dark and dreary here it’s like washing your car in a cave so about the first of November we pull the tops out of the timer and leave the lights on 24/7 until about early April. When we had T-12 HO fluorescent lights it added about $30 a month to the power bill, now that we have installed LED lighting I wonder what it’s going to cost to run LED lights 24/7.

I hate the digital timers and LOVE the old fashioned Intermatic T103. They take 10 second to set and you're done. The digital ones have so many features that I don't care about and take a long time to relearn the programming every time. Seattle forces us to put in digital timers for signs and I usually wait for final inspection and then switch them out with a mechanical one.

 

[MEP001]

The Intermatic digital astronomic timer is as easy to set as a digital alarm clock.

 

[seattleguy]

The Intermatic digital astronomic timer is as easy to set as a digital alarm clock.

Whenever I need to reset them I don't have my reading glasses with me and can't see a thing

 

[I.B. Washincars]

The Intermatic digital astronomic timer is as easy to set as a digital alarm clock.

No it isn't.

 

[MEP001]

I forgot about setting the zone, but aside from that you just set the time and date, and you may have to adjust the turn-on time for the bays like I did, but that's all there is to it.

 

[Jeff_L]

Has anyone seen a 24v AC photo eye? Thought about tying one into my PLC, and would want to use 24v if possible.

 

[MEP001]

http://www.greenelectricalsupply.co...24v-dusk-to-dawn-swivel-photocell-sensor.aspx