Halogen Sensor Lights

HI All

Regarding Halogen sensor lights.

Firstly, I'm wondering if they are all dodgy cos as long as I can remember in my youth at home, they either seemed not to turn on or came on and stayed on indefintiely.

I wired one up and fixed it on the garage recently. Adjusted the "brightness" and "duration" settings several times but the thing still seemed not to work.

I know testing the sensor during the day time isn't ideal so I came back at night and tried. It only seemed to come on when I fiddled the wire where it enters the lamp unit (made a clicking noise and lit up, i know this could point to a wiring problem but Im sure my wiring was ok). It then would not turn off after. I simply switched it off completely. I've tested it again since and the sensor defintiely does not seem to be working (waving hans furiously in front proves this )

I know you will say the first thing i should do is take it down and check my wiring but just wondering if there are any common problems with these or anything else I can check without removing it.

thanks

Sounds like a loose wire or faulty sensor to me. Many of the cheaper versions of these lights/sensors are junk.

These are pretty uncomplicated. It sounds lik a loose connection. Perhaps why it stayed on in the first instance was because of the self-generated heat on the loose connection. Then when you turn it of, it cools and the connection slips. Maybe?

ClubMan said:

Sounds like a loose wire or faulty sensor to me. Many of the cheaper versions of these lights/sensors are junk.

Click to expand...

Can you recommend a brand or alternative to the halogen type that is good in case I need to get another one. I'd be willing to pay a bit more for one that works properly (and doesn't spike the esb bill by failing to turn itself off !!)

cheers

You get what you pay for. Check out range by Steinel, [broken link removed] the only problem with them is they cost 5 times as much as the DIY shed's offernings

Link to manufactures http://www.steinel.de/en

the wonders of electricity,you may need a proffessional.

Have noticed a new range of energy saving ones in B&Q recently. Other DIYs probably doing them too.