Lamp Post Photocell: How to swap out a new one

[bsloan1960]

I'm pretty sure my electric eye has gone bad. The only part showing is the the eye on the pole. The box that has the guts is in an attached box inside the pole. What are the steps to put in a new one?

Thanks

[retiredguy123]

I'm pretty sure my electric eye has gone bad. The only part showing is the the eye on the pole. The box that has the guts is in an attached box inside the pole. What are the steps to put in a new one?

Thanks
Here is a video that will show you how to do it. I would suggest that you take a photo of the sensor and go to ACE Hardware or Lowes to get the correct replacement sensor. Also, make sure that you find the breaker that turns off the lamppost before starting the project.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Orj2vAckYYo

[villagetinker]

I'm pretty sure my electric eye has gone bad. The only part showing is the the eye on the pole. The box that has the guts is in an attached box inside the pole. What are the steps to put in a new one?

Thanks

There are 2 other items that will cause the lamp post light to fail, this GFCI has tripped, or the bulb has failed. Depending on the age of the house, the GFCI could be a GFCI receptacle in the garage, or GFCI circuit breaker. As for the bulb(s) i have seen these fail after close by lightning strikes.

The sensor replacement is fairly easy, with the biggest problem getting the new sensor back in the hole after all of the wires are connected. I suggest you take a ladder out to the post to set the lamp assembly on as you work on the wiring.
And of course, turn off the power before doing any work.

[Stu from NYC]

We had to replace it when we bought our house. Went to Lowes told a salesguy we needed to replace the sensor and lived in the villages and he found the part.

Since I prefer to not mess with electrical stuff had the handyman we started using do it and took about 2 minutes perhaps less.

[retiredguy123]

We had to replace it when we bought our house. Went to Lowes told a salesguy we needed to replace the sensor and lived in the villages and he found the part.

Since I prefer to not mess with electrical stuff had the handyman we started using do it and took about 2 minutes perhaps less.
Personally, I would allow more than 2 minutes.

[Joeint]

The steps are as follows if you are not sure what to do and have not worked with electrical problems call a licensed electrician and have them do the work You'll burn your house down.

[Topspinmo]

I'm pretty sure my electric eye has gone bad. The only part showing is the the eye on the pole. The box that has the guts is in an attached box inside the pole. What are the steps to put in a new one?

Thanks

I got tire of replacing mine I just put photo cell bulb in for 3 bucks, now the bulb know when to come on and off. All of my photo cell pole failures was in the on position.

[Topspinmo]

The steps are as follows if you are not sure what to do and have not worked with electrical problems call a licensed electrician and have them do the work You'll burn your house down.

I agree safety first

It is on circuit breaker and not hot wired. But, agree have to have some knowledge of wiring. if not whoever can’t follow simple instructions or connect same color wires, or know how to cut power, and check make sure it off. Call someone.

[Topspinmo]

Personally, I would allow more than 2 minutes.

2 mins? I bet it too longer. I usually don’t bet unless it’s sure thing.

[Topspinmo]

We had to replace it when we bought our house. Went to Lowes told a salesguy we needed to replace the sensor and lived in the villages and he found the part.

Since I prefer to not mess with electrical stuff had the handyman we started using do it and took about 2 minutes perhaps less.
Sure he just didn’t screw in photo cell light bulb?

[Stu from NYC]

Sure he just didn’t score in photo cell light bulb?

Yes as I have had to replace the bulb a few times since.

[pokeefe45@aol.com]

///

[sdeikenberry]

When photcells fail, they fail in the on position, meaning the light won't go off during the daytime. Simple fix is to by a bulb with a built in photocell, leave the old post photocell in place, and go on with your life. Couldn't be easier.

[La lamy]

I got tire of replacing mine I just put photo cell bulb in for 3 bucks, now the bulb know when to come on and off. All of my photo cell pole failures was in the on position.

I did the same. That bulb works great and lasts a loooooooong time.

[rhood]

There are 2 other items that will cause the lamp post light to fail, this GFCI has tripped, or the bulb has failed. Depending on the age of the house, the GFCI could be a GFCI receptacle in the garage, or GFCI circuit breaker. As for the bulb(s) i have seen these fail after close by lightning strikes.

The sensor replacement is fairly easy, with the biggest problem getting the new sensor back in the hole after all of the wires are connected. I suggest you take a ladder out to the post to set the lamp assembly on as you work on the wiring.
And of course, turn off the power before doing any work.

Our circuit is not GFCI protected. It's on a regular breaker along with the doorbell.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

I'm pretty sure my electric eye has gone bad. The only part showing is the the eye on the pole. The box that has the guts is in an attached box inside the pole. What are the steps to put in a new one?

Thanks

I bought one at Anixter (on Rolling Acres) the original supplier, to be assured of a perfect fit. I used fishing twine to keep wires and hardware from falling through the post.

[jmsturm]

Don’t know how to do it but watched an electrician do it while changing my exterior lighting. Part cost $20 and it took him less than 5 minutes after removing light! I was surprised! Good luck.

[nn0wheremann]

I'm pretty sure my electric eye has gone bad. The only part showing is the the eye on the pole. The box that has the guts is in an attached box inside the pole. What are the steps to put in a new one?

Thanks
I bought a receptacle with a photocell switch at WalMart for about $5 and screwed it in to the light bulb socket, then screwed the light bulb into it. No muss, no fuss, no problems at all. Works perfectly.

[MrFlorida]

I've changed my sensor a few times already, and a few of the neighbors as well. Not hard to do, just make sure the breaker is off.

[MrFlorida]

ACE carries the same sensor that we use here in the Villages.

[Topspinmo]

I bought a receptacle with a photocell switch at WalMart for about $5 and screwed it in to the light bulb socket, then screwed the light bulb into it. No muss, no fuss, no problems at all. Works perfectly.

I just brought the photo cell light bulb for 3 bucks and screwed it in.

[Maker]

Shut the circuit breaker off, unscrew the existing one, cut the wires with scissors or a wire cutter- get a few 'nut caps' and tie and cap the existing wires-and then put the one at the link below right on the post. It's solar powered and darkness activated. Unless we enter a period of extreme darkness here in TV, it will be on like clockwork most nights and last longer than most of us. Trust me, it's not that tough to do-I was a liberal arts major

"Shut the circuit breaker off" ... How does someone verify power is 100% off? Assuming wrong generally is not good.

"scissors"... no. Great way to get hurt.

"nut caps" ... do you mean wire nuts? Do you know how to install them properly? What is the strip length? How many twists are done to the bare copper? How do you determine the wire gauge to pick the correct size? Is bigger better? What if it gets wet?

"and tie and cap" wires ... do you mean together or apart? One will entertain the neighborhood for a moment. If the post is sitting in concrete (not grounded) and you tie hot to post ground lead, someone touching to pole could be electrocuted. Not likely, but your vague advice could help make that more likely to happen.

Ever hear of a WAGO connector?

Sorry, but when someone does not know how to do electrical work properly, they should not be advising others how to do it either. Guessing wrong can be fatal. Being "close enough" doesn't count as doing it right.
Using that first "successful" wiring attempt from the lamp post project may provide confidence to try something else inside the home. Maybe a new light fixture, or new outlet. Making an improper connection generates heat as current flows through that bad junction. Heat causes a fire. Yes, it happens.

This is an easy project but ONLY IF you know what you are doing.

[Topspinmo]

When photcells fail, they fail in the on position, meaning the light won't go off during the daytime. Simple fix is to by a bulb with a built in photocell, leave the old post photocell in place, and go on with your life. Couldn't be easier.

Bingo!

[Topspinmo]

Our circuit is not GFCI protected. It's on a regular breaker along with the doorbell.

My house over 20 years old now and it’s on GFCI circuits. I bet it you have GFCI circuits in your house it’s on one somewhere?

[daca55]

I did the same. That bulb works great and lasts a loooooooong time.

Hi, where do you get those bulbs? Sounds much easier then replacing photo cell. Also when it is out you know it is the bulb.

Bob

[LonnyP]

There are YouTube videos out there. It really is simple. I did mine and I am not an electrician.

[DAVES]

I'm pretty sure my electric eye has gone bad. The only part showing is the the eye on the pole. The box that has the guts is in an attached box inside the pole. What are the steps to put in a new one?

Thanks

Foolish perhaps. I would do the most easy thing first which is to be sure the bulb is not blown and the circuit breaker has not been tripped. Our neighbor with a background as a handyman, changed his out and then discovered the bulbs were blown.

[Josephjmarchese]

After checking bulb and circuit breaker. Go to Hardware store and buy a screw in photo electric sensor. Screw it in, then screw in new bulb. Hopefully the existing sensor is in “on” position. Check at night to see if it is on. Did this for my neighbor and it fixed this problem quick

[DAVES]

I've changed my sensor a few times already, and a few of the neighbors as well. Not hard to do, just make sure the breaker is off.

Interesting-a few times. Ours it ten years old and still works. Perhaps, there is a reason why yours keeps failing.

[retiredguy123]

After checking bulb and circuit breaker. Go to Hardware store and buy a screw in photo electric sensor. Screw it in, then screw in new bulb. Hopefully the existing sensor is in “on” position. Check at night to see if it is on. Did this for my neighbor and it fixed this problem quick
No need for a separate screw in sensor. You can buy a bulb that has a built in sensor.

[pokeefe45@aol.com]

"Shut the circuit breaker off" ... How does someone verify power is 100% off? Assuming wrong generally is not good.

"scissors"... no. Great way to get hurt.

"nut caps" ... do you mean wire nuts? Do you know how to install them properly? What is the strip length? How many twists are done to the bare copper? How do you determine the wire gauge to pick the correct size? Is bigger better? What if it gets wet?

"and tie and cap" wires ... do you mean together or apart? One will entertain the neighborhood for a moment. If the post is sitting in concrete (not grounded) and you tie hot to post ground lead, someone touching to pole could be electrocuted. Not likely, but your vague advice could help make that more likely to happen.

Ever hear of a WAGO connector?

Sorry, but when someone does not know how to do electrical work properly, they should not be advising others how to do it either. Guessing wrong can be fatal. Being "close enough" doesn't count as doing it right.
Using that first "successful" wiring attempt from the lamp post project may provide confidence to try something else inside the home. Maybe a new light fixture, or new outlet. Making an improper connection generates heat as current flows through that bad junction. Heat causes a fire. Yes, it happens.

This is an easy project but ONLY IF you know what you are doing.

Ok-you make valid points. I'll delete my post and you can leave yours up as a learn. It really was safe and simple though, except I get your point about encouraging other's with half the story to try it.

[Haole boy]

I got tire of replacing mine I just put photo cell bulb in for 3 bucks, now the bulb know when to come on and off. All of my photo cell pole failures was in the on position.

Exactly what I did. Works fine.