Flashing PIR Floodlight problem

[Rudie]

Hi,

I have an external floodlight without a switch on the inside. a few months back it started to come on, then go off for like 3 seconds, then come back on again, then off, then on. i changed the unit and the new one was fine. then the same started to happen again with the new one. surely i cant have had 2 bad floodlights or is there anything else i can check? there is nothing moving within range to set off the pir. as a last resort i have had to remove the bulb so it doesnt keep going off all night!
Thanks in advance.

 

[Megavolt]

Have you carried out any testing on the wiring to the flood.

 

[Rudie]

no, house was already wired and would not know how to test

 

[Megavolt]

Ok bud you are going to have to get someone in to carry out a couple of tests for you.

 

[Rudie]

ok will do thanks.

 

[monkeyelectric]

Does the light have a sensitivity control on it? If so try backing that off a bit

 

[Rudie]

one thing i have noticed is that the floodlight is connected to the same wiring to the lighting in kitchen and garage, not sure if that helps.

 

[Rudie]

nah have tried the sensitivity setting - both ways.

 

[Johnuk]

shame the person who installed it never put a switch on it,

 

[Rudie]

so does it look like a higher voltage is feeding the flood? damaging the pir?

 

[FAA Greenie]

Does it only do the 3 second thing when you are walking in front of it? Or does it do it permanently? And would it quite literally do this 24/7 if you left it with the bulb in?

 

[Rudie]

does it permanently in the dark once activated. if i remove the bulb at night after switching off the circuits from mains and replace bulb during the day, its ok...until activated during the night

 

[telectrix]

it's either a faulty PIR or , less likely, something in the house causing the problem. this is doubtful as the new one would not have worked for a while. suggest replacing with a timeguard unit. the b&q and other cheapo one's are crap.

 

[Rudie]

i have the same pir unit on the front of the house and touch wood, that ones ok, but thats fed from a switch so can turn that one off by itself. the problematic pir was replaced with one from argos

 

[telectrix]

fit a timeguard or other decent make and stick a D/P switch in the circuit.

 

[Rudie]

 

[Rudie]

thanks telectrix, will definitely fit a switch on it, one thing is that when i changed over the pir unit, there was a double wire feed into the pir so its part of a ring loop, but i suppose when i add the switch, this will change to 1 feed.

 

[telectrix]

should not be 2 cables in the unit unless there's another one wired into it. check the wiring out thoroughly first.

 

[monkeyelectric]

I would fit an led unit this time if you're replacing it and make sure its a quality unit like a timeguard, also fit an switched fcu in the circuit near the light

 

[Rudie]

telectrix: yes defo 2 wires in it, think its part of the kitchen and garage lighting ring main.
monkeyelectric: yeah i'll get the wiring checked out and will get the switch put in and then change the unit from there...