[mmclover]

With all the rain coming down today, it seem like the driveway light should be the least of my worries. Can anyone tell me how to turn them on/off. I notice that all of my neighbors driveway light come on and go off at the same time. Is this a programed thing? I cannot find a switch to turn my on or off. With three bulbs in it you wouldn't think they could all be blown? Any suggestions?

[`willy]

Mine works on a light sensor. No switch, It sounds like your GFI could be tripped.
Check the AC outlets in you garage. One should have a little button to reset.
Let me know if this helps

Willy

[F16 1UB]

No switch on ours. Light sensor only. I even asked the bldr during walk thru. I also changed bulbs out to flourscent. Ought to pay for itself by 2025. Helluva idea huh.

Green F16

[mmclover]

Don't know what a GFI is, but checked outlets in garage. Two have buttons to reset, which I did. Will see what happens tonight. Thanks for the tips, hope this works, if not maybe I will need it replaced.

Tried to change out a bathroom faucet yesterday and found plumbing connections I have never seen before. I will probably be looking for an electrician and a plumber soon.

[ejp52]

I've had all 3 bulbs go out at same time,with the high winds it could be bad bulbs,check bulbs before calling electrician.

[`willy]

GFI. Its for safety in areas where the circut could get wet.It trips very easy. The outside lite is on that circut so if one was tripped it should work. If it trips again you might have a problem. When I moved in to my house the circut would trip with any rain. I found one of the
outlets on the side of the house had a small leak sealed the box and all was fine.

Good Luck
Willy

[villager99]

light sensors may need replacement.
if you're not comfortable trying to problem solve or replace electrical fixtures yourself there are small electrical service companies doing regular business in the villages.
i use ace electrical.

[jojo]

I have the same problem. There are rain drops in the photocell sensor. I was told by neighbors to replace the photocell -- problem is it is in the center of the lamp post. I thought it is totally solar powered? I unscrewed the bulbs till I can figure out what to do.

[Sidney Lanier]

Originally Posted by mmclover

With all the rain coming down today, it seem like the driveway light should be the least of my worries. Can anyone tell me how to turn them on/off. I notice that all of my neighbors driveway light come on and go off at the same time. Is this a programed thing? I cannot find a switch to turn my on or off. With three bulbs in it you wouldn't think they could all be blown? Any suggestions?

If you're reasonably handy, it may not be necessary to hire an electrician. With the GFIs, those little buttons may look in the right position; however, I'd suggest that you manually push them off and then back on. Check your circuit breakers in the box in the garage, and the same is true here; if one looks like it's in the center position, you have to push it all the way OFF (opposite the way the rest of them are facing) and THEN flick it back on. We have friends whose pond filter in their lanai stopped working, and the problem turned out to be one of the GFI outlets in the garage. Go figure....

I might add that when we bought our house, the sellers told us that the light was not working and that they would have it fixed. They weren't able to and instead left us a new sensor and told us that if we had to hire someone to do it, they would pay for it. Believe it or not, ALL THREE BULBS had burnt out (and I could only conclude that they 'went' one after the other rather than simultaneously)! When I replaced the bulbs (after cleaning the light fixture of 3-1/2 years of bugs and the like...), it worked perfectly and did NOT need a new sensor. Try the least invasive repair first; you may be pleasantly surprised!

The sensor is not solar powered; rather, it is solar sensitive, so that when it gets dark, the darkness kicks on the power to the lights, and vice versa.

[jojo]

The GFI outlets are befuddling. Need to study. I did check my circuit breakers and switched what I think the lamp post might be on and off. Need to find the GFI outlet for the lamp post.

[gonzy]

I had to replace the light sensor on my outside light because it wouldn't shut off. If you take off the whole upper cap you can pull the wires up from iniside the pole and just wire up the new sensor same as the old one. Just like in a light switch the sensor makes or breaks the hot wire. Be sure to switch off the breaker if you decide to have a go at it. There is a liitle threaded nut which holds the sensor in place.

[billyD]

if you checked the gfi the photo cell is bad when they go bad the light will stay on all the time or it wont come on at all. you can get replacement at sweets or call elect.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by `willy

Mine works on a light sensor. No switch, It sounds like your GFI could be tripped.
Check the AC outlets in you garage. One should have a little button to reset.
Let me know if this helps

Willy

If the GFI is tripped that means that there is no electricity flowing through the circuit. How could the light be on if there is no current?

I admit that the question is not clear. If the light is on and will not go off, it could be something in the way of the sensor. Last year I had a vine that obscured the sensor. When I clipped away the vine, everything worked great.

Every one tries to make a difficult solution out of a simple problem. These responses are not addressing the problem. Before I would try and of these suggesions I would call an electrician.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by jojo

The GFI outlets are befuddling. Need to study. I did check my circuit breakers and switched what I think the lamp post might be on and off. Need to find the GFI outlet for the lamp post.

They should come and fix it Jo. It is under warrently. Ours wasn't working when we moved in and it was fixed right away.

[Fourpar]

There is a light sensor that turns the light on/off based upon how much ambient light exists. Thus your neighbors' go on/off at about the same time. If yours stays on/off all the time, no doubt you need to replace (or clean, remove obstruction from) the sensor (switch) on the side of the pole. Easy do it yourself project...But remember to trip circuit breaker in the garage before messing about with any wiring.