Lamp Post Photocell: How to swap out a new one

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 08-16-2023, 02:34 PM
bsloan1960 bsloan1960 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 514
Thanks: 16
Thanked 933 Times in 207 Posts
Default Lamp Post Photocell: How to swap out a new one

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
__________________
Dance Like No One Is Watching
  #2  
Old 08-16-2023, 02:55 PM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 16,778
Thanks: 2,914
Thanked 16,011 Times in 6,273 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bsloan1960 View Post
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
  #3  
Old 08-16-2023, 03:37 PM
villagetinker's Avatar
villagetinker villagetinker is offline
Sage
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Village of Pinellas
Posts: 10,895
Thanks: 3
Thanked 7,907 Times in 2,874 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bsloan1960 View Post
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.
__________________
Pennsylvania, for 60+ years, most recently, Allentown, now TV.
  #4  
Old 08-16-2023, 03:40 PM
Stu from NYC Stu from NYC is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 15,018
Thanks: 1,250
Thanked 16,011 Times in 6,256 Posts
Default

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.
  #5  
Old 08-16-2023, 03:44 PM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 16,778
Thanks: 2,914
Thanked 16,011 Times in 6,273 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu from NYC View Post
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.
  #6  
Old 08-16-2023, 03:49 PM
Joeint Joeint is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Village of DeSoto
Posts: 201
Thanks: 1,206
Thanked 116 Times in 67 Posts
Default

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.
  #7  
Old 08-16-2023, 03:54 PM
Topspinmo's Avatar
Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 14,569
Thanks: 7,327
Thanked 5,944 Times in 3,048 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bsloan1960 View Post
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.
  #8  
Old 08-16-2023, 04:00 PM
Topspinmo's Avatar
Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 14,569
Thanks: 7,327
Thanked 5,944 Times in 3,048 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joeint View Post
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.
  #9  
Old 08-16-2023, 04:05 PM
Topspinmo's Avatar
Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 14,569
Thanks: 7,327
Thanked 5,944 Times in 3,048 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 View Post
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.
  #10  
Old 08-16-2023, 04:06 PM
Topspinmo's Avatar
Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 14,569
Thanks: 7,327
Thanked 5,944 Times in 3,048 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu from NYC View Post
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?

Last edited by Topspinmo; 08-17-2023 at 08:26 AM.
  #11  
Old 08-16-2023, 06:19 PM
Stu from NYC Stu from NYC is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 15,018
Thanks: 1,250
Thanked 16,011 Times in 6,256 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Topspinmo View Post
Sure he just didn’t score in photo cell light bulb?
Yes as I have had to replace the bulb a few times since.
  #12  
Old 08-16-2023, 07:15 PM
pokeefe45@aol.com pokeefe45@aol.com is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 100
Thanks: 1
Thanked 105 Times in 49 Posts
Default

///

Last edited by pokeefe45@aol.com; 08-17-2023 at 09:48 AM.
  #13  
Old 08-17-2023, 04:14 AM
sdeikenberry sdeikenberry is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 410
Thanks: 35
Thanked 646 Times in 247 Posts
Default

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.
  #14  
Old 08-17-2023, 05:33 AM
La lamy's Avatar
La lamy La lamy is offline
Soaring Eagle member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 2,024
Thanks: 506
Thanked 2,403 Times in 992 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Topspinmo View Post
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.
  #15  
Old 08-17-2023, 05:45 AM
rhood rhood is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 695
Thanks: 3
Thanked 167 Times in 72 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by villagetinker View Post
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.
Closed Thread

Tags
pole, box, eye, guts, inside


You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:10 AM.