Help with CFL's and PIR lights

[andy8758]

Anyone help me with a problem with external lights switched with a PIR? Customer wanted 3 installed, done. No problems - everything tested OK, lights worked with CFL energy saving bulbs requested by customer. Then the lights started to fail - seems to be a problem with the PIR switch. Spoke to supplier who tells me that the failure is due to my use of the CFL energy saving bulbs which the PIR cannot handle.

I knew that use of CFL's with some dimmer switches causes problems, but was unaware of this conflict with PIR's. Have to say that always previously used halogen bulbs or candle bulbs in outside lights with PIR's.

Can anyone explain to me - is supplier right about this fault, and why?

Many thanks, in ignorance, Andy headbang

 

[Apache]

Look at the rating of the PIR, they tend to specify a minimum and a maximum watts.

 

[NozSpark]

Some PIR's will not switch CFL's..

in simple terms this is because they use an "electronic relay" instead of a mechanical one

 

[batty]

Why would you want to use energy saving lamps on an item that is only on for a few minutes. Low energy lamps are not designed for constant switching.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Anyone help me with a problem with external lights switched with a PIR? Customer wanted 3 installed, done. No problems - everything tested OK, lights worked with CFL energy saving bulbs requested by customer. Then the lights started to fail - seems to be a problem with the PIR switch. Spoke to supplier who tells me that the failure is due to my use of the CFL energy saving bulbs which the PIR cannot handle. I knew that use of CFL's with some dimmer switches causes problems, but was unaware of this conflict with PIR's. Have to say that always previously used halogen bulbs or candle bulbs in outside lights with PIR's.

Can anyone explain to me - is supplier right about this fault, and why?

Many thanks, in ignorance, Andy headbang

Yep supplier is right IMHO!

Consider the evidence:-

Typical instruction sheet for a standalone 'IQ' brand PIR sensors states that the lighting load must not exceed......

2000W Tungsten Halogen,

1000W Incandescent

500W Fluorescent

and that it is NOT recommended to use this product with compact fluorescent energy saving lamps.

ALSO

many energy saving bulbs in their small print on the side say:

Do not use with...

Dimmers,

PIR sensors,

Enclosed light fittings,

Or electronic timer control circuits!

:|

Which IMHO rather limits their practical use in the real world!