Help with LED spotlights connected to PIR sensor

[Puma]

Hi all,

I have a standard home security PIR sensor fitted to my garage, with 8 sunken GU10 50w 240v spotlights fitted around the front and side to provide ambient lighting to enter the house.

I had a number of bulbs blow over time and decided to replace with 3w led GU10 bulbs for energy saving and long life benefits.

They work perfectly when the PIR trips, but when the sensor is dormant in the off state the led bulbs flash constantly on and off.

I've since read online that this is probably due to some current leakage through the PIR which would not have been visible with the old lights, but can't find any solution to the problem, or a PIR sensor that will support LED 240v low wattage led lights.

Has anyone found a solution to this or have any suggestions - apart from opening a disco on my driveway :-/ ?

I am a DIYer and not an electrician as you can no doubt tell!

Thanks

 

[NozSpark]

What type of lamp is in the security light?

The problem you have is called capacitive coupling and can normally be cured by making sure that at least 1 lamp is a regular (energy guzzling) one.

 

[steptoe]

it might be a bit heath robinson, but, as Noz suggests, try changing one of the LEDs for a normal 50W halogen,

its a strange phenonemon(?) that no-one seems to have a definitive answer for just yet, it also happens with CFL type lamps as well.

 

[Puma]

Thanks guys that's a good suggestion, i'll give that a go and post back the result.

NozSpark, it's a separate PIR sensor with the downlights just wired in sequence from the switched output.

Really appreciate the quick response

 

[NozSpark]

You can also wire a capacitor across the L&N, I don't know what value though

 

[sparky b]

You can also wire a capacitor across the L&N, I don't know what value though

^ +1 (but don't the value either!!!)

 

[Revved Up Sparky]

Perhaps installing a contactor (energised by the 230V output of the PIR) would be another way of sorting it out ?

 

[NozSpark]

It's an easy fix on a 1 way switched circuit using a 2 way switch (loop at switch), but that doesn't help

 

[Puma]

Well Heath Robinson triumphs again! Fitted a standard 50w GU10 to the last socket in the chain and the flashing stopped immediately, but all seems to work fine when the PIR trips.

Thanks to all for your help

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Perhaps installing a contactor (energised by the 230V output of the PIR) would be another way of sorting it out ?

You get a similar problem on the contactor coil. That happened to us years ago when PIR sensors started being specified on blocks of flats corridors. The manufacturers told us to fit a capacitor and i cant remember the value either.