Replacing External Pir Floodlight

[zigsterabg]

Hi,
 
Trying to connect new external PIR lamp - replacing old one.  Unfortunately, I have forgotten the order of cables.  It is a two way switch - i.e internal switch and the PIR.
 
So external cable has four wires - blue, red and yellow plus earth.
internally blue in connected to black cable
internally red is connected to red in wall switch
internally yellow is connected to wall switch
 
So question is where should the wires go on the external lamp?

In the lamp there is a four way connector - red connected to PIR on one side and lamp on the other, two earths on one side, brown on one side connected to PIR and two blues on one side connected to lamp and PIR.
 
Any help appreciated.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Red goes to L. Yellow goes to Sw L. Blue goes to N . Bare or yellow/green goes to earth

If the light stays on swap the red and yellow connections. Its not possible to tell which way round from your description but it wont do any damage. Make sure uts turned off at the mains before touching

 

[ProDave]

And just a note to others reading.

This thread shows the importance of drawing a diagram, or taking a picture of how it was connected BEFORE you remove any wires.

 

[zigsterabg]

Thanks for fast reply.

However, the only markings I have are N, L and earth.  No Sw L.

Would post picture but apparently not allowed to!

I normally do take piccies but for some reason I thought this would be an easy switch!  Always good advice!

Any idea how I could share a picture on here?

 

[ProDave]

The SL inside the light is the unmarked terminal.

They often don't label it as you don't have to use it, indeed you are probably not encouraged to use it. but you can.

To further "complicate" it can I ask how you WANT it to work?

Wired as it was with all 3 wires connected, the light would always be "active" that is whenever it is dark, the light would come on with the sensor. The switch would function as an override to turn the light on when not activated by the sensor.  

Is that how you want it to work? bear in mind there is no way to isolate it to change a lamp other than turn it off at your consumer unit.

The alternative is to have the switch just activating the light, i.e switch off, light will never come on and it's safe to change a lamp. Switch on and it will only come on after dark controlled by the sensor. When wired like that, many lights have an "override" facility activated by turning it off and then straight back on again. Read the instructions to see if your light operates like that.

Would you prefer it to operate that way?

 

[zigsterabg]

HI,

The LED is not replaceable so not really an issue.

Your last suggestion would be the better way I think.  Switch on at internal switch and then unit turns on and off according to sensor.

To complicate/confuse, the instructions say "IMPORTANT - Do not connect anything to the unmarked (pre-wired) terminal on the incoming side"

Could this be the unmarked connection you mention?

 

[ProDave]

HI,

The LED is not replaceable so not really an issue.

Your last suggestion would be the better way I think.  Switch on at internal switch and then unit turns on and off according to sensor.

To complicate/confuse, the instructions say "IMPORTANT - Do not connect anything to the unmarked (pre-wired) terminal on the incoming side"

Could this be the unmarked connection you mention?

Yes in that case, connect the blue to neutral, and the yellow to the live terminal in the light.

the red needs to be insulated somehow e.g just connect it into a spare bit of single way terminal block.

The reason for not connecting anything to the unmarked terminal is that it's probably not capable of driving anything else.

If it had been a halogen light, they have a relay inside to switch them on and off, and you can often connect to that terminal as an override or even to drive other lights.

But now we know this is an LED light, they operate at a much lower voltage and power and will use some form of solid state switch to turn the LED on or off, and connecting something to that unmarked terminal might damage something, so do as the instructions say, and don't use it for anything.

 

[zigsterabg]

Hi,

So that works in that nothing has blown up and internal switch can turn it on and off but the PIR sensor appears to do nothing.  So it stays on permanently.

 

[ProDave]

Read the instructions.

Often if you turn it on and off in quick succession, it goes into an "override" always on mode.

To get it back to normal, you usually turn it off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it on again (turn on only once)

Also, many PIR sensors need tome to "warm up" and only start operating after a minute or so, until then the light is often on but will turn off when the sensor has settled down.

there may also be a LUX control so you can adjust the amount of darkness needed before it will turn on. They usually come set to the daylight setting for testing it and you will need to turn it round to the night time setting for it to only come on at night.

 

[zigsterabg]

Unfortunately the instructions say nothing about switching on and off quickly, etc.

I have done as you have said but PIR still does nothing.  The settings for duration and sensitivity have been set to shortest time and least sensitive (ie night mode)

The red cable that is terminated is currently LIVE - should it be?

Just been reading the box it came in and it says there is no manual over-ride - could this be pertinent?

From the PIR there are three wires - red, brown and blue

Brown has no connection at the moment.

Red is LIVE with light switched on and blue connected to blue.

 

[ProDave]

There's your problem.

You should connect to the BROWN and the BLUE from the light. Ignore the red one from the light.

Yes your terminated (going nowhere) red wire from the house should be live all the time.

your yellow, switched live should go to the brown on the light.

 

[Apache]

Any idea how I could share a picture on here?

To stop spammers you need a minimum number of posts to post pictures and links.

I have upgraded your membership so you can now post pictures and links. You seem genuine

 

[zigsterabg]

Thank you all so very much!!

All working as expected now and without loss of life

Have attached link to photo of lamp before fitting and after in case this proves useful to others.

Thanks again Pro Dave!

Pre - http://www.flickr.com/photos/65635918@N03/9644277868/

Post - http://www.flickr.com/photos/65635918@N03/9642085389/

 

[ProDave]

Thank you all so very much!!

All working as expected now and without loss of life

Have attached link to photo of lamp before fitting and after in case this proves useful to others.

Thanks again Pro Dave!

Pre - http://www.flickr.com/photos/65635918@N03/9644277868/

Post - http://www.flickr.com/photos/65635918@N03/9642085389/

Glad it's all sorted.

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