Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Like Puzzles? Solve This One Faster Than I Did
Old 08-19-2019, 06:08 AM   #1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Midpack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,204
Like Puzzles? Solve This One Faster Than I Did

This is just for fun, if you like puzzles - I assume most readers won’t be interested. I don’t think there is an easy solution, but I’m fine with it as is now that I understand.

We like having our outside lights on at night, and we’ve used aftermarket light controls/photocells (pic below) to automatically turn them on at dusk and off at dawn.

Our new house has a light outside the garage with two bulbs (pic below). So I went to HD and bought two light controls and put them between the bulb and the light socket as always.

Last night at dusk, DW went to check and said garage light is on (light control working) but one bulb is burned out. I was pretty sure both bulbs were good so I went out to check, sure enough only one bulb was lit.
  • I took the globe off and both bulbs lit up
  • I put the globe back on, left bulb went out.
  • Took globe off, both bulbs lit, and I changed the aim direction of both light controls.
  • Put globe back on, right bulb went out.
Went back and forth several times and found.
  • With globe off, both bulbs lit.
  • With globe on, only one bulb lit BUT could be either one
It took me about an hour, but I think I figured out what’s going on - but there’s no easy solution. Only one bulb will be lit every night.

Do you see what’s going on?
Attached Images
File Type: jpeg 06947053-77A0-4CFF-BD0C-4E6F68DE0494.jpeg (135.4 KB, 31 views)
File Type: jpg 6409D916-FC6A-478E-A6BF-2850B7E9B402.jpg (460.2 KB, 32 views)
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57

Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
Midpack is online now   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 08-19-2019, 06:14 AM   #2
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 150
The one that comes on first makes the second inoperable because of the light cast and reflection off the globe.

Take the glass out of the fixture and see if it work, maybe no reflection.
SonofCohoes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:17 AM   #3
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St. Charles
Posts: 3,903
Maybe I am making this too simple. It seems to me that there will always be one sensor that "sees the dark" first (shadows, other light sources could change which one this is). When globe is on, there is enough reflected light from the first bulb to prevent the second sensor from activating. When the globe is removed, no reflected light, both sensors detect dark.
__________________
If your not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
Never slow down, never grow old!
CardsFan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:17 AM   #4
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
RunningBum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13,202
Yep, and the globe is probably reflecting light back to the second bulb.
RunningBum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:21 AM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
RunningBum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13,202
Maybe this is ideal. Is it overridden by a switch, and/or when you open your garage door? If so, you get both bulbs on when you really need it, and one light on the rest of the time when there's less of a need, unless you have a real security need. I'd probably take the sensor out of the one that casts light where you need it less, to make sure the one you really want on comes on. Maybe you can return the other one.
RunningBum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:24 AM   #6
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St. Charles
Posts: 3,903
Quote:
Originally Posted by RunningBum View Post
Maybe this is ideal. Is it overridden by a switch, and/or when you open your garage door? If so, you get both bulbs on when you really need it, and one light on the rest of the time when there's less of a need, unless you have a real security need. I'd probably take the sensor out of the one that casts light where you need it less, to make sure the one you really want on comes on. Maybe you can return the other one.
Not sure that would work. Wouldn't that mean that bulb would stay on all the time? Day and Night?
__________________
If your not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
Never slow down, never grow old!
CardsFan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:26 AM   #7
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
pb4uski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,264
Quote:
Originally Posted by SonofCohoes View Post
The one that comes on first makes the second inoperable because of the light cast and reflection off the globe. ...
Exactly what I was thinking. Not sure if it would work, but try positioning the sensors in opposite directions.... one to the right and the other to the left.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.

Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
pb4uski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:27 AM   #8
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
njhowie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,931
Then if it is the case that the second one doesn't go on because the light of the first one reflects back, why wouldn't it likewise turn itself off for the same reason? Or cause itself to flicker on/off continually, or cause both to continually go on/off with one on and one off?

Maybe it has to do with the angle which the light is reflecting back and hitting the sensor of the second? Can you twist the base on so the sensor of the second faces in a different direction?
njhowie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:32 AM   #9
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: The Great Wide Open
Posts: 3,789
Put some black electricians tape on the globe of the light that's not coming on, you shouldn't need a lot, and shouldn't alter the "look" of the light. Like others mentioned, the reflection of one light is overriding the photocell..
Winemaker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:36 AM   #10
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
njhowie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,931
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winemaker View Post
Put some black electricians tape on the globe of the light that's not coming on, you shouldn't need a lot, and shouldn't alter the "look" of the light. Like others mentioned, the reflection of one light is overriding the photocell..
This will not work - because the light switch is always on - the photo cell is what is controlling if the power flows through to the bulb. If you put electrical tape to cover the sensor, it will always be lit.

An alternate solution is to have a programmable timer switch and not use the photo cell bases.
njhowie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:42 AM   #11
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
latexman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Apex and Bradenton
Posts: 1,790
We have a similar set-up, two dual bulb lanterns, one on each side of the garage. I put the lights on one timer. It's not as precise (on at dusk and off at dawn), but they are LEDs and don't use much electricity.
latexman is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:48 AM   #12
Moderator
Jerry1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 9,101
Quote:
Originally Posted by latexman View Post
We have a similar set-up, two dual bulb lanterns, one on each side of the garage. I put the lights on one timer. It's not as precise (on at dusk and off at dawn), but they are LEDs and don't use much electricity.
You can also get an astronomical timer which adjusts for sunrise and sunset.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Intermat...T01K/205478792
__________________
Every day when I open my eyes now it feels like a Saturday - David Gray
Jerry1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:48 AM   #13
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: The Great Wide Open
Posts: 3,789
Quote:
Originally Posted by njhowie View Post
This will not work - because the light switch is always on - the photo cell is what is controlling if the power flows through to the bulb. If you put electrical tape to cover the sensor, it will always be lit.

An alternate solution is to have a programmable timer switch and not use the photo cell bases.
I wanted the tape put on the inside of the globe to prevent the reflection lighting the sensor. Don't cover the sensor.
Winemaker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 07:00 AM   #14
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
njhowie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,931
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winemaker View Post
I wanted the tape put on the inside of the globe to prevent the reflection lighting the sensor. Don't cover the sensor.
The bulbs are both in the same globe. It would probably take a bit of trial and error to figure out where to place the tape and how big a piece would be needed.
njhowie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 07:08 AM   #15
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Senator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Williston, FL
Posts: 3,925
Buy LEDs and let them burn all day. It's cheap.

Change the light fixture.

A timer in the switch, or a sensor can be added to the switch, not a sensor on the bulb.

Turn the sensor 180 degrees from each other. You may have to bend the tab in the bottom of the socket to maintain contact if it unscrews too far.

Try a piece of electrical tape to make the aperture smaller. Enough so that full sun turns it off, and the light next to it does not. Maybe a hooded effect?

A combination of the above.
__________________
FIRE no later than 7/5/2016 at 56 (done), securing '16 401K match (done), getting '15 401K match (done), LTI Bonus (done), Perf bonus (done), maxing out 401K (done), picking up 1,000 hours to get another year of pension (done), July 1st benefits (vacation day, healthcare) (done), July 4th holiday. 0 days left. (done) OFFICIALLY RETIRED 7/5/2016!!
Senator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 07:46 AM   #16
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Midpack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,204
As I suspected, many of you figured it out faster than I did. I was sitting in the fam room with DW when it dawned on me, and I broke out laughing. The globe is reflecting light all around inside and the bulb that’s on is “telling” the other it’s daylight out and shuts it off. Once the globe is on, it doesn’t matter where the photocell is aimed, 180 doesn’t work either, I tried lots of orientations before it dawned on me. The timer is an interesting solution (DW might want it), but it think I’ll just pull one bulb and cover the socket, bulbs and light controls will last twice as long. The light is ornamental (small base bulbs) so it doesn’t matter how much light it puts you. Hope you enjoyed the puzzle.
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57

Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
Midpack is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 08:43 AM   #17
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,172
not as easy as screw-in sensors (and don't even know if they exist) but a single sensor wired in before the light fixture should allow both bulbs to come on as they normally do.
kaneohe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 09:59 AM   #18
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 5,803
We solved a similar problem by switching to LED and now just leave them on all the time.
__________________
Give a Man a fish, he will eat for a day.
Teach a Man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.
pacergal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 10:30 AM   #19
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Cobra9777's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,024
Whatever you do, change to LED. We have a total of 5 porch/garage lights that are on dusk-to-dawn. I bought a 6-pack of A19 8w LEDs with built-in sensors. It was around $30 on Amazon for the 6. The energy saving is significant for anything that burns that long.
__________________
Retired at 52 in July 2013. On to better things...
AA: 85/15 WR: 2.7% SI: 2 pensions, SS later
Cobra9777 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 10:53 AM   #20
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Midpack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cobra9777 View Post
Whatever you do, change to LED. We have a total of 5 porch/garage lights that are on dusk-to-dawn. I bought a 6-pack of A19 8w LEDs with built-in sensors. It was around $30 on Amazon for the 6. The energy saving is significant for anything that burns that long.
You may not have noticed in my earlier post, but my garage light has small base (E12?) bulbs, the bulb you’re describing is the more USA common E26. I’ll see if I can find an outdoor LED with an E12 base.

[edit] Found one but it won’t work in my fixture anyway https://www.amazon.com/Night-Sensor-...gateway&sr=8-5
Quote:
IMPORTANT NOTE: MAKE SURE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A CERTAIN DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO BULBS (MORE THAN 3.28 FT) DUSK TO DAWN BULBS:
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57

Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
Midpack is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Puzzles that Nobody Cares About sengsational Other topics 4 11-04-2017 09:19 AM
Solve two problems with one move? cute fuzzy bunny Other topics 9 04-02-2006 09:34 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:54 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.