Photocells are usually used in outdoor security lighting. Its purpose is to switch the lights on at dusk and turn it off at dawn. A photocell is designed to be sensitive to light and also to convert light into electrical current. How do you know if your photocell is bad? What are the reasons why photocell goes bad? How do you troubleshoot a photocell? Are photocell and solar cell the same? Check out the rest of the article below for the answer to these questions.<\/p>\n\n\n
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What are Photocell Lights?<\/h2>\n
Photocells are electronic devices that can be used for indoor or outdoor lighting. It improves the security of your home by automatically turning on the lights when it gets dark or when they detect motion.<\/strong> Because of their automatic on and off feature, you can save energy and money. We have also shared this article that discusses if one photocell can control multiple lights<\/a>. Check out the article for more information.<\/p>\n There are many ways to determine if a photocell is bad. Take note that a functional photocell reads 1020. If the photocells do not have the same reading, this can mean that the wires are shorted.<\/strong> If this is the case, you need to replace the photocell. You can also check out this article that we have written that discusses if a photocell will work in the shade<\/a>. We have shared tips and ideas that you can refer to.<\/p>\n Some of the reasons why photocells go bad include extraneous light, dust and shading, electrical, and incorrect settings.<\/strong> Let us learn more about these reasons below.<\/p>\n Electrical issues can cause the photocell to go bad. There are lighting fixtures that are controlled by a separate photocell unit that plugs into the light. There are instances wherein electrical connections can fail which can cause the security light to stay on all the time. This can also be caused by a loose wire or a defective connector. Take note that the electric current<\/a> should pass through the photocell switch for the light to turn on.<\/p>\n Another reason why photocells go bad is because of dust and shading. If the lights remain on during the day, it can be that the photocell is not getting adequate light. This can be because dust has accumulated on the photocell. If the lighting fixture is shaded by some object, it can also cause it to turn on even in the daytime. For the lighting fixture to properly function again, clean the area around the photocell to remove dust making sure that daylight reaches the cell.<\/p>\n One of the reasons why photocells go bad is because of extraneous light. For instance, if a security light that uses photocells shut off unexpectedly during the night, this can be because light falls on the photocell and causes the output current to increase. To find out if the lighting fixture has this issue, you can place an electrician\u2019s tape over the photocell. If the light stays on, you can fix the problem by shading the photocell from extraneous light<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another reason why photocells can go bad is because of wiring settings. A lot of outdoor lights have small dials that allow the user to set the light level so that the fixture turns on and off. The light will not operate if the characteristics or settings of the photocell have changed. Check the manual for instructions on how to correct the settings. You can adjust the dials or screws to increase or decrease the sensitivity of the photocell.<\/p>\n Wave Lighting, LLC shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses how to troubleshoot photocells. You can watch the video below for tips and information that you can refer to.<\/p>\n\n\nHow Do You Know If Your Photocell Is Bad?<\/h2>\n
Reasons Why Photocells Go Bad<\/h2>\n
Electrical<\/h3>\n
Dust and Shading<\/h3>\n
Extraneous Light<\/h3>\n
Wrong Settings<\/h3>\n
\u2705 Video \u2013 Photocells Troubleshooting<\/h4>\n