2D lights on a motion sensor

[dannyc]

Just wondering if anyone has had problems with 2D 4 pin light bulbs constantly blowing. In a boarding house there are a total of 24 every 3 on a motion sensor and was informed before i left today to have a quick look tomorrow as they are changing about 5 bulbs a week! All the circuits are rated and installed correctly, just didnt know if these bulbs were not meant to be sensored.

Cheers

 

[telectrix]

replace with LED fittings.

 

[Guest77]

The knack with switching fluorescents on sensors is to ensure they run for a decent period of time, if they are off and on a lot and the timer set to a short time the lamps will not last long, and you can shorten the life of the control kit as well. This is well known by lighting companies, some of them actually inform the installer in instructions on some of their products.

 

[ImpededLoop]

As MDJ says. Also, being 4 pin, are they maintained emergency? If so, switching the permanent live off regularly burns the ends of the lamps out quickly as they keep powering up from the batteries.

It could also be cheap lamps that's the cause.

 

[davesparks]

How does being 4 pin lamps relate to them being maintained fittings?

 

[ImpededLoop]

I'm happy to be corrected, but I always thought maintained 2D's are 4 pin. I've been wrong before though....

 

[rapparee]

I'm happy to be corrected, but I always thought maintained 2D's are 4 pin. I've been wrong before though....

You can get both 4 and 2 pin for 2d lamps

 

[Darkwood]

Standard flourescents have 4pins regardless of having EM backup if you think about it, 2 or 4 pin doesn't denote this...

@OP .. You shouldn't be switching CFL's at all with PIR's this will just burn out the lamp ends in no time if they are switching a lot, as above replace with a suitable fitting that isn't prone to lamp life issues. If you choose LED then ensure your PIR has relay switching and not solid state switching. Flourescents can be activated by PIR but usually specialised energy saving electronic versions where the PIR takes them from a dimmed dormant mode to full brightness, this is not the same as switching off and on.

 

[ImpededLoop]

You can get both 4 and 2 pin for 2d lamps

Yes you can. But can you get a 2 pin maintained emergency?

 

[rapparee]

Just wondering if anyone has had problems with 2D 4 pin light bulbs constantly blowing. In a boarding house there are a total of 24 every 3 on a motion sensor and was informed before i left today to have a quick look tomorrow as they are changing about 5 bulbs a week! All the circuits are rated and installed correctly, just didnt know if these bulbs were not meant to be sensored.

Cheers

Let the fittings come on for at least 20 mins on pir and replace failed lamps immediately the electronic ballast will fail if lamp is not replaced