External lighting wiring

[Dru]

I have external lights switched through a contactor. I need to put in an override switch and they need come on via a photocell and be switched off by a time clock.

how do I wire it?

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The override is to override the lights on by the way

 

[Pete999]

How are these lights controlled at present,

 

[Bobster]

Photocell and Time clock in series, override switch parallel to both.

 

[Dru]

All new circuits

 

[Dru]

I don't get how to include the timeclock to switch them off

 

[Dru]

The switch wire from the photocell will switch the coil circuit but how do I wire the timeclock into it to switch that switch wire thus dropping out the contactor?

 

[Pete999]

Dru I don;t want to sound rude but this is basic stuff really, have a look at some basic control circuits you could pick up some pointers

 

[Bobster]

The time clock, will have some volt free contacts. Wire through them.

 

[Dru]

I know it's basic, that's why it's ****ing me off. I know how to do it but I can't figure it out for some stupid reason.

there aren't any volt free contacts on the timeclock. There is a permanent live, neutral and switch live

 

[MDJ]

I have external lights switched through a contactor. I need to put in an override switch and they need come on via a photocell and be switched off by a time clock.
how do I wire it?
The override is to override the lights on by the way

supply to timeclock then to photo cell and then onto contactor coil, a seperate switch for override reasons parralled up with the time clock straight onto the coil. if the timeclock switches on it will send power to the photo cell, if the photo cell calls for a supply because it has gone dark it will then send a supply to the coil. When the timeclock switches off it will cut the supply to the photo cell regardless of whether it is dark or not so you have what you desire, as well as that if you have a basic light switch with a feed to it and the switch wire back to the same connection on the coil as the photocell switch wire to the contactor then it will work.

 

[Dru]

Pete999

assistance would be appreciated

 

[Pete999]

Pete999

assistance would be appreciated

Alright I agree with MDJs appreciation of the problem

 

[MDJ]

Don't give me a hard time of the poor quality of the drawing, I have just scratched it down with a ink pen in 20 seconds flat lol, it could be neater and the line drawing much better, but it should give you an idea

 

[Bobster]

Wiring like that MDJ, dependent on what type of time clock you use would limit as to when the lights could be switched on by the photocell.

Unless that's what the O/P wants and I've misread

 

[MDJ]

Wiring like that MDJ, dependent on what type of time clock you use would limit as to when the lights could be switched on by the photocell.

Unless that's what the O/P wants and I've misread

I thought he meant the timeclock had to control the photocell, if not fine I can redraw.

 

[Dru]

Thanks for the help. It's so blindingly obvious when someone else lays it out like that. I was trying to go to the photocell first and hadn't looked past that. Feel stupid now. Thanks for the assistance

 

[MDJ]

Thanks for the help. It's so blindingly obvious when someone else lays it out like that. I was trying to go to the photocell first and hadn't looked past that. Feel stupid now. Thanks for the assistance

No worries, is that what you meant? Rob thinks you meant something else?

 

[Bobster]

Just dependent on the model used. A sangamo would operate fine as you've drawn it.

 

[MDJ]

Just dependent on the model used. A sangamo would operate fine as you've drawn it.

I was just chucking some info down on a drawing to help RoB, if he wanted a professional drawing done I am very capable, but 20 seconds with a bic is the best I can give right now fella.

 

[Bobster]

I wasn't having a go mate, I scribbled something down myself. The scanners on the other side of the office though...

 

[Deleted member 72666]

I would have it with the photocell output feeding the n/o volt free contacts on the timer to then feed the coil of the contactor, done that way it avoids the lights turning on momentarily every time the photcell is powered up by the timer during daylight hours. (Especially in the summer months)

 

[MDJ]

I would have it with the photocell output feeding the n/o volt free contacts on the timer to then feed the coil of the contactor, done that way it avoids the lights turning on momentarily every time the photcell is powered up by the timer during daylight hours. (Especially in the summer months)

Would you post a picture up of that stan?

 

[guest119]

I would have it with the photocell output feeding the n/o volt free contacts on the timer to then feed the coil of the contactor, done that way it avoids the lights turning on momentarily every time the photcell is powered up by the timer during daylight hours. (Especially in the summer months)

Agreed.
Needs a 4 wire clock to do it right though (volt free contacts).

Boydy

 

[Deleted member 72666]

Would you post a picture up of that stan?

Don't laugh at the scribbled drawing, (just like you spent very little time) Needs to be done with singles in conduit mind. And obviously the circuit would include cpc's, opd and means of isolation etc.

 

[guest119]

What is the purpose of the contactor in your drawing Stan?
you have combined the control circuit with the lighting circuit, therefor why the contactor?

Boydy

 

[Deleted member 72666]

What is the purpose of the contactor in your drawing Stan?
you have combined the control circuit with the lighting circuit, therefor why the contactor?

Boydy

The OP wants to use the timer and photocell to switch a contactor, but if it's only switching a few amps it aint needed. Also if configured slightly different the contactor could be used to switch banks of lights such as high bay and the like, but I showed it like that as I was using Mike's circuit. Don't really know why the op wants a contactor anyway.

Edit:
But you're right it's pointless unless it has it's own feed, It defetes the object really. I should've pointed that out really!

 

[Deleted member 72666]

Okay,this is how I'd do it if using a contactor.<br>
<img src="http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=23321&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="23321" alt="" id="vbattach_23321" class="previewthumb">

....And for loads >1kW