High freq lighting

[Doco]

Finishing up a job today in which we wired 22 high freq light fittings,which used P.i.r's for switching through a contactor to control the circuit. Lights came on then went into "disco mode" then after a short period cut out. I then tried to introduce a capacitor into the circuit and still no use,any suggestions to what I could do to get it working correctly??

 

[Golden_Boy]

Finishing up a job today in which we wired 22 high freq light fittings,which used P.i.r's for switching through a contactor to control the circuit. Lights came on then went into "disco mode" then after a short period cut out. I then tried to introduce a capacitor into the circuit and still no use,any suggestions to what I could do to get it working correctly??

Disco mode ???

 

[Marvo]

Finishing up a job today in which we wired 22 high freq light fittings,which used P.i.r's for switching through a contactor to control the circuit. Lights came on then went into "disco mode" then after a short period cut out. I then tried to introduce a capacitor into the circuit and still no use,any suggestions to what I could do to get it working correctly??

Can you give a link to the lights you have installed to give an idea of what they are.

Why and where in the circuit did you fit a cap?

Some more info would probably get more enthusiastic and helpful replies.

 

[ringer]

More than one PIR? How did you connect them (to each other and to the lights)? What make/model PIRs did you use? Should all the lights come on at once, or just some of them? Is the contactor suitably rated to take the load? Are the PIRs suitable to be used in conjunction with a contactor (probably, but best to check contactor operating current and PIR instructions)?

 

[Doco]

The type of light installed our 16w 2d fittings,using a time guard 360degree p.i.r to switch. There is 5 of them all on the circuit and when one p.i.r is activated all lights should come on. Problem is when we introduce the contactor it doesn't work, it is fine when contactor is passed? The distance of run is roughly around 160m would this have an affect perhaps? Wired in 2.5mm

 

[ackbarthestar]

I assume its a mains operated contactor?

1/ If the voltage across the coil of the contactor/relay is below its operating voltage it sometimes triggers oscillations at the contacts.

2/ You may have put some of your detectors in series and then triggered more than one at a time

3/ Could be excessive volt drop at coil

4/ could be a faulty coil or poor connection

5/ High frequency switching of the light ballasts may be affecting the PIR electronics

Just some thoughts

 

[ringer]

I agree with ackbar. Have you tried isolating all but one of the PIRs? That should establish if they are interfering with one another, or inducing suffcient volt/current drop (depending on how you connected them) so the contactor coil oscillates. The manufacturer of the PIRs should be able to tell you about whether they are suitable for switching HF lights. It is also a very long run - presumably why you used 2.5mm. Have you done VD calcs?

 

[ian.settle1]

Some PIRs require a certain load on the output side for them to work and a contactor coil may not be sufficant.