LED Flood lamps

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growler

growler

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Atlanta,GA
Went on a service call yesterday. Flood lights installed by handyman or homeowner.

The lamps were flashing on and off. The owner had purchased Ecosmart flood lights and LED lamps from HD. Checked the box that the lights came in and sure enough the LED lamps were not listed as acceptable with this fixture. Purchased acceptable lamps and problem solved.

Just something to watch out for. Make sure flood lights and lamps are compatable. Saves on ladder time.
 
James L said:
In what way were these lamps not listed as acceptable?

Was there a list right on the box?
Click to expand...

Yes there was a list of compatable lamps listed right on the front of the box (for the new flood lights). And the LEDs were not on the list.

Good thing they still had the box.

I had never noticed this before.

The owner had bought Ecosmart lights and lamps thinking they would be compatable. It even stated that CFL type lamps needed to be dimmable.

I think it has something to do with the energy saving function of the fixture that allowed the light to be on at a dimmed setting. But even when this function was turned off the LEDs would not work properly.

Moral of story: Read the label.
 
After reading a bit on the subject it turns out that LED lamps don't draw enough current for the motion detector function to operate correctly.

They could state that on the front of the box and make it more simple for the average homeowner to buy lamps. :slaphead:
 
growler said:
After reading a bit on the subject it turns out that LED lamps don't draw enough current for the motion detector function to operate correctly.

They could state that on the front of the box and make it more simple for the average homeowner to buy lamps. :slaphead:
Click to expand...

I've ran into that before. The last floodlight I installed on my house has one LED lamp and one fluorescent lamp installed. It works that way but it may just be luck of the draw that I got a fluorescent lamp that works.
 
If you have a two lamp fixture you can make one of them LED while the other (halogen?) supplies the needed power off current drain.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
growler said:
After reading a bit on the subject it turns out that LED lamps don't draw enough current for the motion detector function to operate correctly.

They could state that on the front of the box and make it more simple for the average homeowner to buy lamps. :slaphead:
Click to expand...

Are you saying these fixtures are compatible with some LEDs (and there was a list of compatible LED bulbs on the box), or are you saying this fixture (motion detector) is not compatible with any LED?
 
James L said:
Are you saying these fixtures are compatible with some LEDs (and there was a list of compatible LED bulbs on the box), or are you saying this fixture (motion detector) is not compatible with any LED?
Click to expand...

they don't draw enough power to activate the control circuits.

same thing with dimmers. one LED on a dimmer sometimes doesn't
draw enough to allow the dimmer to function.

i measured 4" down lights last week that pull 7 watts each. one of
those on a dimmer isn't going to work well.
 
Fulthrotl said:
they don't draw enough power to activate the control circuits.

same thing with dimmers. one LED on a dimmer sometimes doesn't
draw enough to allow the dimmer to function.

i measured 4" down lights last week that pull 7 watts each. one of
those on a dimmer isn't going to work well.
Click to expand...

I get that. some dimmers & drivers have a minimum load requirement, and some don't. but some dimming technology is simply not compatible with certain types of LED drivers

And I thought that's what he was getting at with this motion sensor. It kind of sounded like he was saying it's compatible with some Led but not all LED, and that there was a list of compatible LED bulbs on the box. I thought that would be quite strange

but other comments seemed to indicate that this motion sensor may not be compatible with any LED whatsoever.

I was asking as it related to my first perception, because I haven't heard of any type of scenario where a motion sensor would be compatible with certain LED bulbs but not all LED bulbs

As far as minimum load requirement for a motion sensor, I understand that and I had the same concern recently.

my customer wanted his outside lights on a timer and photocell and motion sensor. He wanted them to come on when it got dark, and have the timer switch them over to the motion sensor at midnight

I ended up using an ice cube relay, and thought I might be controlling the coil with the motion sensor. after putting it on paper, it was an unfounded concerned because I ended up using the timer to control the relay coil

So this thread kind of piqued my interest
 
James L said:
I get that. some dimmers & drivers have a minimum load requirement, and some don't. but some dimming technology is simply not compatible with certain types of LED drivers

And I thought that's what he was getting at with this motion sensor. It kind of sounded like he was saying it's compatible with some Led but not all LED, and that there was a list of compatible LED bulbs on the box. I thought that would be quite strange

but other comments seemed to indicate that this motion sensor may not be compatible with any LED whatsoever.

I was asking as it related to my first perception, because I haven't heard of any type of scenario where a motion sensor would be compatible with certain LED bulbs but not all LED bulbs

As far as minimum load requirement for a motion sensor, I understand that and I had the same concern recently.

my customer wanted his outside lights on a timer and photocell and motion sensor. He wanted them to come on when it got dark, and have the timer switch them over to the motion sensor at midnight

I ended up using an ice cube relay, and thought I might be controlling the coil with the motion sensor. after putting it on paper, it was an unfounded concerned because I ended up using the timer to control the relay coil

So this thread kind of piqued my interest
Click to expand...


As far as I know this motion sensor is not compatable with any LED lamps. None were listed.

This particular fixture had both a motion sensor and a dimming function so there were actually two concerns. If CFL lamps were to be used the manufacturer required they be dimmable.
 
Is it motion activated and burned less than 365 hrs a year? Install PAR38 or flood halogen and be done with it.

LEDs will continue to run into compatibility issues with controls... and this guy paid his price having to call for service.
 
growler said:
After reading a bit on the subject it turns out that LED lamps don't draw enough current for the motion detector function to operate correctly.

They could state that on the front of the box and make it more simple for the average homeowner to buy lamps. :slaphead:
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting that. It probably explains why my back porch motion detection light isn't working.
 
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