Mixing Photocells, Ballasts, LED Fixtures

[Onealelectrictn]

I have a client that would like some minimal repairs/replacements made on the exterior lighting of their commercial building. There are twelve wall packs fed with a photocell and a contactor and now four of the fixtures need to be replaced as well as the photocell. Has anyone had issues combining a new photocell with a mix of MH ballast fixtures and new LED fixtures, in terms of compatibility? At the end of the day, I’ll have 8 MH ballast fixtures and four LEDs. Thanks.

 

[Flicker Index]

Contactor does not care what you put behind them.

Also, depending on what the wall pack is doing, the power consumption can sometimes be cut back to practically zero and improve security at te same time by putting in a motion activated type in places that do not need to be on in absence of motion. This obvious can't be done with metal halide due to their long restart time

 

[Onealelectrictn]

Contactor does not care what you put behind them.

Also, depending on what the wall pack is doing, the power consumption can sometimes be cut back to practically zero and improve security at te same time by putting in a motion activated type in places that do not need to be on in absence of motion. This obvious can't be done with metal halide due to their long restart time

I agree. My concern is more about the photocell performing correctly it’s a mix of fixtures.

 

[LarryFine]

I agree. My concern is more about the photocell performing correctly it’s a mix of fixtures.

From your description, the only load on the photocell is the contactor's coil.

What the contactor contacts control has no effect on the load the photocell sees.

 

[Onealelectrictn]

From your description, the only load on the photocell is the contactor's coil.

What the contactor contacts control has no effect on the load the photocell sees.

Thanks Larry. That makes sense.

 

[Little Bill]

I do know that PC that will be running LED lights directly have to be rated for LED. But since there is a contactor involved, I don't think it matters.

 

[LarryFine]

Thanks Larry. That makes sense.

I do that sometimes.

This is the main reason for using contactors: to isolate the controller from the loads.