strange electrical occurance--trying to fix it

[billmarvin]

We disconnected the motion/sensor and installed a pig tail socket and incondescent lamp.After that, the teo fans had noeffect on the light. This brings up two questions: One, why is it that only the fans cause the light to come on when the fan switch is turned off? Two, why does the room lights in either the bath or laundry have no effect on the outside light? Could there be something in the electronic motiion/sensor and/or the photo cell mechanism built intothe motion sensor light fixture that senses the small arc that the fan sweitch makes when the switch is turned off? The light fixture is your typical unit sold at the big box stores. It has two flood lamps, a motion sensor, photo cell and settings for timeing, testing. and off /on switch.This same thing happens on the other side of the house on a totally different circuit.The outdoor fixture, in this case is a different make and manufacture. Would appreciate any help/ suggestions. Thank you Bill Marvin- Prather Electric--Prather, Ca

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[ January 20, 2005, 02:48 AM: Message edited by: bill addiss ]

 

[donniet]

Re: strange electrical occurance--trying to fix it

Could it be that the motion light coming on has nothing to do with electricity at all? When the fan is turned on, the motion of the louvers on the bath fan vent could be what the motion sensor is picking up. If the vent does not have louvers, I apologize.

 

[1793]

Re: strange electrical occurance--trying to fix it

If not louvers, could it be the heat from the fans setting off the sensor?

Norb

 

[jcormack]

Re: strange electrical occurance--trying to fix it

Starting / stopping of any current flow (light bulb, fan, heater) will cause a brief transient - the magnitude of this transient is related to the amount of current being stopped & the inductance of the circuit. Things connected to the same circuit would be exposed to this transient event.