Halogen motion detection lamp

Gordon Gekko

The bulb on my newish (6mths old) outdoor halogen motion-sensitive floodlight seems to have blown.

This seems very soon for it to blow - although there was one particularly windy night recently where I reckon it may have been on all night due to the clothes on the line setting it off.

Is it just a blown bulb, or something more serious? I can hear the sensor kind of 'clicking' on when I step under it.

Are the bulbs a)pricey; b)difficult to source and fit?

Advice gratefully received!

Neil_Sedaka

You should be able to get a bulb for less than a fiver in almost any hardware shop, check the rating on the bulb (probably 500Watt) or better still bring the old bulb with you.

If the unit is clicking, then I would assume it's getting power, so most probably a blown bulb allright.

When installing the new bulb, don't touch the glass with your hand as fingerprints or grease wil affect its lifespan.
If you do touch it, wipe it clean with a cloth dipped in some alcohol.

delly

Looks like its just blown. You should get longer out of it, but it may have just been its time. Mine is on all night and i've had it nearly a year. Bulbs are quite common and should only be a few quid in your local DIY. Make sure to match the wattage size and not to touch the bulb when you replace it as this can shorten its life.

stag39

also make sure the power is off before u replace the bulb....try not to replace it in the rain either...

if the combined halogen light with sensor starts giving problems.. replace it.. they arn't very reliable..

joejoem

Hey, slightly off topic.... Do these use much electricity?

tabatha

they eat the electricity! i noticed recently that my light was turning on everytime there was a breeze. anyway, i opened up my press to turn it off (i have a switch for it beside the main fuse board). when i did i noticed that the little red line of the fuse board was whizzing around. there was nothing else on in the house. so i turned off the light and it stopped. as soon as i turned it back on again it started to turn!

joejoem

tabatha wrote:

they eat the electricity! i noticed recently that my light was turning on everytime there was a breeze. anyway, i opened up my press to turn it off (i have a switch for it beside the main fuse board). when i did i noticed that the little red line of the fuse board was whizzing around. there was nothing else on in the house. so i turned off the light and it stopped. as soon as i turned it back on again it started to turn!

Crrrrrrrrrrap! Thats it, the madra will have to get used to the dark!

Sleipnir

I've seen some threads in my time but people posting for advice when a bulb blows?
How many boardsies does it take to change a light bulb......:rolleyes:

joejoem

Sleipnir wrote:

I've seen some threads in my time but people posting for advice when a bulb blows?
How many boardsies does it take to change a light bulb......:rolleyes:

21 1/2


How many smart arses does it take to.................. damn it I cant think of anything smart. Too early!

Sleipnir

.....change a lightbulb?
If he's a real smartarse he'll get someone else to do it.

stag39

joejoem wrote:

Crrrrrrrrrrap! Thats it, the madra will have to get used to the dark!

whats a madra?????:D

woof!!!!

for ur info :-

halogen lights for these fittings come in 500, 300, 200 watts an for the mini halogen 150 watts.....

i.e. 500 watts = 1/2 a bar of a electric fire equivelent..

johnnyrotten

the clicking noise is the replay switching whenit detects movement. Most probably the Lamp is blown allright. When buying a replacment lamp pay the extra few Euro and get a good quality lamp like GE or Phillips.
Good advice from Neil Sedaka regading not touching the lamp, Wrap some paper around it.
What wattage is the fitting. Most are 500 watts which obviously uses less than 1/3 the juice.