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    dgeist's Avatar
    dgeist Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    May 8, 2007, 12:27 PM
    Motion Sensor switch with compact flourescents
    I recently installed a 3-position motion sensor switch (off/auto/on) to replace a simple 2-way decora rocker for the recessed pots in my laundry. There are 3 of them. Immediately after installing them, I noticed the lights flickering when in auto mode and also a low hum eminating from the breaker panel. Neither are present if I put the switch in "on" position.

    The instructions say only use high-frequency self-starting flourescents, but I don't know if the CF's qualify (and if that's the reason they flicker).

    Also of note was that the neutral and hot were from different branches (yes, I immediately wanted to go slap the person who did it that way) and they MAY be from different breakers. Not sure on that. Would that cause the hum?

    Thanks.
    Dan
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #2

    May 9, 2007, 11:09 AM
    Even thou the neutrals and hots are separate and should not be that way, I do not think that is contributing at all to your flickering problem. The power still comes from the same source, and all circuits start from there, this is assuming some other wired or funky thing was not done with these circuits.

    I believe there is a mismatch in products, between the sensor and CF lamps, even thou the sensor is probalby rated for fluorescent lamps. There may be an issue with compatibility with the electronics in the sensor and the lamp.

    If you can provide the make and model numbers from each perhaps we can do some research on both.
    dgeist's Avatar
    dgeist Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    May 9, 2007, 11:19 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by tkrussell
    I believe there is a mismatch in products, between the sensor and CF lamps, even thou the sensor is probalby rated for flourescent lamps. There may be an issue with compatiblity with the electronics in the sensor and the lamp.

    If you can provide the make and model numbers from each perhaps we can do some research on both.
    I'm glad to hear my evaluation was on par with the experts. I'll be gutting and re-doing the room and straightening out 40 years of DIY wiring faux-pas soon anyway. For now, I put incadescants in the 3 pots and they're working fine. I'm suspecting my "el-cheapo" brand CF's were to blame (and couldn't co-exist with anything else that had any kind of transformer in it. I'll get a quality unit next time I'm at the orange apron store and report back if the problems recur. Thanks for the response.

    Dan
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