[thecaptain]

Anything wrong with my thinking: i.e. wrong explanation of my wiring demon or easy fix?

Upgraded 7-year-old custom house with new halogen motion detectors (installed by electrician). One worked only 2 months, probably because the original had been wired into same wall switch as another detector. Never could control both, but the switch works a second one correctly. Am thinking of ignoring the non-working one and using a solar one installed at correct height (old one is 24 ft. up, making it difficult to work with).

Also put compact fluorescents in recessed fixtures. Have found out that turning on one set (3 together) also turns on the TV and/or satellite receiver. Installed these to keep from climbing up to replace regular ones. Was that a dumb idea? I had read much earlier that the new bulbs should not be used near a computer, but I have had no trouble with that, just the TV (which of course has a hard to reach power strip). TV is old, old, due to be replaced next year. Cannot turn receptor away from lighting which is not often used. Anyway.

[MagarElec]

Is the motion sensor controlling this set of "3 lights", have not heard of compacts, causing this... they will, cause interference with radio's from their ballast's...

Installed, HP motion detectors at a cottage once, with remotes for them to have to turn on lights, driving up long lane way... found out later, the units sent out waves, that disabled the remote car starters, on their vehicles... opps ;-)

[thecaptain]

The motion detector is a separate issue; instructions expllicitly said each deterctor needs its own wall switch and to install no more than 12 feet up. That's two errors in original wiring.

The compact fluorescents are definitely turning on the TV--I think the lights' reflection hits the remote receptor.

Satellite setup means I cannot move TV. I do not want to climb up to replace those new buibs, so I guess I just go turn the TV off when that happens. Maybe others need to be aware of interference with TV or computers that have wireless devices (mine does not).

[ceilingfanrepair]

I believe in isolating problems. This might be hard in your case because everything is mounted so high up. Me, I have 8, 12, and 28' ladders so.. .

For example, first I would check and see if there's voltage at the non-working motion detector light. If there is, I would try disconnecting the working light since the instructions say only one at a time-- I bet that's not an electrical issue, but so that one light doesn't trigger the other one, but it doesn't hurt to try. More than likely you simply have a defective light, or it is too high up to sense any motion. Install a sodium dusk/dawn light instead of it, or something.

As for the CFL's, are they on a dimmer? Try removing one bulb at a time. Try lighting only one bulb at a time. See if you can isolate a specific culprit.

[Stratmando]

Try turning on the lights with the receptor blocked.
Old, can mean very old, is it ultrasonic or infrared?

[thecaptain]

Well, the set remote is gone; the set is a Capehart. Maybe 1984? I use the satellite remote, and I assume it is infrared (that remote goes back to 2000).

I can block the receptor with a handkerchief; seems a sort of stupid thing to have to do. BTW, the wall switch that controls the set of recessed lights is in a far corner that is largely unused.

[Stratmando]

The reason I mentioned to block receptor, was to verify that Light is causing problem,

[thecaptain]

It is the light(s). I can block the receptor, but what I finally did was twist the set just enough (I think). Twisted the cabinet with the TV, the channel master, the satellite receiver, the VCR, and the DVD!

Daughter sent article about CFL and migraines and epilepsy. I know strobe lights, fireworks, and some Xmas lights cause trouble, and supposedly CFLs blink even though you do not notice. So what happens when the production of incandescents is stopped?