Your message came thru loud and strong sweetie. I am right here. Just holler, I will hear you. Warm, dont feel lonely hugs, from Char (Temporaiily borrowing Rosies way of signing off. Hope she feels better REALLY soon.)
Hi group-having trouble getting messages so do not know if this will go through. Got your email Char and thanks. I am asking if my messages come through ok or funny and hard to read. Please tell again how to fix if I need to do this. Sorry to be a problem, but I am so bummed out with no messages to read. Shirlawn
>Hi group-having trouble getting messages so do not know if this will go >through.
Looks perfect to me! Best regards, Check out our website too–do you love oak furniture? http://www.barnfurniture.com
> > Re. > > The lamppost outside on my lawn has recently developed an interesting behavior > > (ever since I replaced the photosensor). Every time we have a big rainstorm, > > the lightbulb in the fixture explodes. > Nope. You’d never get condensation on a hot bulb. Condensation only > occurs on cold surfaces.
Yes your right. I was thinking of dampness forming on the bulb while it is off. The temperature quite often goes up during rain and the bulb would be cool/cold. Then photo sensor turns on the juice; bulb start to get hot and cracks. But I think the drip of cold water from a leaking ‘finial’ or cap on the fixture onto the hot bulb is more likely and that was based on someone’s actual experience. Terry S.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The lamppost outside on my lawn has recently developed an interesting behavior > (ever since I replaced the photosensor). Every time we have a big rainstorm, > the lightbulb in the fixture explodes. Really. Well, sometimes it cracks, > but usually it actually blows a hole out through the bulb. > On one occasion I found water inside what was left of the lightbulb, but the > rest of the fixture interior was bone dry. On the other three occasions when > this has happened, there’s been no water inside the fixture or the bulb. > I’m using plain old garden variety 60 watt bulbs in the fixture, and I’m sure > I sealed the opening around the photosensor against water intrusion. > (Besides, it’s a good 8 inches below the bulb and socket.) > I’m stumped. Anyone ever seen anything like this before? Got any suggestions > for what could be causing it or how to fix it before I resort to going out and > getting a new fixture for the post?
Got a globe over the bulb? Ventilation? I’d try a smaller bulb for less heat, providing there is protection to keep water off the bulb.
"My brother in law the electrician suggested not using compact fluorescents outside in the winter, because the starters don’t work all that well at low temperatures. I’m in New England, where it seldom gets about 25 degrees this time of year 
" ===end cat’s meow====== begin ben sez: We have three outdoor fixtures, two coach lights on wing walls and one stoop light — all compact fluorescents. All controlled by one photocell on the roof ridge. In about five years we have replaced the lamps twice. Central Midwest temps here often well below zero — they still work. One experiment is worth 1,000 expert opinions. <G> seal it up to keep the water out OR use a flourescent (they run cooler and are less apt to break when sprinkled Ben None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1736. When the student is ready the teacher will appear. Ben VI
Don’t think photo sensor could do this. Could be surges from lightning or from the electric company. I would have them come out check out the circuit – should be a free service, no? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The lamppost outside on my lawn has recently developed an interesting behavior > (ever since I replaced the photosensor). Every time we have a big rainstorm, > the lightbulb in the fixture explodes. Really. Well, sometimes it cracks, > but usually it actually blows a hole out through the bulb. > On one occasion I found water inside what was left of the lightbulb, but the > rest of the fixture interior was bone dry. On the other three occasions when > this has happened, there’s been no water inside the fixture or the bulb. > I’m using plain old garden variety 60 watt bulbs in the fixture, and I’m sure > I sealed the opening around the photosensor against water intrusion. > (Besides, it’s a good 8 inches below the bulb and socket.) > I’m stumped. Anyone ever seen anything like this before? Got any suggestions > for what could be causing it or how to fix it before I resort to going out and > getting a new fixture for the post?
Re. > The lamppost outside on my lawn has recently developed an interesting behavior > (ever since I replaced the photosensor). Every time we have a big rainstorm, > the lightbulb in the fixture explodes.
> Re. > The lamppost outside on my lawn has recently developed an interesting behavior > (ever since I replaced the photosensor). Every time we have a big rainstorm, > the lightbulb in the fixture explodes.
Nope. You’d never get condensation on a hot bulb. Condensation only occurs on cold surfaces.
I had this same problem for quite a number of years and someone on a newsgroup (actually compuserve prior to the popularity of the Internet) solved it for me. I am sure you have the same problem. What is happening is that when it rains there is water leaking in around the finial or top cap of the fixture. Then, when it accumulates sufficiently to form a heavy drop, it falls off onto the top of the hot light bulb and the bulb "explodes". You may doubt this as I did ’cause I looked at the fixture and said to myself "no way!". Well, I used aluminum foil to fabricate a shield where the top of the fixture fit onto the main housing. From that day on until this day I have NEVER had another exploding bulb. Give it a try and let us all know.
Check all the neutral connections (The white wires) in your sensor job, see if anything is loose. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The lamppost outside on my lawn has recently developed an interesting behavior > (ever since I replaced the photosensor). Every time we have a big rainstorm, > the lightbulb in the fixture explodes. Really. Well, sometimes it cracks, > but usually it actually blows a hole out through the bulb. > On one occasion I found water inside what was left of the lightbulb, but the > rest of the fixture interior was bone dry. On the other three occasions when > this has happened, there’s been no water inside the fixture or the bulb. > I’m using plain old garden variety 60 watt bulbs in the fixture, and I’m sure > I sealed the opening around the photosensor against water intrusion. > (Besides, it’s a good 8 inches below the bulb and socket.) > I’m stumped. Anyone ever seen anything like this before? Got any suggestions > for what could be causing it or how to fix it before I resort to going out and > getting a new fixture for the post?
seal it up to keep the water out OR use a flourescent (they run cooler and are less apt to break when sprinkled) Ben – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >The lamppost outside on my lawn has recently developed an interesting >behavior >(ever since I replaced the photosensor). Every time we have a big rainstorm, >the lightbulb in the fixture explodes. Really. Well, sometimes it cracks, >but usually it actually blows a hole out through the bulb. >On one occasion I found water inside what was left of the lightbulb, but the >rest of the fixture interior was bone dry. On the other three occasions when >this has happened, there’s been no water inside the fixture or the bulb. >I’m using plain old garden variety 60 watt bulbs in the fixture, and I’m sure >I sealed the opening around the photosensor against water intrusion. >(Besides, it’s a good 8 inches below the bulb and socket.) >I’m stumped. Anyone ever seen anything like this before? Got any >suggestions >for what could be causing it or how to fix it before I resort to going out >and >getting a new fixture for the post?
None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1736. When the student is ready the teacher will appear. Ben VI
The lamppost outside on my lawn has recently developed an interesting behavior (ever since I replaced the photosensor). Every time we have a big rainstorm, the lightbulb in the fixture explodes. Really. Well, sometimes it cracks, but usually it actually blows a hole out through the bulb. On one occasion I found water inside what was left of the lightbulb, but the rest of the fixture interior was bone dry. On the other three occasions when this has happened, there’s been no water inside the fixture or the bulb. I’m using plain old garden variety 60 watt bulbs in the fixture, and I’m sure I sealed the opening around the photosensor against water intrusion. (Besides, it’s a good 8 inches below the bulb and socket.) I’m stumped. Anyone ever seen anything like this before? Got any suggestions for what could be causing it or how to fix it before I resort to going out and getting a new fixture for the post?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The lamppost outside on my lawn has recently developed an interesting behavior > (ever since I replaced the photosensor). Every time we have a big rainstorm, > the lightbulb in the fixture explodes. Really. Well, sometimes it cracks, > but usually it actually blows a hole out through the bulb. > On one occasion I found water inside what was left of the lightbulb, but the > rest of the fixture interior was bone dry. On the other three occasions when > this has happened, there’s been no water inside the fixture or the bulb. > I’m using plain old garden variety 60 watt bulbs in the fixture, and I’m sure > I sealed the opening around the photosensor against water intrusion. > (Besides, it’s a good 8 inches below the bulb and socket.) > I’m stumped. Anyone ever seen anything like this before? Got any suggestions > for what could be causing it or how to fix it before I resort to going out and > getting a new fixture for the post?
Water is getting to the bulbs somehow. It doesn’t take much cold water on a hot bulb to crack it. And the water will then evaporate from the residual heat.