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steveinohio 11-20-2009 15:41:37 75.60.246.190 252678 Report to Moderator	This summer I replaced my dusk to dawn light on my light pole in my driveway with an energy efficient light that is supposed to use much less electricty. My previous bulb was the traditonal mercury type bulb. I notice lately the new light bulb comes on but wants to blink on and off quickly but eventually stays on. My mercury bulb never did that. I belive my original bulb was a 75 watt and the energy saving one is about the same or less. What could be causing the new bulb to blink when it gets dark? My pole unit is not very old and I am confused by this because I never had any trouble with the original mercury bulb that came with the unit. Any assistance or information is greatly appreciated. [Reply]   [Send Email]
David - OR 11-20-2009 16:17:04 208.67.204.213 252681 Report to Moderator	Re: Outside Dusk to Dawn light question in reply to steveinohio, 11-20-2009 15:41:37   The fixture and bulb have to be compatible with each other. It sounds like you what you had was a mercury vapor fixture (with a mercury vapor compatible ballast) and a mercury vaport bulb. It also sounds like you've attempted to relamp it with something like a metal halide bulb. While the metal halide bulb will physically screw into a mecury vapor fixture, the ballasts are not compatible with each other and the new bulb will not start properly. At least some metal halide ballasts will operate both metal halide and mercury vapor bulbs. So you could replace the ballast in the existing fixture, and use either type of bulb. Economically, this is probably not price competitive with replacing the entire fixture.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Gerald J. 11-20-2009 15:48:13 70.215.40.177 252679 Report to Moderator	Re: Outside Dusk to Dawn light question in reply to steveinohio, 11-20-2009 15:41:37   Your light sensor is catching some light from the lamp and that turns it off like sun up. Try turning the eye a different direction so it can't see a reflection of the lamp. Gerald J.   [Reply]   [No Email]