When selecting a photocontrol for your LED lights, there are a number of different aspects to take into consideration. Here are some pointers to assist you to make sure that the one you buy meets all of your requirements:
What is a photocell and what does it do?
A photocell, also commonly known as a photoresistor, is a sensor that is capable of detecting changes in light levels.
This type of sensor functions by measuring the amount of resistance it experiences when exposed to varying intensities of light. Under high levels of light, a photocell will exhibit low resistance and vice versa for low levels of light.
By detecting these changes in light intensity, a photocell is able to provide important information about its surroundings and react accordingly.
Whether used in security systems to detect movement or in environmental monitoring systems to monitor your garden’s growth, a photocell can be an invaluable tool for monitoring specific conditions and ensuring optimal outcomes.
So if you’re looking for a fast and effective way to keep track of changes in your environment, look no further than the versatile and indispensible photocell.
How to make sure your photocontrols are compatible with LED lights?
The amount of ambient light is used by photocontrol devices in conjunction with photocells to decide whether the outside lights should be on or off.
Although photosensors are more commonly known for their sensitivity to visible light, there are also varieties that are sensitive to infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Photocontrols are normally utilized for highway, area, parking, flood, and security lighting. They are designed to automatically control the ON/OFF cycle of the lights in order to maximize energy savings while maximizing the effectiveness of the lighting.
In applications involving daylight harvesting, the photocontrol is installed within the inhabited space (such as a classroom), and it communicates information regarding the level of light to a control module. This information is used by the control module to modify the electric light output, which can be accomplished by either increasing or decreasing the light output through the control of the dimming ballast. This occurs most frequently.
This system ensures that the total amount of light within the room is consistent throughout the day, providing the occupants with optimal lighting conditions while also reducing the facility’s overall energy use.
Do LED Lights Work With Photocells Designed for Traditional Lights?
The majority of the time, photocells that were developed for conventional lights make use of straightforward solid-state switching components in order to supply electricity to the lights. These components cause the AC current to take on a different wavelength. Tungsten and fluorescent lights are unaffected by this change because the power they use is alternating current (AC). LEDs, on the other hand, are extremely sensitive to variations in the AC wavelength.
Because LEDs function using direct current, the light bulb must first convert the AC electricity to DC before it can power the LEDs. A “clean” and uninterrupted AC signal is capable of being converted to constant DC with relative ease. The light bulb, on the other hand, has a significantly harder time converting AC electricity to DC when the current is passed through the photocell. This results in a light output that is far less bright than it would normally be.
In addition to this, the alternating current inside the bulb may become so erratic that it is unable to provide a continuous current to the LEDs. If this is the case, you will notice that your light is flashing continually. LEDs that are exposed to such a current will experience rapid degradation, which will severely cut their lifespan. If you are using an LED that flickers while it is attached to a photocell, you should immediately replace it with a conventional light source.
Do photocells interact with lights that use LEDs? Yes, but before you do anything further, you need to check to see if the LEDs are compatible with the photocell you’re using. The ideal choice is to go with a solution that incorporates the lighting fixtures, the photocell, and all of the lights into a single unit. You can also discover dimmable ones, which give you the ability to adjust the intensity of the lights during the hours leading up to dawn and nightfall, thereby maintaining the same amount of illumination throughout the day.
What to Look For in the Specifications to Ensure Photocell Compatibility with LED
The rated loads for the various kinds of light sources that can be controlled by a photocontrol device are always included on its specification sheets. The typical format for expressing oneself in this manner is as follows:
| VOLTAGE | RATING | |
|---|---|---|
| VAC 50/60Hz | Tungsten | Ballast |
| 104-131 | 1000W | 1800VA |
Tungsten is a generic term for light sources incandescent and halogen. The terms fluorescent and HID lights are both referred to as ballast. In situations like this one, where LED is not included, it is highly doubtful that the photocontrol will operate properly with LED fixtures.
Rule 1: If an LED is going to replace a conventional light source in a system that already has photocontrols, you should operate under the assumption that the photocontrols will not work with the LED.
Rule 2: Requires that you check that the voltage that is specified in the photocontrol specs is compatible with the voltage that is used to install the LED system.
Rule 3: For a list of the rated loads, please consult the specification sheet. It is required to come with an LED rating. When it comes to things that feature LED, you just need to make sure that the maximum load that’s mentioned for LED won’t be exceeded. If this is the case, you should search for a different photocontrol device that supports a higher LED load. This is an example from the sheet of specifications for a photocontrol that is meant to function with LED lighting.
| VOLTAGE | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| VAC 50/60Hz | Tungsten | Ballast | LED |
| 120 | 2000W | 1800VA | 60VA |
The wattage and VA number, both of which are subject to change, reveal the maximum electrical load that can be supported by that particular kind of light source.
In certain circumstances, the LED load rating may be referred to in a different manner by the manufacturer. The example is below below. The load rating of the electronic ballast reportedly accounts for LED, as stated by the manufacturer. If you have any questions or concerns, you should always get in touch with the company that made the product. This example also demonstrates how several variations of the same photocontrol (Specifier, Select, and Standard) produce varying load ratings for LED (eight amperes, six amperes, and two amperes respectively). It is always necessary to check that the load from the LED lighting does not exceed the maximum rated load that is specified in the spec sheet for the photocontrol.
| Specifier | Select | Standard | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Voltage | 120-270VAC 50-60Hz | 340-480VAC 50-60Hz | 120-270VAC 50-60Hz | 340-480VAC 50-60Hz | 120-270VAC 50-60Hz |
| Load Ratings | |||||
| Tungsten | 1000W | 1000W | 1000W | ||
| Magnetic Ballast | 1800VA | 1800VA | 1800VA | ||
| Electronic Ballast | 8A | 6A | 2A |
If the criteria that are outlined in this post are adhered to, it is possible to successfully couple LED systems with photocontrols in the year 2018, which is the current year. The majority of manufacturers of lighting controls provide a complete line of photocontrols for a wide range of voltages and loads, and these controls are made especially for use in LED lighting applications.
The benefits of using LED lights with photocontrol
If you have been paying attention, the solution to this question should be obvious to you at this point.
To restate the point, however: yes, LED lights will flicker if linked with photocells that are not compatible with them.
This is due to the fact that the photocell’s relatively low current will produce interference with the LED.
However, in addition to these possible causes, the dusk-to-dawn LED lights that you have might also be flickering for other reasons.
A lot of individuals have complained to me that their lights flicker in the twilight hours, which are the hours before sunrise and after sunset. This is the point of time when the lights are beginning to turn on or turning off.
- Regrettably, there is not much that can be done to change this situation. If your photocells have a degree of adjustability, you could experiment with varying the levels of light that are necessary to activate the lights.
- The flickering, however, will cease on its own as soon as there is neither any light nor any darkness left in the room.
- It is also important to point out that photocells are activated by any source of light, be it natural, artificial, or reflected. This is something that needs to be borne in mind at all times.
- In the event that your photosensor is picking up on its own light, you can notice that it is beginning to flicker on and off. Covering the photocell so that it can only be accessible by natural sunshine is the quickest and easiest method for overcoming this challenge.
Can LED Lights Flicker With Incompatible Photocell?
If you have been paying attention, the solution to this question should be obvious to you at this point.
To restate the point, however: yes, LED lights will flicker if linked with photocells that are not compatible with them.
This is due to the fact that the photocell’s relatively low current will produce interference with the LED.
However, in addition to these possible causes, the dusk-to-dawn LED lights that you have might also be flickering for other reasons.
A lot of individuals have complained to me that their lights flicker in the twilight hours, which are the hours before sunrise and after sunset. This is the point of time when the lights are beginning to turn on or turning off.
Regrettably, there is not much that can be done to change this situation. If your photocells have a degree of adjustability, you could experiment with varying the levels of light that are necessary to activate the lights.
The flickering, however, will cease on its own as soon as there is neither any light nor any darkness left in the room.
It is also important to point out that photocells are activated by any source of light, be it natural, artificial, or reflected. Always remember this.
In the event that your photosensor is picking up on its own light, you can notice that it is beginning to flicker on and off. Covering the photocell so that it can only be accessible by natural sunshine is the quickest and easiest method for overcoming this challenge.
FAQs
Conclusion
LED lights have a longer lifespan than traditional lightbulbs, are more efficient, and release less heat than traditional lightbulbs. It is important to take into consideration the use of a photocontrol if you plan to install LED lighting in your house or place of business in order to guarantee that the two devices will work together properly. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions area of our website or go to the website of one of the many trustworthy online stores that carries these goods to learn more about photocells and LED lights.