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Need Help! Lampost in front yard

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by Hokie97, Sep 9, 2011.

  1. Hokie97

    Hokie97 New Member

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    Our lamp went out in our front yard and it's not the light bulbs. Has this happened to anyone...any recommendations?
     
  2. latka

    latka Active Member

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    It is probably a tripped gfi somewhere. Ours was in the basement.
     
  3. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Two possible problems

    1) The GFI circuit it is connected to is tripped. Depending on your model, this can be shared with various places... garages, basements, bathrooms. Check your GFI circuits

    2) The light sensor is dead. This is also very common and is a part available in Home Depot, just requires swapping the wires to replace (screwdriver, wirenuts, and wire stripper).

    Check your GFIs first, and then if no joy, take out the sensor and take it to HD to match up a replacement.
     
  4. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    Check the GFI in your garage or basement and/or the breaker. If it happens regularly, the GFI could be bad (happened to us).
     
  5. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    Ours did the same thing - it was the GFI..
     
  6. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    ours went out during all the rain ... assuming one of the outside outlets got wet inside.... gonna be fun to track it down!
     
  7. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    Ever since all that rain last week, now, every time it does rain - our lamp post goes out. It trips the GFI in the basement, nothing else is affected just the lamp post. Could it be the GFI is bad (we had it replaced a couple years ago) OR could it be that water is getting into the actual lamp post and tripping it?
     
  8. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    gotta assume it's water. I would check the conduit to the lampposts, as well as seals around your outdoor outlets --- you could always diagnose/deduce the culprit by hosing down these areas one at a time.
     
  9. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    Thanks Boomertsfx! I'll try that!
     
  10. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    We had a bad GFI that was causing our lamp post to go out during rain storms.
     
  11. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    How long do GFI's typically last? We had our replaced a couple years ago.
     
  12. Mel

    Mel New Member

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    Any volunteers out there who may be willing to help me out with replacing the photo cell?

    I believe the photo cell is the problem. (I've checked all my GFIs and reset them with no luck). I took off the lamp today and freaked out with the wires. I was just trying to get to the point where I could take out the photo cell so I know what type of replacement to get. I didn't even get that far.

    If interested in helping out a neighbor, please PM me.

    Thanks!
     
  13. Mel

    Mel New Member

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    I took a chance and figured it out. Wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!

    Thanks.
     
  14. Crazy Aviator

    Crazy Aviator New Member

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    After all the rain this past month our front lamp post was doing the same thing. Problem was it wouldn't come back on. It is connected to our GFI in our master bath and outlets in the basement. Had an electrician come out and take apart the lamp...there was water in the fixture causing the GFI to do it's job by tripping. Solution-brought the top part of the post in to our house for a week to completely dry out and put it back together and sealed the tops of the fixture with clear caulking, it's been fine ever since. Good luck!
     
  15. Paul Naj

    Paul Naj New Member

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    My lamp went out this past week. I came here to have a look to see if anyone else had the problem and this thread was on top. Sure enough my GFI in the utility room was tripped. Thanks all.
     
  16. AJB007

    AJB007 New Member

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    Glad I found this post. Our front lamp has been out for way too long. Finally just getting around to addressing this.

    Also, the outdoor electrical outlets are not providing power.

    Thoughts?
     
  17. ecline

    ecline New Member

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    Can someone please post the contact information for the Electrician they used if any to assist with this issue?

    Thanks!
    Erica
     
  18. Crazy Aviator

    Crazy Aviator New Member

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    We used Craig from Ashburn Electric. He has done a fixed a few things and has always been very reliable and thorough!
     
  19. sen

    sen New Member

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    Hi Mel, did you have to power off anything when you changed sensors?
    thanks
     
  20. Dawne

    Dawne HOA Sec/Treas, Tech Comm

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    (I know this thread is old, but I'll jump in anyway).

    The power to the light poll sensor is live, so you should turn off the breaker to that outlet before changing the sensor. (Alternately, you could "trip" the GFCI outlet, which will also cut the power to the light poll, but flipping the breaker is the "more correct" safety measure).

    Normally (but not always), if you have an outdoor outlet at the front of the house it will be on the same GFCI circuit as the Post Light. If you're not certain which breaker to turn off, you can turn of the "mains" - the main power breaker for the whole house (usually at the top of the electric panel).

    If you're hesitant to cut the main, you could also
    1. turn off the breaker to the outdoor outlet/GFCI
    2. open up the sensor by taking out the top/bottom screws (careful not to touch wires)
    3. use an electric test meter to test the wires for power
    Replacing the sensor is a fairly easy job. Once you've cut the power, disconnect old sensor, go to HD/Lowes and buy same, reinstall. Turn power back on and test sensor (put your finger over the sensor for a few seconds and light should come on).
     

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