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[bmize13]

Just curious... Has anyone successfully set up a photo-sensitive light to turn on and off using a wall switch?  I have "Dusk to Dawn" lights on my front porch.  I installed a motion sensor (MS14A) on the porch, and replaced the wall switch to the light with an X10 switch.  I can turn the light on, but not off.  The switch does heat up, though... which is different than any of my other X10 switches.  I would assume this has something to do with the photocell in the light, but I'm not certain...  The flood uses a photocell, and it seems to work.

Any ideas?

[Brian H]

The Dusk to Dawn light probably uses a triac controlled by the photocell to turn on and off. An X10 wall switch also uses a triac for control and dimming. That is probably the problem as I have a few photocell lights and they say do not use on a dimming type switch. A WS14a with a relay may do the trick for you, but I have never tried it. Also relay type switches need a neutral power wire in the switch box besides the hot and load.

[bmize13]

The Dusk to Dawn light probably uses a triac controlled by the photocell to turn on and off. An X10 wall switch also uses a triac for control and dimming. That is probably the problem as I have a few photocell lights and they say do not use on a dimming type switch. A WS14a with a relay may do the trick for you, but I have never tried it. Also relay type switches need a neutral power wire in the switch box besides the hot and load.

Thanks.  I went ahead this morning and moved the switch on that light to another location and went back to a normal, manual-type switch for the photo-cell lights.  I'll have to give this one some more thought.

Thanks again for the answer.  I appreciate it!