Motion Sensor for kitchen light issue

[jkdrummer]

I switched to a T-9 fluorescent light fixture in my kitchen. Prior to that I had a light fixture with 3 75W compact fluorescent bulbs connected to a motion sensor. Well, for some reason the new fluorescent T-9 bulbs flicker when activated with the motion sensor switch. The compact fluorescent bulbs never had this issue. The new fluorescent has an electronic ballast and 1 T-9 22W and 1 T-9 32W bulbs. Would a place like Lowe's carry a motion sensor for this fluorescent light fixture? The motion sensors in the store all said they'd work for fluorescent bulbs at least ones with magnetic ballasts but mine is electronic.

Thanks JaKe

[Eric in North TX]

Rather pointless, the real savings with fluorescent comes form leaving them on. They draw very little current running, but have a startup load like a motor. Motion sensors are better teamed with incandescent.

[Eric in North TX]

Rather pointless, the real savings with fluorescent comes form leaving them on. They draw very little current running, but have a startup load like a motor. Motion sensors are better teamed with incandescent.

[Rose]

Maybe he's not trying to save power. He just doesn't want the kitchen light on.

[hrhofmann]

Have you checked to see if they flicker when they are connected directly?

[Rick-Meister]

You're not going to like the answer.

You'll have to buy a new motion sensor. The only one I know of that specifically mentions electronic ballasts is the Leviton OSSMT-MDW. You won't find it at any retail stores. Check online though. It goes for about $75

Just so you know, turning fluorescents on and off burns out the tubes faster. That's why the specs on a compact fluorescent is based on a minimum of 4 hours use.

[sligoNoSPAMjoe]

Or just add a relay switch.

True, but the newer lamps do not suffer the loss of live nearly as much as the older designs.

[trader4]

That's an urban myth that was demolished on the Myth Busters show on TV. It's true flourescents draw a higher current at startup. But it lasts a second or so and doens't amount to that much energy. After that, the flourescents use substantially less energy. So, even if it's only going to be on for a couple minutes, you use less energy.

[bud--]

Even if true the lamps are not on as long so the time between replacing is longer. In the meantime you save energy.

[JIMMIE]

I had that problem with my motion detector switch when I put flourescent lights in my bathroom Not wanting to spend the bucks on a new sensor or shel out the money again if it needed replacing I installed a contactor in the b light switch box. I had to add another box to hold the contactor but that wasnt too bacd since I was remodeling at the time. The new box and contactor was less than $10.

Jimmie

[nicksanspam]

draw very little current running, but have a startup load like a motor.

The startup energy is insignificant.

Nick

[The Daring Dufas]

A couple of folks already mentioned using a relay or contactor. The problem with inexpensive motion sensor light fixtures is the solid state switching using what is known as a triac or thyristor instead of a relay. It's possible that the electronic ballast of the CFL is disrupting the triac's trigger circuit. I haven't hooked one up to an oscilloscope yet but I may just have to in order to see if my guess is right. A relay is not bothered by harmonics on a small power circuit.

TDD