unexpected problem locating fluor. bug light

[Chuck Lesker]

Hi...we have photocell-controlled compact fluorescent exterior wall lights ("entry lights"). These ar the ones that hve a flat section attaching to a vertical wall, a horizontal section sticking out away from the wall on top and then a translucent "jelly jar" hanging down from the end.

This is our first summer in this house and we find they attract bugs. No problem, I said...we'll put in a bug light.

Well, they make fluorescent bug lights, but they're the type that screw into standard light fixtures. Our fixtures use the 2-pin press-in type compact fluorescent bulbs. Those bulbs don't come in yellow.

No poblem, I said...we'll replace the entire fixture. Well, they make photocell-controlled fluorescent (2-pin-socket) ext. wall light fixtures, an they make non-photocell standard bulb (screw-in-socket) ext. wall fixtures. They don't make photocell + screw-in-socket ext. wall fixtures. Or at least, I can't find them.

What could I be doing differently? All suggestions appreciated.

[Richard J Kinch]

Bug lights are a scam.

[Curmudgeon]

You didn't look hard enough. Home depot has photocell sockets that screw into a normal light fixture and the bulb screws into the photocell socket. How simple is that?

[Chuckles]

Richard J Kinch wrote in news:Xns95065E644E8someconundrum@216.196.97.131:

I was not talking about bug zappers. I was trying to replace white lights with yellow lights.

[whiskyrun]

You can buy the photocell units separately, that mount to a standard handybox. I have installed a separate handybox and mounted the photocell, then ran wires to numerous outdoor lights, all controlled from the same photocell. So, you could install the photocell on a separate box, a few inches away, or anywhere else on the building, and wire it to the fixture.

As far as the guy who said bug lights are a scam, that is very wrong. Yellow bulbs DO work quite well, and Bug Zappers work quite well too. I have a bug zapper in my kitchen (yes, INSIDE the house). I live on a farm, and flys are always getting in the house when a door opens. I could not sleep with the flys sitting on my face and stuff. With the zapper in the house, there are always dead flys on the floor under it, and I rarely get woken by a pesty fly. Over night they get attracted to the light, and by morning they are toast. The only disadvantage, besides dead flys on the floor, is the zapping sound, but I got used to it, and it sure beat the flys.

[doubter]

Say what? Are you thinking of the bug zappers that supposedly kill insectes? That's not what the OP is talking about. He wants yellow bulbs because they attract far fewer bugs than white bulbs.

[Richard J Kinch]

Right. A scam.

[SQLit]

Theaters use a thin film for to produce colored light. Name escapes me. Looks like plastic wrap only thicker and colored. Try a craft store. Get some put in the lens and keep the fixtures. It will only last for a while, maybe 6 months or so. Then you will have to do it again. The box stores have photo/motion fixtures, but they are not where you would look for them. ASK I got 3 for my new home.

[Joseph Meehan]

Gels

[Joseph Meehan]

Good idea and maybe the best solution in this case. I am not sure the screw in type will work here, there may not be enough room.

I would agree they work well inside. However outside they kill a quite a few, but they attract about the same number. In some situations they do work outside, but in many they just don't.

You might get a few bats. They don't make noise you can hear. ;-)

[Chuck Lesker]

Replying to my own message...thanks to all for the suggestions! By the way, the inline photocells (between bulb and socket) don't work well inside translucent 'domes', and in some cases the dome won't fit. A separate photocell will work well, but requires some effort for wiring.

I have decided to install an Intermatic SS8 timer that replaces the indoor wall switch controlling these lights. This timer (unlike the more common SS7) has a sunrise/sunset setting---you have to tell it where you are located, and it calculates the times internally. It also uses a mechanical relay and so is fluorescent-friendly. I have used one before in another application and it works well, I don't know why I didn't think of it before.