The first thing to look for is good voltage out of the photocell into the ballast. Connect voltmeter leads to the {typically, dude!} red and white leads from the photocell socket.
A Rough Guide on voltage range and plugin photo controls:
voltage {nominal—max/min} and
plugin photo controls
120V—127/106 Grey top 105-130V {or
dark blue 105-285V}
208V—220/184 Maroon top 200-300V {
dark blue 105-285V}
240V—254/212 Maroon top 200-300V {
dark blue 105-285V}
277V—293/245 Maroon top 200-300V (
dark blue 105-285V}
347V—367/306 Green top 250-400V (Up North, eh?)
480V—508/424 Yellow top 400-550V
http://www.fisherpierce.com/PDFFiles/7700.pdf Photocells can be a pain, because sometimes they have delayed operation [so clouds don’t fake ‘em out] and some are sensitive enough in broad daylight that your fingers or palm of your hand may not do the trick. It may take a couple of layers of pipewrap and a few minutes of waiting to see a good on and off operation. {Get a Hastings ‘PECT’ on an extendo stick of you work on them reqularly} If it’s HPS, watch your fingers/butt/nose and don’t get bit by the several-kV starting pulse at the lamp socket. If the igniter hasn’t correctly sensed that the arc is initiated, it may give several shots, and they may seem a bit random, so pay attention.
[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 06-03-2002).]