Working on some parking lot lights I had a photo eye rated for 2000 watts wired to control a lighting contactor but for some reason when the contactor tries to pull in it chatters real bad. I have had multiple photo eye failures I have no clue anybody with an idea as to why. Other than that I am looking for a heavy duty timer that compensates for daylight savings time to put in place of the photo eyes any suggestions.

Could this be the photo eye is meant for resistive loads, but the lighting contactor is essentially inductive? Internally the photo eye may have a zero-crossing triac driver, which is suitable for resistive loads, but you would need one with all-angle triac drive or just relay contacts. Tried another type or brand of photo eye?

Another possibility could be line volts droop when contactor pulls in affecting the photo eye?

[This message has been edited by gideonr (edited 08-23-2005).]

Tony, is this a new installation, or exsiting situation and now you found the relay chattering?

Need to know this.


Dnk........