Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Odd light sensor problem

I have a porch light which I've had a light sensor on for many years. When the painters removed it recently, they burned it out. I replaced the sensor and bulb, and it won't work. The odd thing is that the bulb works fine in the porch fixture by itself, and the sensor works if I put it in a different lamp. Could there be a problem with the sensor simply not making proper contact with the porch light socket?

If so, can I do anything about it, or should I try a different brand of light sensor?

Any other ideas as to what could cause this?

Thanks!

Check the contact at the bottom of the socket. It may be flattened out and not making contact with the bulb base. If it appears to be in good shape otherwise, take a pair of long needle nose pliers and pry up a little on the contact to increase its angle.

Did you get this fixed yet?

Yes and no. I repositioned the contact and tried it, and found that one of the contacts is very touchy. First the light worked, but stayed on even in the light. I tried repositioning the sensor, and sometimes the light would work and sometimes not, but it didn't seem to matter whether I shielded the sensor or not.

I'm not sure if the issue is the bulb contact to the sensor, but I suspect the sensor contact to the socket.

Oops - I hit send before I said, "thank you, both!"

I tried repositioning the sensor when I screwed it into the socket, and it didn't work. The porch light is only a foot away from the door, and closing the door firmly caused the light to start working. Which is fine, but obviously another jolt could change it. Any way for me to improve the contact between the socket and the sensor?

What type of photo sensor is this. Does it screw into the lamp socket, then the lamp screws into it?

I have never seen this animal before.

Yes, it screws into the lamp socket. I may be using the wrong name - I bought this at OSH, and I've seen them at other stores. It's about an inch and a half to two inches high, has a small (maybe 1/4 inch?) aperture on the side for the actual light sensor. I don't have the package at this point, but it talks about "turns on dusk, and off at dawn, automatically!" The contact points look like a blob of solder to me.

I would like to be able to learn more about this, in an effort to be better able to help people.

Can you get me a part number and mfg name so I can do research?

What is OSH?

This isn't the same brand I bought, so the appearance is slightly different, but the general idea is at this site.

http://www.doorchime.com/lighting-auto-photo.html

Sorry for not embedding the link, but I can't seem to make either HTML or VB code work. Or does it just not show in the preview?

OSH is Orchard Supply Hardware, a chain hardware/garden store in this area. Sorry I don't have the package or part number, but I could probably stop by the hardware store again in the next two days and get more info.

Code does not work on this site. That was a management decision.

I did copy and paste the link.

It looks like you could have alot of problems. First if the photo eye were turned toward a wall, the reflection off of the wall could confuse the photo eye.

Second, the center pins on the original lamp socket or the photo eye lamp socket could be squashed, you can fix this by turning off power and prying gently on the pin with a screw driver.

Third, Just replacing the photo eye looks like it is a big problem. You need an entire new device.

Last, painters are not qualified to do electrical work.

Jeff

Painters definitely not qualified! Tthey didn't turn the switch off before removing the fixture to paint under it, causing this whole problem.

It doesn't seem to be the photo eye's position, as I've tried a few. Jostling the bulb sometimes makes it work, so I'm still assuming it's the contacts. I've repostioned the bendable strip that in the sensor/bulb contact point, but the socket and the top of the sensor don't have anything to bend - just the "blob of solder" looking areas. I'll try replacing the device.

Thanks!