Expert: John E. Pecore Power Quality Engineer - 7/28/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi John,

I hope you can help as I'm a bit confused.   

I'm attempting to install an external sensor light. I have a standard 3 cable (Blue (N) Brown (L) Green (E)) and I know how to wire this into the mains (240v). The light - it has a standard cable connection block (with 4 terminals), however it has a total of 6 cables coming from the unit. Brown, green, red with a black cable and finally a blue cable with a white cable. The white, black and green go into power the light therefore these are obviously live, neutral & earth. The problem is that the red, brown and blue all go into the sensor part of the device.    

When I opened up the sensor part, the red and blue are still obviously the live and neutral but what is the brown. It is connected to a black box thing on the circuit board?!

My question to you is...what should I do with the brown terminal block. It obviously needs to be powered but by what? Do I put the live into this aswell?   

If you need pics or further descriptions please ask.   

best regards   

Rob

ANSWER: I love a mystery.

Pictures is a good idea.  

Brand name of the device, is also a good idea.

I would assume you got not instructions.

You are very descriptive..... I would say, leave the brown terminal block alone, I believe it might be for something else, or an accessory you did not get.  

If you have no more wires, and everything marry up, go with it.  

I will take a look at the pictures...and give you a reply, but I think you are done.

storminprotection@earthlink.net

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi John, I have attached a picture of the wiring on the unit along with one of the unit itself. The make is Suntech but I cant find anything from them on the net. (their NOT 'Suntech-power')

No the instuctions are useless.

As I said before the brown cable on the left needs some form of power as it is connected to the circuit board for the sensor. No picture unfortunately as I cant remove the board!

The sensor isnt working but the light is. The only thing that I can think of is adding an extra bit of wire bridging the brown to the red (live) but I scared that this will fry the unit!

The store where I purchased it from is also useless.

Please help me! =)

Answer
I hate to say this, but I do not have enough information.....
I looked on the Internet for the MFG...no luck.

As an educated guess...I suppose if the sensor is not working.  Then I suppose you need to hook up the power wire to it so it does work.

Here is a thought. Bridge over from phase to the brown screw terminal.  Then if it blows up, take it back to the place you bought it, and say it is defective, and look for something else.  Now if it worked, you lucked out.

The more I think about it...the more I think you need the power wire on the brown screw terminal.

On the other hand, you never told me that the sensor device had a return wire for power, a Neutral or something.  Do you suppose that maybe the case ground is the neutral/Ground?

I will look for your further thoughts on the subject.