199
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #162,759 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★☆☆☆☆
Hidden Defects - Induction Defect - Solution Product
I bought 4 of these and 2 single 250w, all with motions detectors; the dual 150ws had the "dual bright" feature. I installed them and the ones over my garage go on and stay on all night. If you download the instructions and look over all the Q & A, there is a hidden defect not mentioned in the instructions. its called induction. Its available on the Heath web site, but only after searching quite a bit. Only there does it explain that if you have any compact florescent lights; regular forescent lights; a garade door opener; anything with a motor; anything with a coil; these lights do not work; will go on and stay on all night. I had an electrician install these pull the power, put in boxes, etc. at substantial cost; now I find they are just consuming power (a lot) and not turning on and off with movement. So, I have had to turn them off. Again, this defect is not mentioned on the box or in the insturctions. They let you get about $300 of work done to get frustrated; then discover the "problem" on their web site; but there is no solution. The only solution is to pull power from a circuit without any florescent lights; motors; coils; etc. sure wish I knew this before I had the electricians out twice. With CFLs all the rage; unless you create a new circuit, you are very likely to have a florescent or coil or somthing else in your circuit. So, buyer beware. Keep your receipt and return them. I'm now on a search for lights without the secret induction flaw. Update several months later. I've tired to get some solution other than having these replaced by an electirican through contacting Heath Zenith but I get no response. Anyone finding similar lights without an induction problem, please post names or models so that others can see solutions also. I am still looking. I have now had them replaced with a different model from the same company. I will post that model. It does not have the dual bright feature that appears to cause these lights to be sensitive to the induction problem. What I also like about the new ones is that they take regular screw in light bulbs and I have put LEDs flood or spot lights in them and they work fine. The original model also was a problem because the 250 or 150 watt bulbs were very small and you had to get up on a ladder with a screwdriver to open the bulb protecting fixture and carefully remove and replace the old bulbs. With the new model I use one of those big yellow sticks on which I can insert the flood light and can change the bulbs (some do not have the LEDs) easily without having to get up as high or use a screwdriver. The replacement model I bought is Heath Zenith SL-5412-BZ-D 300-Watt Motion-Sensing Twin Security Light, Bronze. The only difference is the 5412 vs 5512 in the model but you will see when you click on the image it takes the standard spot and flood lights and not the hard to install quartz bulbs. This other model is less expensive under $30. The Rabs mentioned in the comments to my comment are over $100 and look like exceptional lights if you need even more protection from other interference but these other ones have worked fine so far for me. However I am stuck with the prior ones which are sitting in a heap in my garage.
December 2010 · Tools and Home Improvement · verified purchase