Author Topic: need help to repair stairhouse-light  (Read 880 times)

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Offline Leland_GauntTopic starter

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need help to repair stairhouse-light
« on: December 21, 2024, 09:43:57 pm »
hello Gentlemen.

Our landlord doesnt seem to be in a hurry to repair or lights in the stairwayhouse. The light works, but it doesnt go off anymore, like it did after a few minutes. So now, all bulbds are turned out by hand, in the evening we turn in 1 or 2 bulbs. So they burn all night sometimes. I can solder, i have a multimeter and now how to measure, i just never had any contact with these installations. That copperspool seems to be responsible for auto-shut off. theres a black plastic-slider in front of it, i already tried to move it to different positions, doesnt do anything. Under the spool it almost looks like theres something going on with air-pressure or resistance. Looks kind of old tech.The circle is alway on. Can somebody tell me what to do please?





« Last Edit: December 21, 2024, 09:45:31 pm by Leland_Gaunt »
 

Offline Poroit

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2024, 05:11:42 am »
G'day Leland_Gaunt,

Isolate the power and replace that old Pneumatic Switch with a new one of your choice.

https://www.gordonmacs.com.au/time-delay-switch-pneumatic-10a-30s-20min-electric~31317

You may need a wall box to projection mount it.

One of your Electrical Wholesalers should be able to assist with all the gear you need but they may also try and push you towards using a Licensed Electrician



 

Offline amyk

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2024, 06:11:28 am »
Pneumatic delay switch, the coil pulls the piston up to close the contacts, and then it descends by exhausting air via an adjustable bleed orifice (looks like the red part on the bottom of the cylinder) until it opens the contacts again. Perhaps the piston is stuck or the orifice is dirty.

Whoever decided to use it as a convenient mounting point for cable ties may have also affected its operation...
 

Offline Whales

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2024, 07:37:12 am »
To be clear:
- amyk is describing what you already have
- poroit is describing and linking to an alternate that you install somewhere else (on a wall where people can push it). 

Online Analog Kid

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2024, 08:10:26 am »
Aren't there electronic (i.e., non-mechanical) delay switches that do the same function but won't get fouled up?
Just guessing here, but I'd be surprised if something like that wasn't available.
 

Offline Ian.M

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2024, 08:13:32 am »
Yes, you wouldn't want a manual dashpot switch to replace a dashpot relay.   *ALL* the momentary switches would need to be replaced with dashpot switches vs simply replacing the time delay relay.   Nowadays an electronic time delay relay would be the best choice, but that would need both Line and Neutral from the panel to power the time delay circuit.   As there are only three wires, and two of them must be to the momentary switches and the load (lights), you cant simply drop in a modern off delay relay.   Assuming you cant find an exact equivalent, get an electrician to install a DIN mount electronic off delay timer in the panel . . .
 

Offline bastl_r

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2024, 09:46:51 am »
Hi
Instead this Mercury containing relays you need a Eltako time relays. Eltako is a, in germany, wellknown brand.
This relaiys you can mount beside circuitbreakers, the housing.
It cost roundabout 50€.

Regards
 

Offline Wollvieh

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #7 on: December 25, 2024, 10:15:02 pm »
There are two ways how lights and pushbuttons can be wired, with 3 and 4 wires (Drei/Vierleiter-Schaltung, you'll find loads of schematics with that). 3 is the older one and most likely used in this case. Some Treppenlichtzeitschalter-relays can do both, some modern ones only 4 wires. You will be stuck with that what you find in your staircase.

According to the photos there is enough space for a modern DIN-mount relay in the switchbox. But it takes a little bit of careful examination how many wires you have and which wire does what to not blow up the whole thing. :)
« Last Edit: December 25, 2024, 10:20:23 pm by Wollvieh »
 

Offline Leland_GauntTopic starter

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2025, 02:49:42 pm »
well thanks...
but before i buy something, is there no way to test if maybe it isnt even broken? The door to this thing is open and everybody can play or mess with the buttons. I tried the lower red button, i cant push or pull it out, it can be turned with a "click"..but i cant see anything happen.

what could i do to chekc if its still workinh?
 

Offline Roehrenonkel

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2025, 04:49:29 pm »
Hi Leland_Gaunt,
 
...try the black knob.
It should have two or three positions
"Allways on/Auto" or "Allways on/Auto/Off"
If that doesn't work replace it with an "Eltako".
It looks old and beat-up and lost the cover.
Time to replace it anyway.

Good luck
 

Offline Poroit

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Re: need help to repair stairhouse-light
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2025, 09:37:18 am »
Can you describe how this device operated before it failed.

Do residents push the Red Button or rotate the Black Switch to activate the lights?
 


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