Here's an NOS 2005 480V ALR photocell. It's got the smaller case size typically used on their thermal PCs. I assume this is thermal but I can't see behind the large CdS eye. I can get any functional use out of this since it's 480V-only but it would serve as a good shorting cap. It's actually my first non-120V-compatible PC Thanks Ryan!
Your welcome
Yes this is a thermal photocontrol and it won't work on 120V but you could use it as a shorting cap like I do, since I have another one of these photocontrols that I use as a shorting cap sometimes when I fire up any of my lights.
Yeah a PC rated 208-277V, 347V, or 480V can be used as a shorting cap on 120V since 120V is too low to operate the relay inside. So no matter how bright it is, the PC will never switch off. Won't hurt the PC either, though running a 120V PC on a higher voltage will fry it.
I may get one of those red 208-277 pcs just because that they compliment the NEMA heads really well. plus I saw one of your posts that said a 208-277 pc ran on 120.
The PC'S we use at work are alr brand. We use ones rated for 105-305v because we have some 277v circuits. That way we don't have to carry 2 different types on the truck. Although now we carry green ones we use on new led installs with a built in surge protector. We have a lot of issues with the alr's burning up, especially on the 277v circuits. Blows the top off. First thing we look for when we pull up to a job is to see if the top is laying on the ground. Lol
You can use any 208-277V PC on 120V. Only DTL electronic ones since they actually use 120-277V PCs with a red cover instead of blue. Normally that's not the case...
Ah ALRs are no good eh? Do you use electronic PCs or electromagnetic relay PCs? I have some NOS 90s ALR 120V electronic PCs. Very sensitive and the contacts are nice and loud. Dunno how reliable they are though.
We use electronic. They're not too bad. Alr changed the relay inside and it's nowhere near as good as they were. They seem decent for the most part on 120 but the 277 is what really kills them. Granted the number we go through you're going to have some failures. It goes in spurts.
NGrid, my local utility company, used Fisher Pierce/Sun-Tech photocells, which are REALLY bad at being dead right out of the box. If the PC works when installed, it'll almost always keep working but there are a lot that are dead out of the box. When they first started being bad, NGrid's linemen weren't aware of the problem and just installed the PC and left without testing it (they do repairs at night), taking for granted that the PCs would work. There used to be lots of dayburners here, more common with 250W HPS than with 50 or 100W for whatever reason. There aren't as many dayburners here now but it must be because NGrid linemen test the PCs with their hardhat lights now, since member AntStar85 works for a utility in central Massachusetts and he said they still go through tons of dead Sun-Techs. In fact, his utility had to buy some Intermatic PCs from a wholesaler to tie them over until the next shipment of Sun-Techs arrived. The Intermatics aren't much better lol. They don't last long.
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Yes this is a thermal photocontrol and it won't work on 120V but you could use it as a shorting cap like I do, since I have another one of these photocontrols that I use as a shorting cap sometimes when I fire up any of my lights.
Ah ALRs are no good eh? Do you use electronic PCs or electromagnetic relay PCs? I have some NOS 90s ALR 120V electronic PCs. Very sensitive and the contacts are nice and loud. Dunno how reliable they are though.