Photosensor Search Help

Hello all,

I have a customer that has a controller that uses a remote photosensor to
determine if the sun it up or down. Simple enough but the photosensor has
seen better days.

Here is my problem. I need a source on just the sensor. I first thought
that the RatShack would be a good possibility but nooooooooooooo. They have
decided at the corporate level to now have candy bars on the shelf rather
than electronic components. Gotta keep those shelves full of something.
Boggles the mind????

Anyhow does anyone know of a source that will sell 1's or 2's of a
component???????

I know that this is going to be tough since the shipping is going to just
kill me.

I could purchase a dusk-dawn sensor for a HPS 277v fixture and cannibalize
it, but that may be taking this a bit over the edge.

Any thoughts from the masses???

TIA

Les

Do you have the part #/specs for the photo sensor? There are many
different types, with different resistances, and some that get more
"resistive" when the light increases, and some that get less..

Fry's electronics might have a part that works, or some other
"electronic parts" place in the yellow pages. Another option might be
(if you know the manufacturer), you might be able to request a "sample".

worst case would be someplace like Mouser or Newark, but the shipping
could be more than the part.

ABLE_1 wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I have a customer that has a controller that uses a remote photosensor to
> determine if the sun it up or down. Simple enough but the photosensor has
> seen better days.
>
> Here is my problem. I need a source on just the sensor. I first thought
> that the RatShack would be a good possibility but nooooooooooooo. They have
> decided at the corporate level to now have candy bars on the shelf rather
> than electronic components. Gotta keep those shelves full of something.
> Boggles the mind????
>
> Anyhow does anyone know of a source that will sell 1's or 2's of a
> component???????
>
> I know that this is going to be tough since the shipping is going to just
> kill me.
>
> I could purchase a dusk-dawn sensor for a HPS 277v fixture and cannibalize
> it, but that may be taking this a bit over the edge.
>
> Any thoughts from the masses???
>
> TIA
>
> Les
>
>

The biggest problem is the manufacture of unit that it is connected to is no
more and there are no specs in the documentation. So I kinda have to wing
it and hope I get lucky.

FWIW the controller was made by Wadsworth Electronics and was call the SIMON
Home and Building Controller. As I have figured out they have been out of
business for a number of years. I think the resistance value goes high when
it is dark and low when light. But at this point I will take anything just
to see what happens.

Thanks for the supplier names that will be a help. Newark is the one I just
could not remember.

Les



> Do you have the part #/specs for the photo sensor? There are many
> different types, with different resistances, and some that get more
> "resistive" when the light increases, and some that get less..
>
> Fry's electronics might have a part that works, or some other "electronic
> parts" place in the yellow pages. Another option might be (if you know
> the manufacturer), you might be able to request a "sample".
>
> worst case would be someplace like Mouser or Newark, but the shipping
> could be more than the part.
>
> ABLE_1 wrote:
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I have a customer that has a controller that uses a remote photosensor to
>> determine if the sun it up or down. Simple enough but the photosensor
>> has seen better days.
>>
>> Here is my problem. I need a source on just the sensor. I first thought
>> that the RatShack would be a good possibility but nooooooooooooo. They
>> have decided at the corporate level to now have candy bars on the shelf
>> rather than electronic components. Gotta keep those shelves full of
>> something. Boggles the mind????
>>
>> Anyhow does anyone know of a source that will sell 1's or 2's of a
>> component???????
>>
>> I know that this is going to be tough since the shipping is going to just
>> kill me.
>>
>> I could purchase a dusk-dawn sensor for a HPS 277v fixture and
>> cannibalize it, but that may be taking this a bit over the edge.
>>
>> Any thoughts from the masses???
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Les
>>

The X10 Sundowner SD533 may help out.


"ABLE_1" <royboynospam@somewhere.net> wrote in message
news:gtednaeHSPfuoO_VnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Hello all,
>
> I have a customer that has a controller that uses a remote photosensor
> to determine if the sun it up or down. Simple enough but the
> photosensor has seen better days.
>
> Here is my problem. I need a source on just the sensor. I first
> thought that the RatShack would be a good possibility but
> nooooooooooooo. They have decided at the corporate level to now have
> candy bars on the shelf rather than electronic components. Gotta keep
> those shelves full of something. Boggles the mind????
>
> Anyhow does anyone know of a source that will sell 1's or 2's of a
> component???????
>
> I know that this is going to be tough since the shipping is going to
> just kill me.
>
> I could purchase a dusk-dawn sensor for a HPS 277v fixture and
> cannibalize it, but that may be taking this a bit over the edge.
>
> Any thoughts from the masses???
>
> TIA
>
> Les
>
>

On Mon, 7 Jul 2008 11:59:46 -0400, "ABLE_1" <royboynospam@somewhere.net>
wrote in message <gtednaeHSPfuoO_VnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@comcast.com>:

>Hello all,
>
>I have a customer that has a controller that uses a remote photosensor to
>determine if the sun it up or down. Simple enough but the photosensor
has
>seen better days.
>
>Here is my problem. I need a source on just the sensor. I first thought
>that the RatShack would be a good possibility but nooooooooooooo. They
have
>decided at the corporate level to now have candy bars on the shelf rather
>than electronic components. Gotta keep those shelves full of something.
>Boggles the mind????
>
>Anyhow does anyone know of a source that will sell 1's or 2's of a
>component???????
>
>I know that this is going to be tough since the shipping is going to just
>kill me.
>
>I could purchase a dusk-dawn sensor for a HPS 277v fixture and
cannibalize
>it, but that may be taking this a bit over the edge.
>
>Any thoughts from the masses???
>
>TIA
>
>Les
>

Actually, Radio Shack still does sell five packs of CdS photoresistors (in
my experience the mostly commonly used "photosensor" in legacy hardware)
for $2.95.

They are in stock
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=family

Model: 276-1657
Catalog #: 276-1657

A call to the local RS store or 800-843-7422 (= 800-THE-SHACK) prominently
displayed at www.radioshack.com might provide information on stores that
still stock electronic parts and(or) how to obtain them by mail-order. I
speculate that your local store can 'get it in' for you if you ask.

HTH ... Marc

Marc_F_Hult
www.ECONtrol.org
Visit my Home Automation and Electronics Porch Sale at
www.ECOntrol.org/porchsale.htm

Did you look for the drawers of parts at the back of the Radio Shack store.
Instead of taking up massive amounts of pegboard space for things that sell
rarely, they have put them in cabinets which are actually easier to find
things in.

You have to face it, very few people know what to do with the small parts
and Radio Shack would be out of business if they tried to make that the main
part of the store.

Digi-Key is a mail order place sells in small quantities.
www.digikey.com/

--
Bill Fuhrmann

"ABLE_1" <royboynospam@somewhere.net> wrote in message
news:gtednaeHSPfuoO_VnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Hello all,
>
> I have a customer that has a controller that uses a remote photosensor to
> determine if the sun it up or down. Simple enough but the photosensor has
> seen better days.
>
> Here is my problem. I need a source on just the sensor. I first thought
> that the RatShack would be a good possibility but nooooooooooooo. They
> have decided at the corporate level to now have candy bars on the shelf
> rather than electronic components. Gotta keep those shelves full of
> something. Boggles the mind????
>
> Anyhow does anyone know of a source that will sell 1's or 2's of a
> component???????
>
> I know that this is going to be tough since the shipping is going to just
> kill me.
>
> I could purchase a dusk-dawn sensor for a HPS 277v fixture and cannibalize
> it, but that may be taking this a bit over the edge.
>
> Any thoughts from the masses???
>
> TIA
>
> Les
>
>

Yes that was the first place I looked. Da nada!!!



> Did you look for the drawers of parts at the back of the Radio Shack
> store. Instead of taking up massive amounts of pegboard space for things
> that sell rarely, they have put them in cabinets which are actually easier
> to find things in.
>
> You have to face it, very few people know what to do with the small parts
> and Radio Shack would be out of business if they tried to make that the
> main part of the store.
>
> Digi-Key is a mail order place sells in small quantities.
> www.digikey.com/
>
> --
> Bill Fuhrmann
>
> "ABLE_1" <royboynospam@somewhere.net> wrote in message
> news:gtednaeHSPfuoO_VnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I have a customer that has a controller that uses a remote photosensor to
>> determine if the sun it up or down. Simple enough but the photosensor
>> has seen better days.
>>
>> Here is my problem. I need a source on just the sensor. I first thought
>> that the RatShack would be a good possibility but nooooooooooooo. They
>> have decided at the corporate level to now have candy bars on the shelf
>> rather than electronic components. Gotta keep those shelves full of
>> something. Boggles the mind????
>>
>> Anyhow does anyone know of a source that will sell 1's or 2's of a
>> component???????
>>
>> I know that this is going to be tough since the shipping is going to just
>> kill me.
>>
>> I could purchase a dusk-dawn sensor for a HPS 277v fixture and
>> cannibalize it, but that may be taking this a bit over the edge.
>>
>> Any thoughts from the masses???
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Les
>>
>>
>
>