Yup, the uncertainties of electronics... working well & suddenly failing 1 fine day! And yup, as the title says it all...it's a prob with our autogate system.
Our autogate sys has a feature whereby the gate lights (including a spotlight) are switched on only when it is dark (eg at night)...not each & every time the gate is opened as in most other systems.
This is because our system has a light-sensor unit just below the autogate motor. Pic of such a sensor is on the left.
Well, a few nights ago, we came home to almost complete darkness! The lights didn't switch on although the gate was already open!
That started a minor "investigation" the next day when upon opening up the light-sensor unit connections, it was found to be dirty. Me thought it was normal since our system had been installed for some years already. Moreover, our porch had been flooded a no. of times & the light-sensor unit was under water each time.
So, after some cleaning & use of an electronic cleanser spray, a few tests conducted ( in daytime but using the hand to put the sensor into "night mode") showed that it worked. Me was then relieved & happy.
However, when night came, it just didn't! Why? Frankly me had no idea. But on further trying, it worked intermittenly...actually rarely! Just a couple of times but none towards the end of testing.
And this morning the problem became full-blown when all attempts failed to rectify the problem. Yup, me went out & bought 3 of those light-sensor units...ones that looked exactly the same as the original one that supposedly failed. Only RM3.50 a unit...total only RM10. Yup, a discount was kindly given by the boss of the electronic parts shop...a friend. Three times I changed to a new unit but it worked only once during the numerous tries...opening & closing the gate while also closing the unit with my hand so that it was not exposed to any light...to simulate night time.
Finally it was the "enough is enough" state of affairs!
A call was made to the autogate system supplier for help. And help came at around 2pm. Our "friend" tried this & tried that. All without success...just like me! Various suspicions were thrown out by me with proof that they were unfounded.
Finally, our "friend" told me that he would come back later to try with an "original" light-sensor unit from his shop. Well, at the point of keying in this entry, our "friend" is still not back yet....
Anyway, both me & my "partner" (yup, my other half) have decided to let it be, namely if it doesn't work as it should, we would disconnect the light-sensor unit & let the autogate system be like most other ppl's ie lights would come on each & every time the gate is opened irrespective of day or night, bright or dark. We felt that it's not worth changing the whole PCB (control unit board) just for this one feature. Agreed? Bad economic times call for wise decisions & sacrifices of non-essential items. Yup, the "need" & the "want" philosophy applies.
Well, me have to go now...in case our "friend" comes back....
Wish me (& the autogate system) luck...we do need all the luck...
UPDATE : 081009 at 8:55 pm
Yippee! Eureka! Success...yup, me found out cause(s) of our autogate problem! Hopefully confirmed in a couple of days of testing...
1. Previous unit was already faulty due to ageing, thereby misleading results of attempts to rectify & subsequent tests;
2. The moving of a nearby LLN electrical pole c/w street lamp (dictated by the latest new TB2 housing development progress) nearer to front of Lot 10 had increased light levels in our porch area. Consequently, the area, where the light-sensor was, was never dark enough for the sensitive light-sensor unit to detect & respond as dark enough to enable the switching on of the lights!
Action has been taken to reduce the amount of light falling upon the light-sensor unit by reducing the glass surface area that light reach its sensor plate so that it would detect as dark enough in the late evening to enable it to work as it should. And all tests tonight were really positive & rewarding! Me real happy...at least for now....
So if me not make further updates on this issue, the "No news is Good News" philosophy applies. Gnite!
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