Motion sensors are a great way to increase your home's security. But even more important for some homeowners, they can help reduce your electric bill.
By installing motion sensors on your home's exterior lighting, you will prevent the lights from staying on all night long, when there is no need for them to be. Plus, if you are coming home late, they are much appreciated as you walk up your driveway to your front door! If you have an exterior light and you want to enjoy the security and convenience of a motion controlled light, then here is install a motion sensor.
Instructions
1. Motion sensors come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. The first step is to find one that compliments your current exterior light fixture.
If your current fixture doesn't include a "knockout" (a preexisting hole where you can install your motion sensor), then you may have to either drill a 3/4-inch hole yourself using a hole saw, or you can simply replace the fixture with one that includes a motion sensor.
For this example, let's say we have to drill the hole.
2. Now that you have the motion sensor purchased, turn the breaker that supplies the power to the light OFF.
Remove the fixture from the wall and test the wires for voltage before you disconnect them. If the voltage tester is reading no voltage, remove the wire nuts and separate the fixture from the wires. Do not forget to disconnect the fixture's grounding wire.
3. Take the fixture to a work table where you can more easily drill your hole.
Find a place on the fixture where you can install the motion sensor without it obstructing the actual light. Mark the site with a marker.
4. Move the fixture's wires away from the site where you are going to drill.
Use the drill and hole saw to create the access hole for the motion sensor. Once the hole is cut, use a small file to clean up any sharp edges. You should also make sure no metal filings remain on the inside (where the wires are located) of the fixture.
5. Slip the rubber weatherproofing grommet over the motion sensor's wires and shaft. Take your motion sensor and guide the wires through the new access hole until the shaft is through the hole. Use the included lock nut to secure the motion sensor to the fixture.
6. You will notice three wires coming from the motion sensor--a black, a white and a red wire.
If you need to, use the wire strippers to strip about 3/4 inches of insulation from the wires.
Connect the white wire from the fixture to the white wire from the motion sensor (do not place a wire nut on these wires yet).
Connect the black wire from the fixture to the RED wire from the motion sensor and secure these wires with a wire nut. Wrap the wire nut with electrical tape.
7. Take the fixture back to where it gets installed. Reconnect the fixture's grounding wire.
Connect the two white wires (fixture and motion sensor) to the white wire coming out of the wall box and secure them with a wire nut. Wrap electrical tape around the wire nut.
Connect the black wire on the motion sensor to the black wire coming out of the wall box, secure them with a wire nut and wrap them with electrical tape.
8. Secure the fixture back to the wall, reversing the steps it took to remove it.
Turn the breaker back ON.
9. Now, just position the motion sensor in the direction you wish for it to cover and set the sensitivity level of the sensor. Your home will now be more secure and you won't have to worry about remembering to turn the light on when you leave at night!
Tags: motion sensor, white wire, wire from, black wire, electrical tape, from motion