How to Install a Motion Detector Light Switch

A motion sensor is an automatic device, so the part of the system that would be considered the motion detector light switch is actually the sensor. This decides when the light should be turned on or off, and you can easily trigger it if you need the outside light to come on for a few minutes. If you have decided to purchase a motion sensor separately, then you can install it as you like on any part of the wall near the main detector light. Installing a separate switch can sometimes be more complex than using a traditional light, but you should be able to simply complete this task by following a few basic instructions to get the project done quickly and efficiently.

Step 1 - Getting Your Sensor

Before you buy an independent sensor, you should consider how the motion detector light and the motion detector work together. They relay information to each other via an electrical feed. The feed which comes from the sensor must be the same as that picked up by the light, or there will be no communication between the two devices. In order to get the best communication between sensor and motion detector light, you should try and purchase one which is of a similar make and model to your light.

Step 2 - Fitting the Sensor

Once you have bought your sensor, then you will need to decide the best place to position it in your garden. You may not want the sensor to point directly at the ground, for example, as this can be triggered by cats or wild animals. Instead, try and focus on somewhere like waist-height for someone close to the house. The sensor will still pick up motion, but it is less likely to be alerting you every time a cat strolls across the lawn. You will need to have the sensor somewhere close to the light, after all, the light is there to pick out people detected by the sensor, so there would not be much purpose in placing them far apart. Place them about 6 inches apart, horizontally, at the maximum. Screw the mounting plate of your sensor into the wall, and trail out the wires.

Step 3 - Picking up the Feed

Gathering the electrical circuit feed is probably the most important part of the installation. You will need to pick up this feed. The light may have been fitted to a previous sensor, in which case the new version can be installed in the same loop. If not, then you may need to take wires from your home electrical supply and feed it to the outside sensor. If you have installed the light with a switch previously, then you need to be careful. Installing a motion sensor along the wire after the switch will mean that the light can only be triggered when the switch is turned On, something that can waste power. If you place the sensor one the wire before the switch, then the light will only be turned off when both the switch and the sensor are in the Off position.