Outdoor Floodlight w/Motion Sensor Won't Turn Off...

The other night one of the bulbs blew out of my floodlights over the garage that is controlled by a motion sensor. It is on the same circuit as my outside outlets (w/Christmas lights hooked up to timers) and is only connected to the breaker box (no switch for the motion sensor lights).

When I cam home today, the wife told me that the Christmas lights did not got on and the daughter's boyfriend had reset the breaker. No, the motion sensor floodlights do not go out.

Help.

 

While her boyfriend was tinkering, did he set the motion sensor to "Test" by chance?

 

Chandler,

No, all he did was reset the breaker in the breaker box.

I no longer have the original package, nor the instructions, so I went on-line trying to find an instruction sheet. I do know that if there is a switch connected and you turn it off and then on, it should toggle between "manual" mode and "auto" mode. That seems to be common for these types of motion sensor lights. However, while tryingt that with the actual breaker, it does not seem to work. I'll try again in the morning when it is light out because maybe that doesn't work well when it is dark outside.

 

It should reset itself when daylight hits the sensor. Let us know.

 

Well, turning the breaker off and then back on again didn't work. Even with the operation set to 1 minute, the light is still in the constant on state. I fear that I will have to replace it (again).

 

If you are using the breaker as a switch, you must turn it off, let it rest for 5 seconds or more, then turn it back on to restore it to sensor mode. But since it is daylight where you are, it should extinguish by itself. You may be in for another sensor after all. May want to install a separate switch for this set of lights while you are at it just for ease of use.

 

Update:

I replaced the entire fixture and everything works again. Unfortunately, I did not install a switch this time around. Just did not have the time, nor patience, with so much going on w/the holidays. Just wanted to get rid of the annoyance of the ligh being on constantly.

When things calm down and the weather warms up, I'll probably install the switch.

Thanks for all of the help.