How to Wire a Motion Sensor Flood Light

Installing a motion sensor flood light it typically simple and straightforward. This is why it works well as a DIY project. The best way to wire the premises is by ensuring that installation of the motion sensor lights beneath the roof of your home is properly done, and this should be done for each corner as well. This will ensure that each motion sensor for different lights overlap that of the succeeding light, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 1 - Switch off Electricity

Before starting with installing the motion sensor lights, it is important to switch off electricity to any flood lights that have already been installed in the home. This can be done by turning off the circuit breaker connected to the flood lights.

Step 2 - Get Rid of All Flood Lights

In order to remove all flood lights that have already been installed in your property, be sure to make use of a ladder and install a helper as well to pass the materials when required. A helper can also help to hold the ladder steady. A noisemaker (ratchet) should be used to remove the bolts that hold the floodlights in place.

Step 3 - Open up Nuts Connecting the Wires

There will be wire nuts that help in connecting the floodlights to the wiring within the home. Special nuts are used that help in screwing a pair of wires so these are held tightly in a way that ensures the wires do not become wet. Normally, these nuts can be unscrewed by hand, but if that fails then a pair of pliers can help in getting the nuts free. Once unscrewed, the wires should be removed and the flood lights disconnected and then discarded.

Step 4 - Install New Motion Sensor Flood Lights

Now, take the new motion sensor flood lights and install them in the same place where the old flood lights were being held. Remember to position the new flood lights in a corner of the home so the motion sensor can scan in each direction around the corner of the home. A noisemaker (ratchet) can be used to install the longer bolts that are part of the new motion sensor flood lights.

Step 5 - Wrap the Wires

Take a pair of pliers and wrap the wires from the flood lights to those wires that have already been installed. Remember to connect the wires according to color codes; so, a white wire should be connected to a wire of similar color. Then, with the help of pliers, simply twist the wires till they are tightly wound around each other.

Take a wire nut made of plastic (new, not used) and screw it onto a new connection. Be careful about inserting wires into the special nuts and then turn the nut in a clockwise motion until it sits firmly on the wires. Each connection should have one nut.

Step 6 - Handle Switches

Be sure to address the issue of setting the switches on the newly installed motion sensor flood lights. Normally, this means positioning the switch to normal mode, though it is possible to alter the setting to suit different requirements including to help in detection of slightest movements that are normally made by small sized animals.

Step 7 - Stuff the Wires

Lastly, be careful to stuff the wires into their housing, which in turn should be installed above the wires to protect them from inclement weather.

As can be seen, installing new motion sensor flood lights is quite an easy task anyone can accomplish. After installing the first flood lights, all that remains is to repeat the entire process until the remaining flood lights have been installed. Finally, turn on the circuit breaker so the flood lights can be powered up and tested. Be sure to wear gloves during the installation and ask for help from licensed electricians, should something prove to be difficult to do on your own.