How to Choose and Install a Motion Sensor Light The Family Handyman.How motion detectors work.Motion detectors are small electronic eyes that detect infrared wavesheat waves that radiate from moving objects.When the detector senses an object moving across its field of viewespecially warmer objects such as people, animals and carsit electronically turns on the lights.The light stays on anywhere from 1 to 2.Then the detector automatically shuts the light off unless it continues to sense movement.A photocell deactivates the light during daylight hours.Most motion detectors have a semicircular field of view of up to 2.The detector will react to the movement of your dog, an approaching person, a passing car or sometimes even wind blown leaves.Nuisance trips, such as blowing leaves or a passing car, can fool the detector and turn the lights on when you dont want them.These can be annoying to both you and your neighbors, and in fact, some homeowners wont install motion detector lights for this reason.However, you can solve most unwanted switching on by adjusting the distance range setting and by carefully aiming the sensor to limit its field of view.You can also narrow the field of view even more by applying tape to the sensor, as shown in Photo 7.If nuisance trips concern you, be sure to buy a light that has an adjustable distancerange setting, and an aimable detector unit as shown in Fig.FH06MAY_MOTDEC_01-2.jpg' alt='How To Install Security Light On Garage' title='How To Install Security Light On Garage' />A, Nos.Motion detectors allow you to operate the light in the conventional, manual way, usually by flipping the switch off for a second, then back on.This allows you to keep the light on at night when you want to, even when theres no motion.By double flipping a second time, you return to automatic.Figure A Motion detector and light styles.There are many motion detector and light styles to choose from.Where to put them.For best effectiveness, position a motion sensor light to cover the walks leading to your front and back doors and the driveway see lead illustration.That way the lights will come on when you come home at night.You can also use them to light up decks, patios and any potentially hazardous locations such as around stairways and swimming pools.If improved security is a priority, position the lights to cover all the approaches to your house, including fence gates, the patio door, the darker areas of your yard, and around trees and bushes.Good lighting cant guarantee security, of course, but its one of the best low cost ways to get unwanted intruders to back away.Ideally, its best to mount a motion sensor light 6 to 1.Obviously you cant always do that if you use existing light locations. Repair Microsoft Wireless Mouse 3000 . One solution is to buy a remote motion sensor unit that you can mount some distance away from the light itself Fig.A, 3. The wires connecting them to the light are low voltage and not dangerous, so you dont have to enclose them in metal or plastic conduit.How to install motion detector lights, step by step.Photo 1 Shut of the electricity.Turn off the power to the fixture at the main panel, then test the wires to make sure the current is off.Rub one lead of a voltage tester from hardware stores or home centers against the ground wire and rub the other lead first against the hot wire black, then the neutral wire white.If the tester lights up in either case, the power is still on.Shut off the correct circuit at the main panel.Photo 2 Install a larger box.Install a replacement electrical box if your existing box is too small see Size Requirements of Electrical Boxes.Plastic boxes have the size in cubic inches stamped on them.Photo 3 Wire the new fixture.Mount the light fixture according to the manufacturers instructions.Run the wires through the rubber gasket.Then connect the neutral wires white, hot wires black and ground wires green or bare copper with wire connectors.Photo 4 Mount the fixture.Screw the fixture into place.Make sure the rubber gasket seals the edges of the box so moisture cant get in.Solar Lights, URPOWER 20 LED Outdoor Solar Motion Sensor Lights, Solar Powered Wireless Waterproof Exterior Security Wall Light for Patio, Deck, Yard, Garden, Path.Apply a bead of clear silicone caulk around the edges if necessary.Photo 5 Aim the sensor.Aim the motion detector at the field of view you want covered.Later, you can aim the detector lower to reduce the field of view if nuisance trips are a problem.Point the light bulbs to the area you want lit.HomeAdvisors Garage Door Opener Cost Guide lists prices associated with installing or replacing an automatic garage door opener, as reported by HomeAdvisor customers.How To Install Security Light On Garage' title='How To Install Security Light On Garage' />Keep the bulbs as far away from the detector as possible.Photo 6 Set the controls.Set the detectors distance range as desired.You can also reduce this later, if necessary, to eliminate nuisance trips.Also set the timer shutoff control.On most units you can choose automatic shutoff after either 1, 5 or 2.Photo 7 Limit the field of view.Lighting-Ceiling-Fans/Lighting-Suite/install-motion-lights-match-wiring.jpg' alt='How To Install Security Light On Garage' title='How To Install Security Light On Garage' />Cover a portion of the detector lens with plastic tape if it becomes necessary to narrow its side to side field of view more than the adjustments will allow.Motion detector lights are easy to install, but each brand has a few different details, so read the instructions.Youll find the basic information printed on the outside of the box.Read the box before you buy the unit so you know what youre getting.Youll find more detailed instructions inside the box.Our step by step photos and tips from our experts provide a general guide of how to do the job.In most cases, youll simply replace an existing fixture with the new one, as our photos show.Make sure to turn off the power to the fixture at the main panel before removing it.However, if you have to run a new electrical line and install a switch, the job can get much more complex.Outdoor electrical lines must be encased in approved conduit and weatherproof electrical boxes.If youre not familiar with conduit or the rules for running new electrical circuits, call in a licensed electrician.Working with old electrical boxes can be tricky too.Sometimes they dont contain a ground wire bare wire or one with green insulation or other grounding means such as metal conduit.The National Electrical Code requires all electrical boxes and fixtures to be grounded.If youre not sure yours is, check with your electrical inspector to determine if you have to run a new ground wire.Additional installation tips The cover of an outdoor electrical box must be waterproof.Seat the rubber gasket carefully Photo 4.And if you are placing it against a rough surface, caulk it as well.Moisture can seep into the detector and light sockets and ruin them.To prevent this, either locate the fixture under an eave or other protected area or buy one that has bulb seals Photo 5 and angle the bulbs downward so water cant run into the socket.Heat from the light bulb itself can confuse the detector.Keep the bulb and detector as far apart as possible Photo 5.Adjust the field of view angle and set the distance range of your motion detector to avoid nuisance trips from normal passing traffic, animals, pools of water, air conditioners, heating vents and wind blown trees and shrubs Photos 5 7.Get an electrical permit from your local department of inspections.Check for special local rules and have your work inspected when finished.CAUTION Dont let your ladder or your body touch lethal overhead power lines while youre working.CAUTION Aluminum wiring requires special handling.If you have aluminum wiring, call in a licensed pro whos certified to work with it.This wiring is dull gray, not the dull orange thats characteristic of copper.Size requirements of electrical boxes.You also need to check out the size of your electrical box.A shallow box like the one shown in Photo 1 no longer meets code requirements, and we had to replace it with a larger box, shown in Photos 2 and 3.The computation table gives the method for calculating minimum box size requirements.To do the calculation, count the number of wires coming into the box.However, some other things besides wires are counted as wires for computation purposes.For example, all the cable clamps used count for one wire, and we recommend always counting the fixture as two wires.Then multiply this total wire number by 2 cu.The computation method given here sometimes overestimates the minimum box size required by code, but it simplifies the calculation.Additional Information.Required Tools for this Project.Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration.Garage door opener repair parts for Stanley, Vemco, Quiet Glide.Secure. Code, Lightmaker, Stanley Automatic Openers, Whistler, U Install, Innovate.Home Products, Stanley Standard Operator and Popular Mechanics.Compatible with. Stanley chain drive garage door opener model numbers 4.C, 6. 00. 0, 6. 00.AT2. 01. 0, AT2. 02.BT2. 00. CT4. 05, CT5.D1. 00. 0, D1. 00.D2. 00. 0, D2. 00.GL4. 50, GT2. 00, GT2.GT3. 00. GT3. 01, GT4.HD3. 01, MT3. 10, PC4.PC5. 05, PT2. 10, PT2.PB2. 40, PT3. 00.PT3. 01, PL5. 00, PT6.RT1. 00, RT2. 00, RT4.RT4. 01, SB6. 00, SL7.ST1. 00. ST1. 01, ST2.ST2. 01, ST3. 00, ST3.ST4. 00, ST4. 01, ST5.ST5. 01, ST5. 02.T1. 30, T1. 35, T1.T1. 45, TT1. 00, TT1.TT2. 00, TT2. 01, TT3.TT3. 01, UB2. 10.UB4. 00, UL5. 00, UT2.UT2. 01, UT3. 00, UT3.UT5. 02, V1. 00. 0 and V2.
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