3 modes for outdoor lights ON/OFF/Remote Motion

[Clevername]

I would like to have motion sensing lights on my garage with two remote nighttime motion sensors, so when I pull up they come on. There are also times when I might want to have them on, without having to dance around to make them come back on, and there are times when I am chillin' smokin' a cigar and killing a few, when I don't want them on at all.

I don't seem to be having any luck finding this functionality.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Brian_WK]

I have one of these from Amazon Heath/Zenith SL-5210-GR-B. It is programmed with the light switch that is wired into the black power wire going into it. Switch on motion activated. Quick flip switch off then on light stays on until dusk or until switch is quick flipped off then on again returning it to motion. Switch off light stays off.

Brian

 

[theoldwizard1]

Very common. Almost all of them at HD work that way. I think you have to flip the switch twice to get them to stay on.

 

[teamextreme]

The old school option that I have done before is to use a 3 position switch, not a 3-way, but 3 position. Bottom position is off, middle is Auto mode (motion sense) and up is Manual mode (constant on). You need to run 3 conductor cable from the switch to the light, 2 hots (one for each mode) and the neutral. You then have to splice the Manual mode wire directly to the output of the motion sensor to the light (red wire). Only problem with this method is sourcing 3 position switches, you wont find them at box stores.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Very common. Almost all of them at HD work that way. I think you have to flip the switch twice to get them to stay on.

Exactly.

Just about every motion sensing outdoor light fixture or separate sensor piece that you can add to any light to make it motion sensing, works as the OP wants.

Once installed, if you turn the light switch that controls the light fixture to the "OFF" position, then wait about 12 to 20 seconds, and then turn the light switch to the "ON" position and leave it on, the light fixture will be in motion sensing mode. This means the light will come on when motion is detected, and then shut off at the set amount of minutes you choose on the bottom of the sensor. Also, the light will not go on during the daytime because most of the motion sensors also have daylight sensors to keep the lights from coming on during the day.

If you turn the light switch that controls the fixture to the "OFF" position, and leave it there, then of course the light fixture will be off indefinitely.

If you turn the light switch that controls the fixture to the "OFF" position, and then immediately to the "ON" position, the light fixture will stay on indefinitely, even in the daytime, until you either turn it off or reset the motion sensor.

To reset the motion sensor, you flip the light switch controlling the light fixture to the "OFF" position, then you wait approximately 12 to 20 seconds and then flip the light switch up to the "ON" position and leave it there. This will reset the motion sensing ability of the light fixture so it comes on with motion and off at the pre-determined time, as well as not come on during the daytime.

Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[Clevername]

Had no idea. Thanks guys. Sorry for the late reply, definitely appreciate the responses. I guess I was expecting an e-mail notification, then I realized I didn't subscribe to my own thread.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Had no idea. Thanks guys. Sorry for the late reply, definitely appreciate the responses. I guess I was expecting an e-mail notification, then I realized I didn't subscribe to my own thread.

+2. I wanted to do something like this in the back yard with a light but figured all motion sensors would the negate the fact that if I flip the switch on I loose the always on feature if I wanted to turn the light on then off. I like the fact that they have modes.

Next question would be who makes a good sensor? Most of the reviews I found on amazon featuring add on motion sensors are horrible.

Are the motion sensors just your 2-3 wires that you wire inline with the light wires?

Thanks,
-Nigel

 

[TooMuchHair]

Last year when I was deciding what kind of lights to put on my shop, guys on GJ were saying RAB was the way to go. I had never heard of them but I didn't like the brands that I was seeing in the big box stores so I found the RAB's on Amazon. They are great lights, not too much more and worth it. They do all of what you were wanting plus a few more features, all controlled from your standard wall switch. So far I have been happy to just let the sensors do it all for me. They use a dual sensor, that once you get set up is basically impossible to sneak up on. They also have a line of red LED's that constantly blink in a left to right scan pattern, it looks like a security system. Pretty cool, You can actually see the red LED'd from the dark road 140 feet in front of my shop. Crazy good warranty too, I don't recall the details this morning, but I remember it was solid.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W3UH4O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[CJ7VFR]

...Next question would be who makes a good sensor? Most of the reviews I found on amazon featuring add on motion sensors are horrible.

Are the motion sensors just your 2-3 wires that you wire inline with the light wires?

Thanks,
-Nigel

All depends on what you want to spend really.

What I have done lately, for the few motion sensors I needed to add to some lights I wanted motion controlled in my garage, was that I bought this cheap $12.00 light fixture at Home Depot and just removed the sensor from it. It is half the cost of just buying a sensor alone. I just toss the light fixture part in a bin and keep the parts for some other project if I need them.

It is pretty cheaply made, but the ones I have installed have lasted a few years so far. The sensor has only two wires coming out of it to hook up to your existing wiring. There was no ground wire because the entire fixture is made of plastic.

Jim

 

[Tim65GT]

All depends on what you want to spend really.

What I have done lately, for the few motion sensors I needed to add to some lights I wanted motion controlled in my garage, was that I bought this cheap $12.00 light fixture at Home Depot and just removed the sensor from it. It is half the cost of just buying a sensor alone. I just toss the light fixture part in a bin and keep the parts for some other project if I need them.

Jim

That is what I did too.

 

[Clevername]

Could I run those in series? I feel like I might need two motion sensors to cover the area I want to.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Could I run those in series? I feel like I might need two motion sensors to cover the area I want to.

I don't know if that would work or not but you could always try it and see. Get two of the cheap $12.00 fixtures from HD and try it by hooking them up on a bench and testing it.

If it works, your good to go. If not, box them back up and take them back for a refund. Or, just keep them and put them away for future use.

I think that it might work if the sensors where in a parallel hook up, not in series. You would want to have each motion sensor affecting only the light and not affecting each other.

It is an interesting concept though, and worth a try. Let us know if you decide to do it and how it turns out!

Jim

 

[NewShockerGuy]

I ended up ordering a RAB that TooMuchHair linked except in white.... reviews were great and I figured I don't want to mess with changing sensors every couple years. I'll post pics once it comes in later in the week.

-Nigel