controlling soffit lighting with switch AND motion detector

[dgoodsy]

I am building a new garage and will be starting the wiring soon. I am planning for soffit lighting and had an idea that i'm not sure how to execute. I want to be able to control the soffit lighting from a switch, but also from a motion detector. The key here is that i don't want the light stitch or the motion detector to be the master, I want the motion detector to be able to turn the lights on even if the switch is in the off position, and vice-versa.

I am thinking a outdoor/3 way motion detector could be used in combination with a 3 way light switch, but i can't find that type of product available.

Any suggestions?

 

[engineer2]

In other words, you want to turn the light on manually. That makes sense.
Some outdoor lights let you toggle the switch on-off quickly to manually turn on the light. Turn if off for 10 seconds and then back on for automatic mode.

Another possibility: You would have to open the package in the store and look at the light to see if the internal wiring is accessible. Run two hots to the fixture. One as it would normally be wired. The other from the wall switch to the light fixture, bypassing the motion detector. This may not work with LED models that run the bulbs on low voltage. Of course if you modify the wiring, then it is no longer UL.

 

[cybrdyke]

RAB STL360
https://www.rablighting.com/downloads/instructions/stl360.pdf

 

[dgoodsy]

Aah, thanks guys. I didn't realise that motion sensors can be manually "overrode" by operating the light switch in a specific sequence. My initial intent was that the switch would not be able override the sensor to "off" or to "on" position. This is not the case with the above since the switch in the off position would guarantee the lights would be off. Although this isn't exactly what i had in mind it will probably work for me, in fact it may be better.

 

[yatg]

Use a stand alone motion detector in parallel with the switch.

 

[cybrdyke]

This is a pretty common request. The products do what they say they will. Problem is, that in actuality, it doesn't work out very well. Switches get forgotten and then lights dont come on, etc, etc...
CD

 

[dgoodsy]

Use a stand alone motion detector in parallel with the switch.

This won't cause any damage to the motion sensor/circuitry etc? sorry for the noob question, i had thought of this but then assumed that the motion sensor wouldn't like it, but i really have nothing to base that on..(edit - i now see manufacturers say you can wire sensors together to control the same bank of lights, this would be no different than a switch in parallel with the lights i suppose)

This is a pretty common request. The products do what they say they will. Problem is, that in actuality, it doesn't work out very well. Switches get forgotten and then lights dont come on, etc, etc...
CD

Accidentally leaving the switch off is my main concern, i thought i could put a switch guard on that switch, or put the switch somewhere apart from the other light switches.

 

[teamextreme]

I wired some exterior security lights for a guy once using a 3 position switches, like engineer2 suggested. The middle switch position was Off, up was Auto mode which wired the light like you normally would. Down was On, which bypassed the motion sensor and wired straight to the lamps, tied in with the output of the motion sensor. Worked fine. Switches were some weird 3 position toggles that I found, never seen one since. Googled it; a Leviton 1256 is basically it.

 

[grounded-b]

Use a stand alone motion detector in parallel with the switch.

agree