jives
Well-known member
This is an update on a motion detector problem; the original problem was outlined in the now lost threads. Anyway, after wiring the garage the only thing that did not work was the outside barn lights wired to a motion sensor, like this:
power>>switch>>sensor>>lights.
It was recommended to remove the sensor and wire the switch directly to the lights. I did and the lights worked. I then examined the sensor to see how I may have wired it wrong, and behold, I found the black power wire squished in one place cutting it in two. Apparently the wire got stuck near the mounting screw and got "screwed". It was apparent there had also been sparking and some burning. Aaaaack! I hate doing electrical. Too much riding on doing it exactly right.
Anyway, cut out the bad wire, had enough wire to re-attach, and presto, it works. Ultimately the culprit was a ceiling box too small. I used one of the saddle boxes to secure directly around a joist. The box is really secure, but not much room, and stuffing all the wires up in there was problematic. It did not help that one of the wires coming in was thick 10/3 Romex. I used the 10/3 because I ran out of 12/2 and only had the 10/3 left over from wiring the 240V receptacles.
power>>switch>>sensor>>lights.
It was recommended to remove the sensor and wire the switch directly to the lights. I did and the lights worked. I then examined the sensor to see how I may have wired it wrong, and behold, I found the black power wire squished in one place cutting it in two. Apparently the wire got stuck near the mounting screw and got "screwed". It was apparent there had also been sparking and some burning. Aaaaack! I hate doing electrical. Too much riding on doing it exactly right.
Anyway, cut out the bad wire, had enough wire to re-attach, and presto, it works. Ultimately the culprit was a ceiling box too small. I used one of the saddle boxes to secure directly around a joist. The box is really secure, but not much room, and stuffing all the wires up in there was problematic. It did not help that one of the wires coming in was thick 10/3 Romex. I used the 10/3 because I ran out of 12/2 and only had the 10/3 left over from wiring the 240V receptacles.