HOW TO ADJUST YOUR SENSOR LIGHT - Metro Electrical 24 Hour Electricians (2024)

FAQs

How do you adjust an indoor motion sensor? ›

Turn the motion sensor's head right or left and up or down so that its field of vision is roughly centered on the area you want to cover. To make the head of the motion sensor light stay put, you may have to tighten screws or ring nuts on the arm that supports the head. Next, set the “on-time” switch to “test”.

If you turn the switch off and on within a second or so, the light will stay on, and this overrides motion detection. To go back to normal operation, turn the switch off and wait ~10 seconds, then turn back on. I believe most will also go back to normal operations after some hours, or after the sun comes up again.

If you want more time, turn to dial counterclockwise until you reach the desired level. Be aware that if you use motion sensor light in high traffic areas like hallways or staircases, it may be best to keep the low setting for energy conservation.

Turn your light switch on and off quickly, hitting each position four times. When the light comes on, turn the switch to the off position and wait five to seven seconds before turning it on again. The light should remain off and the motion detection unit should be reset.

One of the quick tricks you can try is to quickly turn the motion sensor ON, OFF, ON to override the motion detection and make the light stay on. To go back to motion detection mode, turn the motion sensor off, wait for about 10 seconds, and then turn it on again.

With a normal, functioning motion sensor, when it turns off too soon, it's usually because of the unprofessional installation or improper adjustment that makes the motion sensor not at its full potential to detect motion effectively.

Indoor motion detection lights can be activated by your family walking into a room or by your curtains fluttering in the wind. If your motion detector lights are activated by heat, your air conditioning and heating unit could even turn your lights on.

Wipe the sensor with a clean, soft cloth—something that doesn't scratch glass and plastic surfaces. Check and/or change the bulb. If the sensor is clean and clear, but the problem persists, you might examine or change the bulbs in your motion light, since they last a while, but will wear out over time.

Yes, most sensors will have the ability to override the sensor function altogether and operate the light manually, as necessary. This is done by turning the light switch OFF – ON – OFF – ON in quick succession. The light will then remain ON and will not go OFF until you manually turn it OFF at the switch.

If your motion light is on at all times, there's a good chance the sensitivity setting is too high. This means your light could be triggered by everything from tiny bugs to cars in the distance, or heavy dust! Try turning down the settings and do some testing to see if this is your solution.

What are the 2 settings on a motion sensor light? ›

There, you'll find the two sensor controls, which are typically labeled “On-Time” and “Range” (or sometimes “Sensitivity”).

Adjusting Sensitivity: Locate the dial or switch that controls the sensor's sensitivity to motion and heat. Gently turn the sensitivity dial or adjust the switch. Typically, turning it clockwise increases sensitivity, and counterclockwise decreases it.

Most Motion sensors will either have LUX , TIME and SENSITIVITY some only have LUX and TIME.

Several things can cause your motion detector to stay on, including age, storm damage, a power surge, improper installation, and improper settings. A few issues are easy to correct without professional help.

If your motion light is on at all times, there's a good chance the sensitivity setting is too high. This means your light could be triggered by everything from tiny bugs to cars in the distance, or heavy dust! Try turning down the settings and do some testing to see if this is your solution.