Installing a motion sensor outdoor security light.
Replacing your existing yard lights with ones that contains motion sensors will not only enhance security but provide needed illumination automatically when you come home at night. Since this DYI project involves some basic electrical work, it is a good idea to check any bare wires with a voltage tester before handling them.
Please Leave a Comment
You can follow comments to this article by subscribing to the RSS news feed with your favorite feed reader.
We want to hear from you! In addition to posting comments on articles and videos, you can also send your comments and questions to us on our contact page or at (800) 946-4420. While we can't answer them all, we may use your question on our Today's Homeowner radio or TV show, or online at todayshomeowner.com.
March 9th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Installed 2 motion type Zenith SL-5316 halogen lights 1 yesr ago – nothing but problems, first sensor, then both fixtures needed new lamps variously three time in one year. Not reliable at all. What is the most reliable and best quality manufacturer of outdoor under eve flood lighting? Money is NO OBJECTY -We need top of the line reliability for both the fixture and the lamp itself. Can you help?? Bill
June 8th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I also installed a motion sensor set of floodlights, not as high quality as yours but I too have had a lot of headaches with it. The most serious is that the pattern of motion detection is bizarre and unpredictable. The best detection pattern I can get is something like the shape of a bow tie; with narrow areas on ether side and a big V-shaped zone in the middle where it doesn’t detect motion at all. You can walk right up to it and not trip the sensor. What a waste of time and money! In any case, I’d also like advice on type and brand of security light. Thanks, David
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
We saw you endorse a yard/security light on the Weather Channel. What attracted our attention is there’s a light at Home Depot that doesn’t come on every time the wind blows. Can you tell us the name of the light? The clerks at Home Depot don’t have a clue.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Do you know of any brand of movement activated spotlight which does not require hardwiring by an electrician. We used to have one which had a power plug on the end of the lead but can now only find one with a bayonet adaptor. Since the shed we want to put it on has power points but no lighting and is over 10 metres from the house it is impossible to reach a bayonet fitting on the verandah (and anyway it is already in use). We have had a pretty high quote from an electrician to take a line under ground. Grateful for any info. I am in Western Australia.
January 4th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Check with Hubbell…they make Hubbell Lights, Kim Lights, etc. Intermatic (Malibu) and Home Depot stock are very unreliable. Try calling Walter’s in Costa Mesa, Calfornia for direction.
cs
April 10th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I was looking for the response to Bill Gillroy’s question from March 9th, 2008 at 8:48 pm. I am having nothing but problems with outdoor motion lights. One of these is 30 up in the air. I really want a high quality light that will work for years.
Thanks
Ed
September 26th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Motion detectors are a waste of time and money.
Your best bet is to get a cheap dusk to dawn florescent bulb like a 18 watt bulb that is for sub zero temps rated. It should put out around 100watts of bright white light. They are basically maintenance free. Why have a intruder even come up to your property? They don’t like light and will avoid it all costs and choose a dark house. Good Luck!
January 10th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Please help me. I have a couple motion detector lights around my house which work some of the time and if the wind blows they are on all night. Can you please suggest a high quality completely dependable light?
I need to by my garage, one on each side, one by four entries and three more around dark areas of my home.
Thank you kindly.
October 18th, 2010 at 11:28 am
I have the same experience as others on this blog. What is the best product recommended for outdoor lighting – I’m ready for dawn to dusk models, since none of the Home Depot/Lowe’s products are reliable. I’m getting tired of going up and down the ladder!!
January 18th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
I recently installed my second motion detector with dual 300 watt lamps. The product is “home Land Security Lighting” and cost $26. I have them mounted at 3 corners of my home. However, the front garage set of lights seem to go quickly. The other two corners work fine, but this is the second time within months that the front garage security lights remain on all evening. The first set of lights I had installed by an electrician who had to run electric in my attic. Another fault is that I did not have him install a manual switch in the garage to shut it off. Now, I have to inactivate the breaker switch which shuts down other critical power needed. Anyway, I’m beginning to ramble too long. Bottom line, why do the lights remain activated by the motion detector. This set of lights only worked nicely for approximately 30+ days…..? HELP!
Ben Erickson Says:January 19th, 2011 at 10:18 am
Hi Ronald,
It’s possible that the senor is defective and will need to be replace, but try adjusting the sensitivity and length of time the light stays on first. Good luck with your project!
March 7th, 2011 at 11:56 am
We have two rather hi quality motion lights, they detect motion just fine and work well. The issue is very strange, whenever we turn on a light switch for something else, such as the pantry switch the one light comes on in our backyard, the other light is outside our garage, and whenever I turn on that inside light switch that motion light comes on….what gives???
Ben Erickson Says:March 8th, 2011 at 8:08 am
Hi Dennis,
Assuming the other lights you’re turning on don’t control the outside light as well, that is odd. You might try adjusting the sensitivity of the motion lights, or contact the manufacturer to see if they have any suggestions.
April 13th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
I have a question. If I have a flood light connect to a light switch and change it out for a sensor light. Will I have to leave that light switch on all the time for the sensor light to be able to work? Or will it work with out the switch turned off?
Ben Erickson Says:April 15th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Hi Anthony,
If the light is controlled by the switch, you would have to leave the switch on for the light to work. However, you could remove the switch and connect the wires so it’s permanently on. Good luck with your project!