Being safe with outdoor motion sensor lightning
Outdoor motion sensor lighting is a solution to safely and efficiently prevent crime in or around your house. It represents a very important component of a home security system.
The essential element of an outdoor motion sensor lighting system resides in the motion sensor itself, as the name says it. This can control almost any type of domestic lighting. In the following lines we will present the main features of a motion sensor.
First of all, let's see the purpose and functionality of outdoor motion sensor lighting. Is is used:
- to ensure safety, scaring off intruders;
- for convenience, sparing you from the situations when you fumble in the dark for switches or you have both hands occupied and you use your shoulder to turn on the lights;
- for economical purposes, saving money and electricity by forgetting the lights on; this way, no more trouble reminding yourself, the kids to switch off the lights.
Furthermore, the article will provide the basics of outdoor motions sensor lighting. The motion detectors automatically switch on and off. Some of the motion sensors may not function with compact fluorescent lamps and this is why one should verify with the manufacturer if CFLs are to be used. Therefore, the main features of the motion sensors are that they are auto-on and auto-off. When used inside the house they should be manually programmed to avoid false triggering of the light when somebody walks past.
If the outdoor motion sensor lighting system got broken you don't necessarily have to replace the whole unit. You can try repairing it because it is no that complicated as it seems. In the majority of cases, it is only the motion sensing part that gets out of order. Fixing it is less expensive than replacing it. The entire process involves seven steps, which are:
1. Buy a new motion sensing unit, not fixture;
2. After turning off power to the light, remove the 2 screws that fasten the fixture to the electrical box housing.
3. Identify the place of the three wires that come from the center of the motion sensing unit. They are usually black, white and green. Use the tester to see if there is any current going through these wires. After that remove the caps from them.
4. Flip the unit over and take out the screws which secure the locking collar to the swivel ball near the mounting plate. After this, remove the sensing unit.
5. Pull the cables of the new motion sensing unit through the holes where the old one was. The new swivel end has to be inserted into the locking collar. Re-tighten the screws so that the unit is secure but its position can be adjusted.
6. Flip over the unit and connect the wires so that they match the colors. Replace then the wire caps.
7. Re-attach the unit to electrical box housing.
These being said, one can hopefully see the relevance and importance of an outdoor motion sensor lighting system within one's household.
