REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

Death2Theft · 05-31-2010, 09:55 PM

I have all the motion detector lights in the house hooked up on switches. Problem is when the switch is in one position the motion detectors function like normal. In the "down" position the light goes off. However when the switch quickly gets switched on and off quickly(usually by strangers that are fumbling to turn lights off) the motion detector light will stay on all night unless I fumble with turning it back up then wait x seconds to toggle it down. Sometimes if i'm lucky, this resets it and I am able to regain normal use of my motion sensor lights. So since I dont want to play around like entering some secret contra code on my nintendo of a light.....
Why can't it be wired so that the "up" position is motion sensor and the "down" position is full on until i turn it back "up" and quickly toggling it up and down wont cause it to stay on.

This is how I wanted it wired to begin with but the electrician looked at me like there was no other way to do it... Is the problem in the motion detector itself that a quick toggle on off will cause this or is it in the switch/wiring?

syee · 05-31-2010, 10:01 PM

That's how all our motion detectors work. If you switch off/on quickly, it turns the light on permanently. If you turn it off, wait for 10 seconds, then turn it back on, then the motion activation works again. This is by design of the motion detector. All the motion detectors I've seen do this. It gives you the option to force the light on permanently so it's not always turning off/on when you just want it on.

johny · 05-31-2010, 10:16 PM

it's a function of the light... it has 2 modes. motion sensor and %100 on. changes by how you switch it. most do this.

you could jerry rig something with a 3 way switch and running a 3 conductor wire from switch to the light. run the main hot to the common of the switch, then from the sw you'd have 2 possible hots coming out, run one to the normal light connection at the sensor, run the other one and splice between the sensor and lights. and 3rd conductor needed for netreal...

most likely highly against code. and probably over a normal electricians head... but would give you always on in one position, or motioned switched in the other. (but would still give you always on in the motion selection if you flipped fast....)

Death2Theft · 05-31-2010, 10:22 PM

Err well the two posts are conflicting. Which brand offers one that is motion sensor and 100% on?

Pretty sure mine offers motion and off and to get 100% on i have to toggle and wait x seconds.

johny · 05-31-2010, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Death2Theft

Err well the two posts are conflicting. Which brand offers one that is motion sensor and 100% on?

the way you want it , none. it would require jerry rigging the switch, wiring, and inside the light to possibly make it work, and if it worked, would work on any light.

Quote:

Pretty sure mine offers motion and off and to get 100% on i have to toggle and wait x seconds.

yes I think they all do this.