Motion detector light problems
 

Hi Everyone,

I'm having problems with the lights above my garage which are on a
motion detector. I guess to start, it is a brand new house (about 5
months old), and these motion detector lights have been working without
any problems up until now (and I had not changed anything prior to
having these problems).

I noticed they were not coming on, but the red "sensor" light was still
flashing.

Upon checking closer, if I switch to "test" I can have continuous
lighting. But when I switch to any delay in time (1, 5 or 20 minutes)
when the lights shut off I can't get them back on. (checking this in the
dark, using flashlight to play with light settings).

What should I check now? I've never had a motion sensor before, but I'm
sure it's gotta be pretty simple to fix?

Any suggestions / ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

sperrin

one here to get it back in sync I have to power it off and being there's no
switch I flip the circuit break off a couple of seconds then back on.
another here boasts it retains programming for up to five minutes to make up
for short power outages,,, well it takes about twenty minutes of no power to
reset it to defaults once it screws up.

"sperrin" wrote in message
...
Hi Everyone,

I'm having problems with the lights above my garage which are on a
motion detector. I guess to start, it is a brand new house (about 5
months old), and these motion detector lights have been working without
any problems up until now (and I had not changed anything prior to
having these problems).

I noticed they were not coming on, but the red "sensor" light was still
flashing.

Upon checking closer, if I switch to "test" I can have continuous
lighting. But when I switch to any delay in time (1, 5 or 20 minutes)
when the lights shut off I can't get them back on. (checking this in the
dark, using flashlight to play with light settings).

What should I check now? I've never had a motion sensor before, but I'm
sure it's gotta be pretty simple to fix?

Any suggestions / ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

sperrin

Your motion detector sounds like mine (flashing red sensor light, 1,
5, 20 minutes, etc.)

If it is, then the motion detector uses a photocell light sensor to
detect whether it is dark outside or not. If it is dark then upon
detecting motion it turns on the light. If it isn't dark then upon
detecting motion it only flashes the red LED.

If it is dark, then the motion sensor should turn on the lights when
it detects motion. If it doesn't do this, then perhaps there is an
issue somewhere that is making your photocell light sensor think that
it is always daytime outside? I know that on TEST mode, the lights
will turn on after detecting motion whether it is dark outside or not
(i.e. it ignores the photocell light sensor).



sperrin wrote in message ...
Hi Everyone,

I'm having problems with the lights above my garage which are on a
motion detector. I guess to start, it is a brand new house (about 5
months old), and these motion detector lights have been working without
any problems up until now (and I had not changed anything prior to
having these problems).

I noticed they were not coming on, but the red "sensor" light was still
flashing.

Upon checking closer, if I switch to "test" I can have continuous
lighting. But when I switch to any delay in time (1, 5 or 20 minutes)
when the lights shut off I can't get them back on. (checking this in the
dark, using flashlight to play with light settings).

What should I check now? I've never had a motion sensor before, but I'm
sure it's gotta be pretty simple to fix?

Any suggestions / ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

sperrin

Motion detector light problems
 

replying to sperrin, Brian wrote:
I am working on my motion dectector light outside on my garage the senior
light blinks red even when I move it around can you give me any tips to fixing
it


--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ms-552123-.htm

Motion detector light problems
 

replying to bumtracks, Brian wrote:
I have tried to shut the power off and I turned it back on and the motion
light still stays on


--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ms-552123-.htm

Motion detector light problems
 

On 1/6/2019 11:14 PM, Brian wrote:
replying to sperrin, Brian wrote:
I am working on my motion dectector light outside on my garage the senior
light blinks red even when I move it around can you give me any tips to
fixing
it


Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.

Motion detector light problems
 

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 1/6/2019 11:14 PM, Brian wrote:
replying to sperrin, Brian wrote:
I am working on my motion dectector light outside on my garage the senior
light blinks red even when I move it around can you give me any tips to
fixing
it


Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.

Mine have all been fine for decades now.

Lonely Psychotic Senile Ozzie Troll Alert! LOL
 

On Mon, 7 Jan 2019 17:21:08 +1100, cantankerous trolling geezer Rot Speed,
the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:


Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.

Mine have all been fine for decades now.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!! What a senile assclown!

--
Kerr-Mudd,John addressing senile Rot:
"Auto-contradictor Rod is back! (in the KF)"
MID:

Motion detector light problems
 

On Mon, 7 Jan 2019 17:21:08 +1100, "Rod Speed"
wrote:



"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 1/6/2019 11:14 PM, Brian wrote:
replying to sperrin, Brian wrote:
I am working on my motion dectector light outside on my garage the senior
light blinks red even when I move it around can you give me any tips to
fixing
it


Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.

Mine have all been fine for decades now.
I have some that are decades old and others won't even make it through
the typical 5 year warranty.
Keep your receipt.

A lot has to do with the sun hits the sensor directly. Sunlight will
burn them up pretty fast.
In a couple that point south (would be north for Rod)
I made a sunshade over the sensor out of aluminum flashing.
That seems to help

Motion detector light problems
 

On Sun, 6 Jan 2019 23:25:19 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 1/6/2019 11:14 PM, Brian wrote:
replying to sperrin, Brian wrote:
I am working on my motion dectector light outside on my garage the senior
light blinks red even when I move it around can you give me any tips to
fixing
it


Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.
That's the GOOD ones.
I've seen them fail in less than 3.

Motion detector light problems
 

On Mon, 07 Jan 2019 06:40:35 -0500, wrote:


On Mon, 7 Jan 2019 17:21:08 +1100, "Rod Speed"
wrote:



"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 1/6/2019 11:14 PM, Brian wrote:
replying to sperrin, Brian wrote:
I am working on my motion dectector light outside on my garage the senior
light blinks red even when I move it around can you give me any tips to
fixing
it


Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.

Mine have all been fine for decades now.
I have some that are decades old and others won't even make it through
the typical 5 year warranty.
Keep your receipt.

A lot has to do with the sun hits the sensor directly. Sunlight will
burn them up pretty fast.
In a couple that point south (would be north for Rod)
I made a sunshade over the sensor out of aluminum flashing.
That seems to help
The plastic "lens" over the sensor deteriorates quickly in direct
sun. Protecting that can go a long ways.
Bugs getting into the housing don't help either - and when the lens
cracks they get in a lot rasier - -

I was replacing the one on my south-facing rear wall every 2 or 3
years. I finally spent a bit more and this one is approaching 5 years.
The motion detector lights in my shed should last a lot longer as they
don't see any direct sunlight.

Motion detector light problems
 

On Mon, 07 Jan 2019 15:57:26 -0500, Clare Snyder
wrote:

On Mon, 07 Jan 2019 06:40:35 -0500, wrote:


On Mon, 7 Jan 2019 17:21:08 +1100, "Rod Speed"
wrote:



"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 1/6/2019 11:14 PM, Brian wrote:
replying to sperrin, Brian wrote:
I am working on my motion dectector light outside on my garage the senior
light blinks red even when I move it around can you give me any tips to
fixing
it


Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.

Mine have all been fine for decades now.
I have some that are decades old and others won't even make it through
the typical 5 year warranty.
Keep your receipt.

A lot has to do with the sun hits the sensor directly. Sunlight will
burn them up pretty fast.
In a couple that point south (would be north for Rod)
I made a sunshade over the sensor out of aluminum flashing.
That seems to help
The plastic "lens" over the sensor deteriorates quickly in direct
sun. Protecting that can go a long ways.
Bugs getting into the housing don't help either - and when the lens
cracks they get in a lot rasier - -

I was replacing the one on my south-facing rear wall every 2 or 3
years. I finally spent a bit more and this one is approaching 5 years.
The motion detector lights in my shed should last a lot longer as they
don't see any direct sunlight.

The Heath Zenith head in my family room is almost 33 years old but it
never sees the sun.

Motion detector light problems
 

On Mon, 07 Jan 2019 19:35:49 -0500, wrote:

On Mon, 07 Jan 2019 15:57:26 -0500, Clare Snyder
wrote:

On Mon, 07 Jan 2019 06:40:35 -0500, wrote:


On Mon, 7 Jan 2019 17:21:08 +1100, "Rod Speed"
wrote:



"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 1/6/2019 11:14 PM, Brian wrote:
replying to sperrin, Brian wrote:
I am working on my motion dectector light outside on my garage the senior
light blinks red even when I move it around can you give me any tips to
fixing
it


Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.

Mine have all been fine for decades now.
I have some that are decades old and others won't even make it through
the typical 5 year warranty.
Keep your receipt.

A lot has to do with the sun hits the sensor directly. Sunlight will
burn them up pretty fast.
In a couple that point south (would be north for Rod)
I made a sunshade over the sensor out of aluminum flashing.
That seems to help
The plastic "lens" over the sensor deteriorates quickly in direct
sun. Protecting that can go a long ways.
Bugs getting into the housing don't help either - and when the lens
cracks they get in a lot rasier - -

I was replacing the one on my south-facing rear wall every 2 or 3
years. I finally spent a bit more and this one is approaching 5 years.
The motion detector lights in my shed should last a lot longer as they
don't see any direct sunlight.

The Heath Zenith head in my family room is almost 33 years old but it
never sees the sun.
Correct. The Heath Zenith on my south facing wall didn't make 3 years
- IIRC just barely over 2.

Motion detector light problems
 

On Sun, 6 Jan 2019 23:25:19 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.

I have a motion detector switch in my shed. I noticed after initial install
that a CFL causes it to continuously 'sense' motion. All worked well when I
replaced the CFL with an LED.

Actually, I also needed to put a filament (40 W) light parallel to the main
LED load in order to provide a virtual ground for the sensor because LEDs
cannot present a low enough impedance to enable the tiny current required
by the sensor. After all, it needs to have somewhere to put electrons when
it is finished with them.

--
http://mduffy.x10host.com/index.htm

Motion detector light problems
 

On Wed, 9 Jan 2019 02:58:53 +0000, Mike_Duffy
wrote:

On Sun, 6 Jan 2019 23:25:19 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Replace the sensor and be done with it. They are only good for a few
years from my experience.

I have a motion detector switch in my shed. I noticed after initial install
that a CFL causes it to continuously 'sense' motion. All worked well when I
replaced the CFL with an LED.

Actually, I also needed to put a filament (40 W) light parallel to the main
LED load in order to provide a virtual ground for the sensor because LEDs
cannot present a low enough impedance to enable the tiny current required
by the sensor. After all, it needs to have somewhere to put electrons when
it is finished with them.
All of mine are now "native" LED. No bulbs. No sockets. Designed to
work that way and a LOT less power for at least as much light.

The only non LEDs in this house are the "globe" type exposed bulbs at
the bathroom vanities. I have 3 sets of replacements for them so they
will LIKELY remain incandescent for several years yet.