Smart devices and automatic technology can make any home feel futuristic, and we have often discussed how newer electrical system upgrades might be a huge benefit for your household. However, as your home electrical system evolves beyond simple light switches, annoyances caused by broken sensors and finicky technology also increase. Motion-activated lights are a great addition to your home inside and out, but they are a common problem area that homeowners report issues with. Today, we will discuss motion-activated lights, their benefits, and how to troubleshoot them when they go awry.
Benefits of Motion-Activated Lighting
Motion-activated lights only turn on when the sensors detect movement in the area they cover.
Inside a home, motion-activated lights conveniently help you navigate a dark house without the need for fumbling around in the dark for light switches. Just as motion-activated lights only turn on when they detect motion, they also turn off when no motion is detected – this saves you money and energy by turning off lights in your home when no one is in the room to benefit from them.
Outside a home, motion-activated lights assist homeowners by automatically turning on lights when they arrive home late at night, providing a safe path in the dark. Taking in groceries or finding your kid’s toy that fell onto the pathway is much easier when motion-activated lights welcome you home. They also deter intruders – both human and animal – that approach your home in the night.
What To Do When Your Motion-Activated Lights Don’t Work
Even if your motion-activated lights turn on in some scenarios, nonoptimal sensor readings might seriously reduce the benefits you receive by having this type of lighting. Possible issues include:
- Lights not activating, even when motion occurs in front of their sensors
- Lights turn off after activating, even when motion is still occurring in front of their sensors
- Lights turning on too often because of sensitive sensors
- Lights not turning off no matter the level of motion
If your motion-activated lights don’t turn on when needed, you might as well use regular light switches. Therefore, if you are suffering any of these problems with your system, try some of these fixes:
Reset The System – Turn off the flow of electricity to the lights at the breaker, then find the control panel to the light system. Look for a reset button or override switch that will completely turn off the system and let it reboot. You should also check if the system runs on batteries that need replacing.
Adjust The Sensors – Some motion-activated light systems, especially newer ones that hook up to a smart home system or a mobile phone application, allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the sensors. Change them based on your needs – higher sensitivity if lights fail to come on and lower sensitivity if slight movement from far away activates them.
Replace The Lights – If the system and sensors seem to be working, and your lights never activate, you may need to replace the bulbs. You can find the exact size and specifications in the owner’s manuals or on the company’s website.
If you have tried all the quick DIY checks but still have a system that refuses to listen or just today learned of the benefits of motion-activated lights, you should get in contact with a local electrician company today.
Promise Electric is one of Sarasota’s most trusted residential and commercial electrical companies. Call our experts today for help with your motion-activated system or any other electrical need.
