Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a dark garage light-up as soon as you approach it? Installing a sensor floodlight can come in handy. This device helps you navigate your garage or backyard during the night. However, knowing how to install an outdoor motion sensor flood light can be quite tricky. In this article, we will discuss how to install a motion sensor flood light, learning about the best spot to install it around any area, and the things to consider when installing these lights.
How Outdoor Motion Sensor Flood Lights Work
Motion sensor flood lights have motion detectors to activate them to turn on and off—these motion detectors target movement through infrared via heat waves that radiate through an object. Animals, people, and cars emit a temperature enough to trigger the motion detectors, which automatically turn them on. These lights shut off automatically as well when no movement is detected within the range of its sensors.
The motion detector lights can stay on depending on how long you’ve set the timer. Usually, the standard shutoff time can be set to 1, 5, or 20 minutes. We will discuss this later when we talk about how to install an outdoor motion sensor flood light step-by-step.
During the day, a photocell in the sensors reacts to the sunlight and makes sure that the motion-sensing flood lights stay off to conserve power. The standard motion sensor has a field of view up to 240 degrees and a detecting distance that can be fully adjusted up to 70 feet, in some cases even more.
The Best Spot To Install An Outdoor Motion Sensor Flood Light
An outdoor motion sensor floodlight can be installed in any area outside the house that requires lighting. But using them as a replacement for the standard light bulb will be costly. There are more effective ways to position these lights around the house in order to promote proper security and safety.
Having the floodlight in areas where its light covers the walkway leading to the main door or back door will be the first thing to prioritize. This way, when you come home from work or go out the back at night, the lights turn on, giving you a better view of your path.
A great location to set up motion sensor flood lights also include the patio, the deck, swimming pool area, and outdoor stairs. Any area that provides a substantial risk or hazard is a great location for setting up motion sensor floodlights.
It is crucial to know how to install an outdoor motion sensor flood light to add additional security around the house. Having the lights cover all the possible entrances and hiding places where burglars or thieves can take advantage of would be perfect. These include doors, windows, fences, dark areas around the yard, and even trees and bushes. Proper lighting in these areas can deter unwanted intruders, to have them back-off in the surprise of light during the dark.
Step-By-Step: Installing An Outdoor Motion Sensor Flood Light
A motion sensor floodlight is ideally installed 6 to 10 feet above the ground. Not only can this spread out light better, but it also provides the proper detection for its sensor, accurately targeting the movement of objects in the area. Having the sensors high up and angled down makes sure that no obstructions come in the way of its operation.
Different brands for motion detector flood lights offer different ways on how to install them. That is why it is essential to read the manual or instructions that come with the package when you perform the installation.
Before you purchase your motion sensor floodlights, it is also helpful to read through the box. You will find the basic features that come with your lights, and you can weigh it out according to your needs.
Although different brands of motion sensor flood lights come with a unique set of instructions, they have a relatively similar installation process. These are step-by-step instructions on knowing how to install an outdoor motion sensor flood light for your household:
In our case, we will be looking into the steps on how to install alarm sensors on double hung windows. Here are some of the points you would want to consider before the actual mounting of the sensors:
- Step 1 - It is crucial to turn off the power source of the electrical line you will be working with on installation. This is to prevent you from getting electrocuted during the process. You can test the line using a voltage tester first, to make sure that no current is running on the wires. When the voltage tester lights up, the line is still active, make sure you turn off the right switch in the main electrical panel before you proceed.
- Step 2 - Check if you have the right electrical box in place for your outdoor motion sensor floodlights. These electrical boxes measure in cubic inches, with the measurement, stamped onto them.
Tip: It is also a good idea to purchase the right-sized electric box with your floodlights, so you don’t keep coming back to the store. - Step 3 - During the wiring stage, make sure you follow the instructions that came with your motion sensor floodlights. The standard for wiring will require you to run the wires into a rubber gasket. This will make it easier for you to connect neutral cables, hot wires, and ground wires to their respective connectors.
- Step 4 - Once the wiring is complete, you can preinstall the fixture into place utilizing only half the screws. Test the lights to see if they are working correctly, and no short circuits happen if everything checks out, proceed into tightening the fixture.
- Makes sure the rubber gasket is sealed around the edges and secured firmly to the wall. This is to block moisture from coming through the housing, which can short circuit the wires. You can also apply a little coat of silicone around the edges to further strengthen the fixture.
- Step 5 - Position the motion sensors toward the field of view you want to be covered. The floodlights should be pointed towards the area you wish to light up as well. It is best to have the lightbulbs pointed away from the motion detectors to avoid false heat detections.
- Step 6 - Adjust the setting on the motion sensors to your desire. You can keep adjusting this later on until you’re comfortable with the right sensitivity, shutoff time, and sensor position.
Conclusion
Security and safety are two of the essential qualities of a household. An outdoor motion sensor flood light strikes two birds with one stone. It promotes security by preventing unwanted intruders, especially at night, and improving safety by illuminating your path in dark areas.
Knowing how to install an outdoor motion sensor flood light and knowing how to position them properly around the household is vital when you have a set of lights of your own. If you don’t have one yet, I encourage you to get one today to light up dark areas quickly and secure corners of the house more efficiently. Here’s how to learn more about Motion Sensors.