Motion sensor light turns on and off repeatedly - what to do?

Susan Fernandez February 02 2022

What is motion light?

A motion light is a security device that turns on when it detects movement at night. Motion lights are mostly used in the dark to help people feel safe and avoid tripping over obstacles or hurting themselves.

These devices have been around for a while but have become popularized by their use in Hollywood movies, which portray criminals being discovered because they triggered a motion light. However, these devices do not always detect every person who passes them and thus may not be as reliable for security as they seem.

Our Best Picks Of Motion Sensor Lights

A motion light can have a variety of different internal hardware designs, but most feature a photoelectric sensor that senses infrared radiation. This sensor detects when there is a change in the amount of infrared radiation in an area and triggers a switch to turn on the lights. Some sensors require that they be able to detect both large areas of infrared energy and small areas to pick out movement, while others only need to sense one or the other.

How do motion lights work?

When people want to install a motion detector, they must first choose the best place for the device to be located so it can detect movement around the area they want to be illuminated. Once an ideal location is chosen, the next step involves turning off all of the lights in that area and then installing and testing the sensors until you know exactly where each one should be placed.

Some devices must be wired directly into a power supply, while others can run on batteries and even solar energy. If you choose to use batteries as your primary source of power, make sure they are installed properly by following any included instructions carefully before trying to test the device.

Once the sensors are all installed and tested, you need to adjust them so they will still turn on in response to motion but not in response to every little movement. This step is very important because if your sensors are set incorrectly, people may pass by them without triggering them while others may accidentally trigger the lights when simply passing by.

Remember that even though motion sensors can help provide extra security, it's always best if you combine their use with other types of protection like an alarm system or an attack dog.

Types of motion sensors

Motion sensors come in many shapes and sizes with different field ranges and sensitivity levels. Some are designed for outdoor use, while others are made for indoor applications. There are several types:

  • Passive Infrared Sensor (PIR):   PIRs measure minute changes in heat or infrared radiation to detect motion.
  • Dual Sensor: Dual sensors consist of both passive infrared and ultrasonic technologies.
  • Microwave Sensor: A microwave sensor uses microwaves to detect the motion of a moving object in an area.

What triggers motion lights?

Motion lights may be triggered by anything that moves, including people, animals, wind, rain, or leaves blowing in the wind. The amount of movement required is usually not very much; it only has to be enough that most people would consider it unusual for that place at night.

This can include vibrations from vehicles driving by on nearby roads or just the settling of dust after the occupants leave for work in the morning. Most devices will turn on when they sense activity but go back to sleep after a minute or so if nothing triggers them again.

Once the light has turned on, it usually stays on for around 30 seconds before automatically turning off. However, some devices will stay lit until manually turned off unless someone triggers them again while they are still on. Other sensors can be set to turn off after 15-30 seconds of inactivity or not at all. If you want your lights to remain on until activated again, make sure you purchase a model with this feature available.

How do people use motion sensor lights?

People use motion sensor lights to illuminate their property when they are away during nighttime hours or whenever there is limited lighting available in an area where someone needs more visibility than usual. Most model installations include mounting the hardware onto a wall or ceiling and powering it with either an electrical outlet or batteries.

What are the reasons for constant turning on and off?

The motion sensor light turns on and off repeatedly because there is no way to stop it once it has been triggered. There are ways, however, to lessen the number of times the device will turn on during the night.

First, make sure that nothing can actually trigger the motion sensor light (for example, by making sure nothing moves near it). Second, make sure the device is well-positioned; if it faces walls or wide-open spaces where people tend not to walk at night, then it likely will not be turned on very often.

Finally, try using luminous paint (found in most hardware stores) to help cover up any shadows or dark spots around the motion sensor light; this should ensure that the light is only activated by people and not other things.

Could the reset of the motion detector sensor help it?

The major part of motion sensors react to the heat of the body so if people get too close to them it's likely for the sensor to get activated. The reset helps, but not always.

The use of motion sensors is very important because they can activate lights in order to help provide extra security when someone is away from their house or building during nighttime hours. However, though motion sensors are great additions to homes and buildings, it's also important that you combine their use with other types of protection like an alarm system or attack dog just in case.

A motion sensor frequently has a sliding scale of sensitivity and the reset of the motion detector sensor helps you to set it up.

How do I fix my motion sensor light?

If you want to fix your device, try repositioning it first before making any changes to its settings. If positioning does not work, then consider using luminous paint around the device or getting a different model that does not have as sensitive a sensor.

There may also be times when nothing can be done about a defective sensor because the problem is with the electronic circuitry of how it detects movement rather than just being set too high. In cases where some steps have been taken already but the device continues to turn on, try taking some batteries out or unplugging whatever device powers it from an outlet for a few minutes so it has a chance to reset itself. If there is a physical switch on the device itself, try flipping it to see if that can resolve the problem as well.

If your motion sensor light stops turning on at all, then it is likely that something has gone wrong with its electronic circuitry or that there may even be a loose wire. It may also have been set too high for too long which makes powering off and on again more effective than repositioning the device itself because it will allow the entire system more time to reset rather than just a few minutes by repositioning.

Make sure you fix any problems with a broken circuit or loose wires before using any of the other steps to prevent the device from turning on at all.

 

Are motion sensor lights a waste of money?

Motion sensor lights can be a waste of money if someone does not find them useful or if the light turns off too often after it is first triggered. However, other people find these devices to be brilliant because they allow for hands-free lighting in dark areas and they make things safer for everyone.

If you want to make sure your money is well spent, consider how many times it turns off each night compared to how long you want it to stay lit (for example, 45 seconds or 30 minutes).

Also, think about whether or not it is likely that something may trigger the device when you are sleeping which could leave your space illuminated when you do not want it. After all, a light that comes on too often can also be just as much of a waste of money if someone does not find them useful or if the light turns off too often after it is first triggered. It is up to you to decide which motion sensor lights are worth their money.

They can be extremely annoying because it's like trying to sleep through a power surge of electricity every few minutes, making it difficult to get any rest at all. It also defeats the purpose of having them if they end up turning on too often or turn off after only a short time (for example, 45 seconds or 30 minutes).

This is why you should make sure that the device will stay on long enough each time for your requirements and even reposition it if necessary – but sometimes this doesn't work and there may actually be something wrong with the electronic circuitry.

Unfortunately, the only solution to this may be getting a new device or unplugging it until daytime so that you can get some sleep.

What things to consider when choosing a motion sensor light?

With the quality and variety of motion sensor lights available in the market nowadays, it becomes a bit hard to choose and settle on just one. The following are some things that you should put into consideration when choosing a motion sensor light:

a)  Price

The cost of the motion sensor light is also something that you need to consider when buying one. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the more expensive ones are always better than the cheaper ones. You can go for an affordable price without sacrificing quality and performance at all, you will still get your money's worth.

b) How much area does it cover?

You also need to consider how much area the light covers since not all people would like lots of bright lights or else they may not be able to sleep. However, there are some people who would love bright lights and so it is entirely up to you to choose which one will work for your needs.

c)  Does the product come with a warranty?

This is important because if something happens within the product's guarantee period, then you can have it replaced or repaired at no charge. That being said, always lookout for this information on the product description page before buying so that you are not surprised when the time comes.

It also helps to read online reviews from real customers about their experiences with different motion sensor lights so that you know what they're saying about them before making a purchase decision. These helpful tips should help in choosing just one but bear in mind that if you're having trouble deciding, then it's probably best to choose one that you like the look of.

Ultimately, it is still your choice since there are people who would love bright lights and so it is entirely up to you to choose which one will work for your needs. You can also ask around about which motion sensor lights work best for them so that they can help you come up with a well-informed decision.

Bottom line

If you are having trouble deciding which motion sensor lights to buy, then ask around about which ones work best for them so that you have a well-informed decision. You can also read online reviews from real customers about their experiences with different motion sensor lights so that you know more about the product before making a purchase decision.

In some cases, it is best to choose one that you like the look of if you are really having trouble deciding which motion sensor light to buy since your needs may vary from others'. After all, there are people who would love bright lights and so it is entirely up to you to choose which one will work for your well-informed decision before making a purchase.

Motion sensor lights turn on and off repeatedly, which is very annoying. You may need to reposition it or get a new device. The cost of the motion sensor light is also something that you need to consider when buying one. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the more expensive ones are always better than the cheaper ones.

You can go for an affordable price without sacrificing quality and performance at all, you will still get your money's worth. When choosing a motion sensor light, bear in mind that if you're having trouble deciding, then it's probably best to choose one that you like the look of. Ultimately, it is still your choice since there are people who would love bright lights and so it is entirely up to you to choose which one will work for your needs.