Lights that feature a motion sensor are obviously more sensitive than your average fixtures and lamps. A motion sensor could emit a beam of light or a laser that, if unexpectedly cut, triggers an alarm of sorts, and causes the light response to be activated.
In fact, motion sensor lights, depending on the technology involved and their purpose, could be on the lookout, so to speak, for movement, vibration, body heat, and more.
The point is that they’re complex systems, albeit nicely tucked away inside a pleasant little plastic case. And with great complexity, comes the occasional technical issue. A motion sensor light could, for instance, suddenly remain permanently ‘on’ or, in contrast, apparently perennially ‘off’. This can occur more often in wired networks, which don’t tend to react positively to brief surges in power, or power outages.
And while it’s perfectly logical to assume that said motion sensor light is now broken (effectively an ‘ex’ motion sensor light), it is usually a simple process to return the light to full working order.
Know your lights
Here at That’s Clever, we’ve chosen several versatile motion sensor light options, for both inside and outside the home – all powered by long-lasting batteries.
Plus, each device has been designed to have some sort of automatic shut-off built in, which will stop the light being triggered when motion is no longer detected. So, you’ll always know if one of these models has encountered some sort of problem – and have a handy manual on hand to refer to in this unlikely event.
This manual should always be your first port of call if you encounter a problem with your motion sensor lights, as it will explain where on the device you should look, and what you should do. Usually, it would be nothing more complex than holding down a single button for several seconds, or changing the batteries once or twice a year.
However, if you happen to own a wired motion sensor device or network, the process to reset them can be trickier…
Resetting a wired system
If it’s your wired motion sensor system that’s causing you some trouble, and following the advice above hasn’t worked, head for your circuit breakers primarily (and maybe pop a reminder in your diary to look into battery powered options at some point in the future).
Turn off the breaker that powers the motion sensor light for around 30 seconds, before turning it back on. If your light is also linked to a switch, you’ll need to do the same on this device, too. Then, return to your motion sensor light and see how it’s doing. If it’s dark or dusk, and blinks back into life – and then retreats into darkness after a few seconds – you’re back in business.
Hopefully, any problems that you encounter with your motion sensor lights are infrequent and easy to resolve. But if you do regularly encounter problems with your wired system, please get in touch with us to discuss a simpler, but equally effective form of lighting for your property. Contact the team at That’s Clever on 01242 807923, or drop us an email via [email protected] to find out more.