Motion sensors are a great way to add safety and convenience to your home. They can be installed indoors or outdoors, and are especially helpful near stairways where people may have to move from one room to another.
You can install them on stairs, or on other movable objects such as closet shelves, cabinets, or laundry hampers. The sensor will automatically turn off the lights when the object stops moving and then come on again when motion is detected.
The key to a successful installation is proper planning. Choosing where you will install your sensor and how it will be wired can help you avoid false alarms that can cost you money and inconvenience you.
Adding a sensor to a light fixture can also help you save on energy costs. The sensor uses less power than the bulb it controls, and it can be programmed to switch off at certain times or when it senses motion (or both).
A basic motion sensor will work well in most situations. However, you can take your security to the next level by installing an active ultrasonic sensor. These sensors emit ultrasonic sound waves that bounce off objects in the vicinity and return to the sensor.
Once the sound waves bounce back to the sensor, it measures the distance between the object and itself. Most motion sensors allow you to set sensitivity, so they won’t trigger if the target is too far away.
If you’re concerned about a false alarm, look for motion detectors that have a high sensitivity rating and can detect the presence of small children or pets. These motion sensors are typically about $20 and can be found at home centers and hardware stores.
1. Place the motion sensor at a convenient location around your stairs or in the fronts of each step (Photo 1 shows the best locations). You can also use a sensor that attaches to a wall plate. This is a popular choice because it won’t require any rewiring and is easy to install.
2. Run the electrical cable between the sensor and each light fixture. You’ll need two junction boxes: a box for the PIR sensor and one for each light fixture. The boxes should be a minimum of 16 inches long and wide enough to hold the electrical cable. You can use a box that’s mounted into the wall or one you “fish” through an unfinished space.
3. Connect the PIR sensor to the power supply using wire nuts and electrical tape, or with quick-connect terminal blocks if you’re going with a receptacle instead of a wall outlet. If you’re wiring the sensor to the power supply, make sure to separate the black and red wires at the end of each run with a splice.
4. Connect each LED stair light to the PIR sensor at the top of each step with dual-channel T connectors. These are easy to splice and allow you to easily wire a series of LED stair lights without stripping the insulation from each wire.