For most of us, motion sensor lights are a relatively new luxury in our homes. They are extremely convenient and great for security, but they can also be a bit finicky if they aren't doing their job correctly. Whether your lights refuse to come on when they should or stay on all night for no reason, our professionals can help. The team at Mr. Electric of Atlanta provides premium services for local homeowners and businesses, including motion sensor repair and replacement. If your lights require repair, then calling an electrician is a great way to ensure the unit works properly for many years to come. However, in many cases, all that's needed is a simple reset. Before you call for help, you might try to see if manually resetting your lights can solve the problem.
Why Do Motion Sensor Lights Need to Be Reset?
Motion lights can be very sensitive and detect movement even when someone isn't there. This wastes power and could be startling to people in the home or the surrounding neighborhood. If the light is constantly turning on even though no one is moving around in the dark, it's probably more sensitive than it needs to be. Lights can also be affected by power surges or other electrical issues and will need to be reset to function correctly.
When to Reset Your Motion Sensor Light
It can be challenging to know precisely when your motion sensor lights need to be reset. Here is a list of everyday situations where a reset could help:
- Your car or other heavy objects aren't triggering the lights to come on.
- The light will stay on for a long time, even when nothing is moving.
- The light is extremely sensitive and comes on when the neighbor across the street comes home or a stray cat walks down the sidewalk.
How to Reset a Motion Sensor Light
Here are the steps to manually reset a motion sensor light:
- Turn the power off at the breaker or fuse box. Motion sensor lights run on electricity, so you'll want to ensure there isn't any power going to the fixture before proceeding with the reset process.
- Find where the switch is located on your fixture (it should be near one of the sensors). The switch should have a manual override—if not, it might be time to replace your light altogether.
- Flip the override switch up to activate and down to deactivate.
- If your lights have adjustable settings, you may also consider changing their sensitivity level, depending on the issue you're struggling with.
- You might also need to consider replacing the bulb if your lights aren't coming on at all.
Do You Need Help with Your Motion Sensor?
Did you try to reset your motion lights, and they still refuse to work correctly? Call the professionals at Mr. Electric of Atlanta. Our specialists offer a great selection of services for local clients, including motion sensor repair and installations. Contact our technicians to learn more about our offerings or to schedule an appointment with a nearby electrician in your Atlanta, Georgia, area neighborhood.
