Motion Light woes-

[evident]

I've burned through 2 different motion lights, 3 if counting the original busted one that came w/ the house. The one that came w/ the house was who knows how old, but the sensor wouldn't function and the light would be on 24/7. The second one i installed worked for 6 months. I had LED light bulbs in it. It completely died after 6 months, then the company mailed me a new unit. they said the cause of malfunction was that i used LED light bulbs, even though no where in the instruction manual said that i shouldn't be using LED light bulbs. My first question was how could an LED light bulb cause the motion sensor to malfunction? With the replacement unit (same model), i had it professionally installed and now i'm using conventional halogen bulbs.

Now about 6 months later, with all these temp fluctuations from 50 -> 10 -> 30, i'm starting to get an issue where the light stays on no matter what. Only way to reset is to flip the breaker, wait a few hours, then turn it back on. The only thing attached to this breaker is the garage door opener. I can't imagine the stupid light being this sensitive to other things on the same breaker, or could it?

 

[TechBoyJK]

Care to tell me which models these are? I literally have two dead motion sensing lights. They used to work fine, now neither do. The breaker is fine. Other stuff on the circuit works.

I'm about to take one off and double check the wiring to make sure they have a legit signal. But they are on two different circuits yet both are out.

 

[evident]

https://www.amazon.com/RAB-Lighting...02&sr=8-4&keywords=rab+lighting+motion+sensor

apparently its one of the best. But i'm really not that impressed with it.

 

[paperfist]

You know all you have to do is turn the switch (not breaker) off to the motion light to reset the sensor? If you do it rapidly the light will stay on ignoring the sensor.

 

[Micrornd]

Slightly OT, but, my biggest problem here in FL with my outdoor motion sensors is the sunshine. I've had to replace numerous sensors because of UV deterioration of the sensor lens/filter/cover being plastic. They harden, become brittle, crack and allow the rain into the sensor, eventually ruining it.

Does anyone know of replacement motion sensors that use a glass lens (or are guaranteed UV proof)?

 

[stormkroe]

LEF suffers from TREMENDOUS inrush current, that's why dimmers are rated differently for LEDs than they are for incandescents (usually between 1/4 and 1/6 the wattage rating).
More than likely, the little relay inside the motion detector can't handle the over current situation. You could use the motion relay to fire the coil of a more substantial relay or contactor that feeds power to your light in a separate FS box, or put small wattage lights in the fixture.

 

[evident]

You know all you have to do is turn the switch (not breaker) off to the motion light to reset the sensor? If you do it rapidly the light will stay on ignoring the sensor.

Currently there's no flip switch to control the light. I am considering moving it off the garage door opener circuit but it's gonna be a huge PITA and potentially costly.

 

[stormkroe]

Currently there's no flip switch to control the light. I am considering moving it off the garage door opener circuit but it's gonna be a huge PITA and potentially costly.

Is it mounted on the wall or i the soffit? If the wall, you could pull the box out, drill through into the building, and stuff a BX through the hole. Strap it down the inside wall (ugly, but OK in a garage), or hit the back of another JB, then pipe down to a switch at normal height.