I have an outdoor light by the front door which turns on when it senses movement. The bulb went on it a while ago and since replacing it, the light doesn't automatically turn off. Do I need a bulb with a specific wattage? I don't have the original anymore.
Outdoor sensor light won't switch off
- Thread starter ChrisD.
- Start date
The only switch I'm aware of is the one which turns it sensor on or completely off on the inside of the house. Is there likely to be one on the unit itself?
That should also turn it off.
Flick the switch, leave it 30s, flick it again. It may come back on but may turn off again after a short period.
I'd try the following then:
Flick it off and leave it off for a few minutes, then turn it back on - see what happens
Flick it off, on, then off again in quick succession - then flick it back on and see what happens
If none of that works you could flick off the fuse it's connected to in the fuse box, presumably one of the light circuits.
Failing that, it might be the bulb? Or, the sensitivity is set too high/low maybe
Man of Honour
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our (very old as far as i can tell) sensor died a while back and it would do stuff like that. In fact half the time it wouldn't turn off at all.
Wattage wise in theory there is a bulb max on a sensor, but unless you've put something crazy in there its unlikely to be that.
Wattage wise in theory there is a bulb max on a sensor, but unless you've put something crazy in there its unlikely to be that.
Caporegime
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buy a new light fitting with a built in LED light and PIR
the bulb you will be using will be consuming 100 times the power of an LED.
so the £20 spent on a new fitting will pay for itself.
the bulb you will be using will be consuming 100 times the power of an LED.
so the £20 spent on a new fitting will pay for itself.
Soldato
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A basic LED security light will be about £20. An external lamp will cost as much as you want to spend.
Did you use an incandescent bulb?
Did you use an incandescent bulb?
Soldato
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Your existing lamp should have adjustments on it. You usually have:-
Ambient light - how dark it needs to be.
Time - how long it stays on.
Sensitivity - how much movement is required to trigger it.
Ambient light - how dark it needs to be.
Time - how long it stays on.
Sensitivity - how much movement is required to trigger it.
Caporegime
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^ they seem to be about £40 on Amazon, not £20. Unless I'm really bad at searching.
that is because amazon is a convenience store not a specialist.
go look on screwfix
i had the same issue on the PIR over my garage, ended up just switching the thing off. i have one in the back garden too, that started playing silly buggers too, replaced the bulb etc, then it just stopped working. it's about 15' up so i can't get to it sensibly so that's been turned off too, lol. bit of a bugger sorting the bins in the winter night, been thinking of getting an electrician in to wire up a couple LEDs w/ just an on/off switch in the garage, don't really see the need for a PIR now.
Soldato
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Normally a quick on off on will keep it switched on.
After a prolonged off turning on it should come on, the sensor itself off after whatever the delay is supposed to be.
You need a decent off before turning on to avoid triggering the perm on. On mine I tend to leave it 30 mins or so, always works then.
(problem is other half turns the outside light off when meaning to turn the hall on, so she immediately turns it back on, its the quick off on that triggers the sensor to go to perm on)
After a prolonged off turning on it should come on, the sensor itself off after whatever the delay is supposed to be.
You need a decent off before turning on to avoid triggering the perm on. On mine I tend to leave it 30 mins or so, always works then.
(problem is other half turns the outside light off when meaning to turn the hall on, so she immediately turns it back on, its the quick off on that triggers the sensor to go to perm on)
Soldato
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I know latching PIRs exist but it's definitely not a standard feature on all lamps. I've had quite a few over the years and none of them has had a latching option.
Soldato
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Sounding like its probably given up the ghost then. Could be a sticky relay but other than that if its fully electronic its probably easier to just replace.