How To setup a PIR outside light (Security Light/PIR Sensor)

A PIR sensor provides an excellent deterrent towards people approaching your property during the dark hours of the night but it's only as good as the way it's set up. Even the best of Electricians may not be able to install and set up your sensor to your exact requirements so take a look at this video and familiarise yourself with the procedure so that you can fine tuning to your preference.
If you find this video useful please like and share the video.
Please feel free to add your input in the comment section below.
Thanks for watching :)

[@ThisIsntClaire]

You are clearer than the instructions provided!! Thank you

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Thank you Claire, I'm so pleased you found my video useful. Kind regards Steve :)

[@marksheeran1717]

Thank you Steve, just like some of your other viewers comments I was stuck on how to adjust the sensor. The instructions that come with the light tell you that you can adjust the sensor but nowhere does it mention opening the flap. Cheers fella.

[@ricipeterson7356]

Steve, you're a lifesaver. Couldn't figure out how to adjust, and was especially nervous as I ordered FirstLight sensor lights for our home in Oregon USA and no one knows this brand over here. We love these, very high quality. Thanks for this video!

[@cal79]

What a lovely kind voice...

[@sabistar44]

Thank you, thank you. Just moved into a newbuild with all of these lights, but they stay on for all of 5 seconds and I couldn't figure out how to change it. Feel a complete fool that the adjustments were hiding under that cover, I even opened the fitting up and was ready to replace them all!

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your comment. I’m really pleased that this video was able to help you. Kind regards Steve :)

[@PlymouthSparky]

Great vid Steve, your video presenting looks real natural. Good informative video, like the plane flyover

[@juleswombat5309]

The problem with all these PIR sensors, is how to tune out the effects of wind on shrubs and plants. Wind just causes the PIR to flicker the lights on off, so annoying everyone.

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Hi @Juleswombat5309, Thank you for taking the time to comment. I understand your frustration but this is often referred to in the manufacturers instructions. In cases where there are plants or shrubs then the use of a microwave sensor should be considered over a PIR sensor.. I hope you still managed to find my video useful :) kind regards Steve

[@littlejack841]

Mine flickers when it's just about to power off after it's been set off. Any ideas

[@fabiandee8178]

What beam angle of GU10 bulb would you put in a PIR light like that given it's so close to the wall?

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Fabian Dee thank you for taking the time to reply. This is a fantastic question and I’m really pleased that you have raised this point. In my opinion the beam angle should be as wide as possible providing there aren’t any neighbouring properties that could be bothered by the source of light. Also, if your property has any bedroom windows nearby then you may wish to consider an narrow beam. The only way to truly know though is to try the different options available to you and see how they perform where you have the light positioned. Thank you again for raising this, fantastic question. Kind regards Steve :)

[@claudialopez3391]

Witch wire you used.?

[@brianholland1432]

Like your videos and I have a query regarding PIR lights. I have moved recently moved to a house build about 10 years old and have some PIR controlled lights in the carport. They have worked in the past but now really struggling to reset to PIR mode. They are controlled by a 3 way switch inside and I have deduced that up is PIR, middle is off and down is on all the time. I have tried numerous re-setting techniques shown on youtube and on occasions I think I have re-set (i.e. lights come on when I move in front of sensor in the dark and go off a few minutes later) but 24 hours later, no response to such actions ? (also no power cuts or other problems apparent). It's weird - any useful suggestions would be welcome !

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Brian Holland thank you for taking the time to get in touch. What area is your property in please? I have contact with Electricians across the Country and may know one in your area who I can put you in touch with. I’m sure you’ll appreciate that without seeing the setup I will be unable to advise as it could lead to a potentially lethal situation. Kind regards Steve :)

[@lordcondio1036]

Very helpful. Thank you very much

[@anililtas6685]

Hi thanks for the video very helpful- I have these in my garden already fitted- is there a way to have the lights stay on permanently when you switch them on?

[@jasserman]

You might try this: locate the switch that controls your light(s). Switch it off on off on in rapid succession. With most sensor lights this will override the sensor and turn the lights on until morning.

[@fabiandee8178]

very helpful

[@serberious]

Steve , I`m trying to replace a pir light with an ordinary light but there`s four wires from the wall , blue, yellow/green and two browns and three from the new , ordinary light blue , green/yellow and brown. I`ve wired it up using just the usual three wires from the wall , leaving the second brown free but the light just remains on . I`ve then wired the second brown from the wall into the brown on the connector block but the light still remains on. Any help would be greatly appreciated , thanks.

[@sticksman7819]

Great video and you speak clearly aswell. I'm about to pick your brains.im installing an outside sensor light but just being a DIY-er the light has the earth, neutral and live but the cable running from my garage has 4 wires?I had a complete house rewire done in 2017 any help would be appreciated.👍🏻

[@33gall]

Hi, I have these light to install on Thursday (diy & if rain free) but my question is what's the maximum height these can be installed please?

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Grahame Gallagher thank you for taking the time to comment. The answer to your question will be indicated within the manufacturers instructions. Please stick to these as it will have an effect on the performance of the sensor. This may vary from one manufacturer to another. I hope this helps. Kind regards Steve :)

[@Williamsr_t]

Really helpful video. Thank you

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Thank you taking the time to comment. It’s very much appreciated. I’m pleased that you found my video useful. Kind regards Steve :)

[@krisrandom3203]

Is it possible to attach another sensor to lights like this. I have a blooma parkville charcole.double trip in an alley by my house. Problem is next to it theres a steam vent from the upstairs bathroom and the steam set the light that was there before which I took down a couple of days back off all the time. I've managed to turn the vent but could do with another sensor like five Meters further up the alley. After all it has two spots so the light covers a much greater radius than the trip. Can anyone tell me if it's possible to say rig the sensor off the old single trip spot to this sensor? I'm sure it's possible although very unauthodox lol

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Kris, thank you for taking the time to comment. You can most definitely install multiple sensors to trigger one or multiple lights. Kind regards Steve :)

[@sathishbaskar]

Thank you so much, Finally got how to adjust the settings. I keep looking the - and + sign on the flap but not sure how to adjust. Quick question how to adjust so that the light won't detect motion in the morning?

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Sathish Kumar Baskar thank you for taking the time to comment. On PIR lights you should always have a minimum of TWO dials. One will control how long the light stays on for (I usually turn the dial to minimum and then back a quarter turn). The other will control the LUX. This is the level of light that the sensor detects. (I usually turn the dial to complete darkness and then back a quarter turn). Some manufacturers require fine tuning during the darker hours but these settings are a great starting point. Please let me know how you get on. Kind regards Steve :)

[@irenelai6088]

Hi Steve! Hope you can help. We replaced our old coach lantern with a new PIR coach lantern. Wirings are straight forward. But light is not coming on. And when I flip and switch rapidly, I can see little flashes of light from the bulb but never able to turn it on. Can you help?

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

@@irenelai6088 Thank you for taking the time to comment. The first thing I would do is check over the terminations to make sure something hasn’t worked loose whilst refitting. Please let me know how you get on and if you’re still having issues, pop me a message through my website www.jpselectricalservices.co.uk Kind regards Steve :)

[@irenelai6088]

@@JPSElectricalServicesBristol .. thank you Steve.. I will do that.

[@irenelai6088]

Thank you Steve. It is working now. The cable fittings looked simple but it is quite temperament too! 😅I got it in the end. Thank you for your kind advise 👍🏻🙏🏻

[@brighthalogen8447]

top class

[@Jason-cl8hk]

Thanks. Very useful.

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Jason, thank you for taking the time to respond. I’m really pleased that you found my video useful. Kind regards Steve :)

[@Jason-cl8hk]

JPS Electrical Services Steve, without getting in to a mutual ‘thanking session’ :) its great that folks like yourself post stuff like this as folks like me are too lazy! Shame you’re so far away! I now have a functioning external light that was installed 18 months ago but has never worked; henceforth it shall be known ‘Steve’s light.

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

What area are you from Jason? Due to the way I work on my business I have made contact with a number of electricians. Many of which work in a similar way to myself. I may be able to put you in touch so that you always have a reputable Electrician to call on. Kind regards Steve ☺️

[@Jason-cl8hk]

Northampton area.

[@richardadams6568]

How can you change the bulb??

[@gordoneddie9144]

how do you replace the bulbs without damaging the sensor lighting on it ?

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

gordon eddie thanks for taking the time to comment. You need to first establish if the unit that is installed has lamps in it that can be replaced or if it is a sealed unit with NON REPLACEABLE LED units installed inside. If the lamps are replaceable and like the unit shown in this video then you will turn the lens anti-clockwise which will expose the GU10 lamp. Please feel free to send me a photo of the unit by making contact with me through my website www.jpselectricalservices.co.uk Kind regards Steve :)

[@epexlinux]

Great video much better than other ones. Can I Wire X2 PIR lights on the from one mains cable or will this cause issues?

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Andy Carvalho thank you for taking the time to comment. I’m so pleased that you like the video. Yes you can use one power supply for two pir sensor lights. Just remember that using this method will result in these lights working independently of each other. The time this is not ideal (and I do see it on my travels) is when you want a light either side of a front door. Due to lights working independently one light will always operate before the other. I have a PIR censored light at the front of my home and one on the side where my front door is but I also have a 3rd light in between that has no sensor. Instead it is linked to the two sensors. The result is that if someone leaves or approaches the property, all three lights turn on at the same time. This may be completely relevant to your question but I just thought I would add this information for anyone else reading the comments. Please feel free to ask any further questions, I’m always happy to help. Kind regards Steve :)

[@epexlinux]

@@JPSElectricalServicesBristol Thanks for the reply Steve. Could I wire a PIR light and a normal light and have the normal light come on with the our light is on

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Hi Andy, Yes indeed providing the wiring in the light allows for this configuration. The power supply would go to the light with the sensor first, connecting to LIVE, NEUTRAL AND EARTH and then a link wire going from the SWITCHED LIVE, NEUTRAL AND EARTH to the other light where it then connnect to the LIVE, NEUTRAL AND EARTH. *** Please be sure this makes sense and if you believe this has taken a step beyond your limitations speak with your local electrician - Do not proceed under any circumstances if you are not sure as it could be dangerous or if carried out incorrectly then it may cost you more in the long run than contracting an electrician to do it for you in the first place. I hope this makes sense. Kind regards Steve :)

[@epexlinux]

@@JPSElectricalServicesBristol Thanks Steve I don't think the light I have will allow for this. There is only Live and Neutral on it.

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Andy Carvalho are you in a position to take it back and go to an Electrical wholesaler that will know exactly what you need in order to complete the installation that we have discussed? 👍🏽

[@falkegg34]

When trying to adjust the settings after installation, the dials on my light just rotate a full 360 degrees and no matter how much I turn it the settings, e.g time for lamp on, do not change. Is this more likely operator error or a faulty unit?

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

David Sheridan thank you for taking the time to comment. There becomes a time where you can only try so many alternatives before having to accept that it may just be a faulty unit. Unfortunately we usually spend more time than we should in proving this as we often suspect that we have done something wrong rather than believe a brand new unit would be faulty. It’s very frustrating when this happens but take a breath, count to ten and head back to the wholesalers for a replacement. By the time you return, your head will be clear and you’ll have the new light installed in moments. Please let me know how you get on. Kind regards Steve :)

[@falkegg34]

JPS Electrical Services Thanks for your reply Steve. You were right, I struggled for hours trying to understand why I couldn’t get it to work correctly but I ended up returning the light and after fitting the replacement it worked perfectly.

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

David Sheridan thank you for the update. Whilst I’m disappointed that you suffered the inconvenience of being supplied a faulty unit, I’m so pleased to hear that you have installed the replacement and it is working correctly. Thank hope that it serves you for many years to come. Kind regards Steve :)

[@brianburke396]

How to set spot on however the light wired in standard 1.5 twin and earth with no mechanical protection ie conduit copex etc cable exposed to elements and uv light not a good idea , why not just use mymj cable which is appropriate for such situations?

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Great observation Brian and as mentioned in the video, I was only contracted to replace and set up the light. On an EICR the pvc twin and cpc cable could only coded as a C3 which is the equivalent to an ‘advisory’ on an MOT. If the external influences had caused the sheath to perish then a C2 could be awarded. This would mean that the entire installation would be recorded as UNSATISFACTORY until rectified. Thanks for touching on this. It’s a point that we often see working within the trade that many homeowners wouldn’t know about 🙂👍🏼

[@MrMASILIVA]

How do you wire another light 💡 from that PIR light so you can have 2 💡--💡of them using the exact same PIR??

[@ElementHD44]

Hi mate, did you find an answer to this? I’m having the same problem

[@MyTrustedElectrician]

Brilliant!!!!!

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

Thanks Luke, This video was inspired by your comment in the group this morning and I just happened to have this job scheduled for the late morning :)

[@MyTrustedElectrician]

It was really vloggy as well as informative. Brilliant!

[@MeaHeaR]

I couldn't hear what she saying cos of her breath blowings Hârd

[@David2122006]

To windy to hear properly, plus over a minute wasted talking about church bells, and Aeroplanes, plus why is the light not outside the front door rather than around the side?

[@timupright3776]

*too

[@ef7480]

This isn't a BBC information film, it's free content. He can talk about whatever he likes. Also, there is no capital in aeroplane as it's a non specific common noun not a proper noun