How to Connect a Motion Sensor to Multiple Lights (DIY Guide)
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The motion sensor turns the luminaire into an automated energy-saving beast. Many will agree that a multi-light motion detector is better than a single fixture because you save money and energy with this easier setup.
Most people like this idea, but are not so sure about the wiring. The connection process is a complex task that can be done on your own without any guidance. So today I'm going to use my 15 years of experience with electricity to teach you how to wire a motion sensor to multiple lights.
In general, when you connect a motion sensor to multiple lights, you should.
- Find power sources for the lights.
- Turn off the power to the lights.
- Redirect the light to one power source.
- Connect the motion sensor to the relay.
- Turn on the power and check the light.
With these steps, all your lights will be controlled by a single motion sensor. We'll go over the actual hardwiring details for these steps below.
Is it safe to connect the motion sensor on my own?
Connecting a motion detector to multiple light sources is not an easy task. If you don't like manual work, I would suggest hiring an electrician for this job.
Failure to properly perform such an electrical task can lead to catastrophic consequences. For example, you may be electrocuted or start an electrical fire. So only start this process if you think you can handle it and take the right precautions.
5-Step Guide to Connecting a Motion Sensor to Multiple Lights
Below are the basic steps involved in connecting a motion sensor to multiple lights. Try to follow these steps correctly for a positive result. However, each scheme is different. So, you may have to do some tweaking here or there. The following steps assume that you are trying to do this without a pre-built kit.
Step 1: Find out the connections
First of all, you should deal with the connection of lighting devices. For example, if you plan to add three lights to your motion sensor, you need to power those lights from a single source. However, as I said earlier, these three lights can come from three different power sources.
So, inspect the main shield and determine the connection for turning the circuit breakers on and off.
Step 2 - Turn off the power
After identifying the sources, turn off the main power. Use a voltage tester to confirm step 2.
Step 3 - Redirect Lights to One Power Source
Remove old connections and redirect the light to one power source. Supply power from one circuit breaker to all three lights. Turn on the power and check the three indicators before wiring the motion sensor.
Note: Turn off the power again after checking.
Step 4 - Connecting the motion sensor
The process of connecting a motion sensor is a little complicated. We are going to connect a 5V relay to the circuit. You will get a better idea from the following wiring diagram.
Some may understand the connection process from the diagram above, while others may not. Here is an explanation of each item on the wiring diagram.
Relay 5V
This relay has five contacts. Here are some details about them.
- Coil 1 and 2: These two contacts are connected at one end to the transistor, and at the other end to the positive wire of the power source.
- NC: This pin is not connected to anything. If it is connected to an AC power source, the circuit will be turned on before the motion sensor is activated.
- DO NOT: This pin is connected to the AC power wire (which runs through the bulbs); the circuit will be on as long as the motion sensor is active.
- com: This pin connects to the other wire of the AC power supply.
BC. 547
BC 547 is a transistor. Typically, a transistor has three terminals: base, emitter, and collector. The middle terminal is the base. The right terminal is the collector and the left terminal is the emitter.
Connect the base to the resistor. Then connect the emitter to the negative wire of the power supply. Finally, connect the collector terminal to the relay coil terminal. (1)
IN4007
IN4007 is a diode. connect it to coil 1 and 2 relay contacts.
Resistor 820 ohm
One end of the resistor is connected to the output terminal of the IR sensor, and the other end is connected to the transistor.
IR sensor
This PIR sensor has three pins; output pin, ground pin and Vcc pin. Connect them according to the scheme.
Connect the Vcc pin to the positive wire of the 5V power supply. The ground pin should be connected to the negative wire of the 5V power supply. Finally, the output pin is connected to a resistor.
Keep in mind that the diagram above only shows two fixtures. However, if you wish, you can add more light.
Step 5 - Check the Light
After connecting the wiring correctly, turn on the main power. Then put your hand near the motion sensor and check the light. If you did everything right, the headlights will start working.
Is there an easy way to do this?
For some, the connection process described above will not be difficult. But if you do not have basic knowledge of electricity, working with such a circuit can be difficult. If so, I have the perfect steps for you. Instead of going through the wiring process, buy a new kit that has a motion sensor, multiple lights, a relay, and other necessary hardware.
Some motion sensor fixtures come with wireless technology. You can control these motion sensors with your smartphone. These motion sensors can be a bit pricey, but they will get the job done pretty easily.
The risk of self-wiring fixtures
Most often, the lights in your home are connected to different types of circuits. Thus, they receive energy from different sources. You will need to connect these lights to the same power source in this wiring process. You might think it's easy, but it's not. For example, incorrect wiring can cause the circuit to fail. Sometimes you can face much worse consequences such as damage to all your lighting fixtures.
In any case, this is not a very good result for you. Especially if you do electrical work yourself. If something goes wrong, no one will solve this problem for you. Therefore, always wire with care.
Summing up
If you are serious about home security, having such a motion sensor system will work wonders for you. However, there are several different options for the above task.
- Wiring the circuit yourself.
- Hire an electrician to connect the circuit.
- Buy a wireless kit that has everything you need.
Choose the first option if you are confident in your wiring skills. Otherwise, choose one of options two or three. (2)
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- How to connect several lamps to one cord
- How to connect a chandelier with multiple bulbs
- How to distinguish between positive and negative wires on a lamp
Recommendations
(1) coil - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/
electromagnetic coil
(2) skills - https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/
Skills/skills.aspx
