

Additionally, power surges can happen outside your home and affect the sensor lights, such as foliage touching electrical wires, lightning, and electric utility company power supply issues. These power spikes can be due to numerous reasons, such as power-intensive appliances switching off or on like power tools, refrigerators, and ceiling fans. This is among the most common reasons behind sensor lights turning on automatically, thanks to power fluctuations caused by power surges within your home. In this case, it is best to move the sensor away from your meter and any electromagnetic devices. This is usually caused by electronic devices such as Wi-Fi routers, smartphones, ultrasonic insect repellents, and radios.Īdditionally, there are cases where motion sensor light functionality is affected by the close proximity of new electrical smart meters, such as when you change from an analog to digital meter.

RFI or radio frequency interference, also referred to as EMI or electromagnetic interference, can also be a major problem that causes motion lights to turn on.

Microwave sensors: These operate in a similar way to ultrasonic sensors, but they are the most accurate because they emit radio microwaves.Alongside microwave sensors, they are considered active sensors, and are rarely used in consumer-grade lights. This allows them to detect movements without sight lines. Ultrasonic sensors: These use sonic waves to detect motion, similar to submarines.They will also detect moving objects and animals. PIR sensors: Also known as passive infrared sensors, they operate by continuously monitoring their surroundings, and trigger when they sense heat that people’s bodies emit.Motion sensor cameras and lights operate using the same principles, and understanding them involves knowing the types of sensors available.
#Motion sensor light bulb health issues how to
It is also important to know how to fix the issue to prevent it from occurring repeatedly. Some reasons they can turn on unexpectedly include reflections of sunlight and UV radiation, interference from radio and electrical waves, changes in heat, poor wiring, use of faulty equipment, defective wiring, and moving objects such as insects, foliage, and traffic.Īlthough you can get the best-quality motion sensor lights, the technology behind them can still experience errors and parts may not work correctly. However, there are instances when it fails to work as intended, such as its light turning on automatically when you do not need it to. When using a motion sensor, you expect it to be accurate and promote your safety – at least on paper.
