Lamp with motion sensor electrical circuit. Motion sensor to turn on the lights. Setting the trigger on the light level - “LUX”

For the convenience and safety of people, motion sensors have been invented that react to the appearance or presence of a person in their area of ​​action. When a person appears in the sensor’s coverage area, the automation is triggered and any electrical equipment connected to it is activated, for example, lighting, a sound warning system, and an alarm system are turned on.

The photo shows a motion sensor, using an installation example of which I will demonstrate how to correctly connect it to electrical wiring to automatically turn on the lamp when entering a room.

Appearance The motion sensor is a rectangular or round plastic box with a window covered with a matte plastic film, which is a Fresnel lens. Through this window, using infrared waves, the appearance of a person in the control zone is monitored. The material from which the Fresnel lens is made is delicate, and when installing and operating the motion sensor, care must be taken so as not to accidentally damage the lens.

Before installing a motion sensor, you need to choose the one suitable for solving the task based on the size of the room and the conditions under which people and animals stay in it.

Choosing a motion sensor model for your home

Based on the method of detecting the presence of a person in the control zone, motion sensors are either active or passive.

Active ones work like a radar or echo sounder. They emit a signal and analyze its reflection. If the distance that the signal travels from the sensor to the obstacle and back has changed, then it is triggered. Passive sensors simply detect heat emitted by a person. There are also combined ones, which combine active and passive control methods.

Active sensors operate in ultrasonic or high radio frequencies. The ultrasonic range lies within 20,000 Hz; humans cannot hear such a sound, but dogs, cats and other animals hear it and begin to behave restlessly. If there are living creatures in the house, then it is not permissible to use motion sensors operating in the ultrasonic range.

Active motion sensors operating at high radio frequencies do not “notice” obstacles in the form of walls or furniture, and only detect the movement of objects. If installed incorrectly, they can even react to the swaying of trees outside the window or the movement of people in a neighboring apartment, causing false alarms. Moreover, they are the most expensive.

To control the switching on of lighting in an apartment, passive infrared motion sensors that respond to heat emitted by the human body are best suited. Therefore this type is the most common.

You should also pay attention to the horizontal and vertical detection angles of the motion sensor and the range. Typically, the detection area for ceiling-mounted motion sensors is 360° in the shape of a circle. Motion sensors designed for installation on walls usually have a horizontal detection angle of 180° and a vertical detection angle of about 20°.

In the drawing, blue lines indicate the outline of the room, and the figure formed by red lines is the detection zone of the motion sensor. As you can see, the detection zone does not cover the entire volume of the room, therefore, when choosing an installation location, the detection zone is the determining criterion.

The detection range of motion sensors is usually limited to 12 meters, which is quite enough for home use. If the room is large, has a non-rectangular shape or is multi-story, for example, like an entrance to a house, then in this case several devices are installed to detect the presence of a person throughout the entire area.

By design, motion sensors can be movable or fixed. The movable device allows you to change the detection zone by moving the sensor relative to the base in horizontal and vertical directions.

As you can see, this motion sensor provides the ability to change the position of its head, thanks to which, after installing it on the wall, you can change the control zone within small limits.

Choosing an installation location
light motion sensor

Before installing a motion sensor, in order to ensure its reliable operation and eliminate false ones, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing the installation location. It is necessary not only to provide the necessary detection zone, but also to protect the motion sensor from the influence of external factors that cause false alarms or block the operation of the sensor and take into account the need to connect it to the electrical wiring.

It is not recommended to install motion sensors near radiators of electric and central heating and pipes supplying hot water, in close proximity to air conditioners, near thermal and electrical appliances that emit electromagnetic interference.

Even if you take into account all the recommendations and understand the technical characteristics, it is theoretically difficult to correctly choose the best location for installation without practice. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct a little research before performing electrical installation work.

Designation of motion sensor terminals

The motion sensor inside has an electronic circuit and in order for it to work, it must be connected to the supply voltage. Typically, motion sensors are designed to be connected directly to a 220 V household power supply, except for radio sensors, which are powered by a battery installed inside. The connection diagram must be on the case, usually next to the terminal block for connection. In this model of motion sensor, the markings are made directly on its body using plastic embossing.

In order for the motion sensor to start working, it is enough to apply supply voltage to the terminals of its terminal block L and N. To connect it to the electrical network, you need to take a piece of double wire, install a plug on it on one side, and connect the other end, not forgetting to remove the insulation, to the terminals L and N terminal block. The phasing of the wire connection, in this case, does not matter. Moreover, if you make a mistake and connect the wires incorrectly, then nothing bad will happen, the motion sensor simply will not work. In this case, the blinking motion sensor indicator will not light up.

In the photo, for clarity, a short piece of wire is connected. The length of the wire should ensure that the motion sensor can be connected to the nearest outlet when choosing an installation location. If you do not have a piece of wire of sufficient length, you can use an extension cord.

Typically, motion sensors have an LED that indicates what state they are in. If the sensor is connected to the power supply and is in standby mode, the LED flashes approximately once per second. When triggered, the blinking frequency of the LED increases, which allows you to know, without connecting a load, when choosing an installation location, whether the sensor has triggered or not. It should be taken into account that some types of motion sensors, after connecting to the power supply, become ready for operation after some time, 15-30 seconds.

Purpose of the parameter adjustment knobs

There are knobs on the body of the motion sensor for adjusting its parameters. Depending on the model and its purpose, there are from two to four handles. Next to the knobs there is usually a letter designation of the type of adjustment, a picture of the purpose of the adjustment and the direction of rotation of the knob to change the setting. Therefore, before installing a motion sensor, you need to understand what parameter and how each of the handles affects and in what position they should be installed for optimal operation in specific conditions.

Before you start looking for a place to install the motion sensor, it is advisable to adjust its parameters on the table and mark it with a marker to make it easier in real conditions. In low light, the factory markings are difficult to see.

Dimmer LUX allows you to set a light threshold above which the motion sensor will not respond to movement. Why turn on the lights during daylight hours if you can already see clearly. Initially you need to set it to maximum.

Timer time control TIME motion sensor. This is the time during which the light will remain on after the motion sensor is triggered. Initially set to minimum on time. It should be noted that if, after the motion sensor is triggered, a person continues to move in the detection zone, the timer is restarted, and the countdown until the motion sensor turns off will begin from the moment the person stops moving. For example, if you set the timer to 10 seconds, and a person moved or waved his hands in the detection zone for 10 minutes, then the light will be on all this time.

Sensitivity control SENS Rarely installed on motion sensors, as it is of practical necessity. It happens, it is needed if you want to not control part of the room, and this can always be done by adjusting the position of the motion sensor during installation. Initially you need to set it to maximum.

Microphone sensitivity control MIC It is present very rarely, since it is not in demand in everyday life and has low noise immunity. The noise of a passing truck or a child's scream in the entrance of a house can trigger a motion sensor. But to perform the security function, if properly adjusted, it can serve as an excellent means of protection, since the detection zone will be practically unlimited. Initially you need to set it to minimum.

Now that the preparatory work has been completed and all the controls are set to the required positions, you can begin to determine the installation location of the motion sensor. To do this, you can temporarily mount the sensor on a stepladder or board, and by placing the motion sensor in the intended installation locations, try to find the best one. As I wrote above, a rapidly blinking LED will indicate that it has been triggered.

It is convenient to connect the motion sensor for lighting to the electrical wiring in two places, in the junction box or directly at the point where the chandelier is connected to the wires coming out of the ceiling or wall. Therefore, before searching for a location to install the motion sensor, you need to determine where it is easier to connect it. It is difficult even for a professional electrician to deal with the wires in the distribution box, especially in houses built a long time ago, and the boxes are often covered with wallpaper or located under plaster. The easiest way to figure out the connection is to a chandelier or wall lamp.

After determining the installation location of the motion sensor, you can begin mounting it on the wall and installing electrical wiring.

Attention! Before connecting the motion sensor to the electrical wiring, to prevent electric shock, it is necessary to de-energize it. To do this, turn off the corresponding circuit breaker in the distribution panel and check the reliability of the shutdown using the phase indicator.

An example of installing a motion sensor in an apartment

The plaster on the brick wall was quite loose, and the distance between the centers of the holes had to be maintained to the nearest millimeter. I used a simple jig and a certain sequence of drilling holes in the wall. To make the conductor, a piece of plywood was taken, in which two holes were drilled, 4 and 6 mm. After drilling the first hole in the wall, a dowel was inserted into it and the jig was screwed through a 4 mm hole with a self-tapping screw. A second hole in the wall was drilled through a 6 mm hole in the jig.

With this simple technique, using plywood trim, it was possible to drill holes exactly in the specified places.

All preparatory work has been done, and you can begin installing the electrical wiring and installing the motion sensor. But in order to carry out the work competently, and not just mindlessly connect the wires to each other, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the chandelier connection diagram.

Electrical diagram for connecting the sensor

As can be seen from the diagram, the neutral wire, which is designated by the letter N, connects directly to the chandelier bulb, and the phase one, which is designated L, connects to the second terminal of the chandelier light bulb through a switch.

In practice, you may encounter the fact that the switch opens not the phase wire, but the neutral wire. From a safety point of view, this is incorrect, but opening the neutral wire does not affect the performance of the chandelier. If there are many light bulbs in the chandelier or there is a double switch, then the chandelier connection diagram is more complex. To meaningfully connect a motion sensor, it is enough to consider how to connect it to a chandelier of one light bulb.

From a functional point of view, a motion sensor is an ordinary switch, only it turns off the light not from pressing the switch key with a person’s hand, but from movement in the detection zone. Since the motion sensor has an electronic circuit, for it to work it is necessary to apply supply voltage to this circuit.

Motion sensors are available for installation instead of a switch. But to connect it, you need one more additional wire, and of course it is necessary that the detection zone with such an installation corresponds to the required one. Three wires sometimes fit to the switch to separately connect two groups of chandelier bulbs. If such use of the chandelier is not necessary and the detection zone is suitable, then you can install a motion sensor instead of the switch without laying additional wires by making connections in the junction box.

Wiring diagram

The simplest case is when the motion sensor is connected to the terminal block of the chandelier. Since my lamp did not have such a block, I had to install it. I made the connection according to the wiring diagram below.

As can be seen in the diagram, the phase wire is connected to the upper contact of the terminal block and from it goes directly to the terminal block terminal, designated by the letter L. The neutral wire is connected to the middle terminal of the terminal block and then goes to the terminal block terminal, designated by the letter N. It also goes to it two wires are connected, going to the light bulb and an additional socket.

Phase wire L is connected to the normally open contacts of the relay, in the same way as to the contacts of an ordinary key switch. Next, from the relay contact, the wire goes to the lower contact of the terminal block and is then connected to the lower contact of the chandelier terminal block. The second terminal of the light bulb and socket are also connected to the same contact. When the motion sensor is triggered, the relay closes the contacts and voltage is supplied to the light bulb and socket.

As a light source, you can connect not only incandescent lamps to the motion sensor, but also energy-saving LED lamps and monochrome and RGB LED strips connected through adapters. You can also connect a radio or any other device.

Before connecting the wires, prepare their lengths sufficient for free connection with the terminal blocks. The insulation is removed from the ends of the wires and, according to the diagram, the wires are twisted together. After twisting, tinning with solder is performed using an electric soldering iron. If you do not plan to pass large currents, then it is not necessary to tin the wires.

When the ends of the wires are prepared, they are connected to the terminal block of the chandelier.

All that remains is to screw the base of the chandelier to the wall and screw the shade into it. As you can see, all the wires and the terminal block are hidden under the base of the chandelier and do not protrude anywhere.

I laid the wires to the additional outlet in a cable channel, since I didn’t want to scratch the wall and spread dirt. During the next toilet renovation, I will hide the wiring in the wall.

Now you need to make adjustments, set the timer time, the sensitivity of the motion sensor and the work can be considered complete.

Although the light has now begun to turn on and off automatically, out of habit, when approaching the door, the hand reaches for the switch, and when leaving, everyone constantly turns off the light without even noticing. I had to short-circuit the terminals of the switch on the wall so that it would no longer affect the turning on of the light, since if the light is turned off by the switch and turned on again, the motion sensor is triggered only after the time set by the timer has expired.

Features of connecting a motion sensor to turn on the light
in the entrance with an elevator

I received a letter by email from Sergei from St. Petersburg. Sergey is a professional electrician and encountered difficulties installing motion sensors in the entrance of a seven-story building equipped with an elevator, and turned to me for advice. With Sergei’s consent, I decided to publish our correspondence.

Sergey:
Yesterday we installed active motion sensors to turn on the lights in the entrance on seven floors, and it turned out that when the elevator moves, the lights on each floor turn on, it’s beautiful, but the customer didn’t like it. The electromagnetic field's effect on sensors is understandable. But in another house under the same conditions everything works fine. Maybe the elevator is not grounded? Or maybe the elevator is old and causing such interference. How to protect yourself from this?

Answer:
As for the influence of the electromagnetic field, I doubt it, since the elevator is just a box with buttons and a lamp, and all the power equipment is located on the roof of the house in a special room. When the elevator car moves, only the limit position sensors on the floors are switched, but there the currents flow several milliamps and cannot have any effect.
The absence of grounding of the elevator is excluded, since this is one of the main points of safety requirements and is mandatory checked by supervisory organizations.
The influence of network interference due to the operation of the elevator power equipment also does not occur in your case, since then the lamps on all floors would turn on simultaneously.
One thing remains, the effect of moving the cabin itself on the sensors. If the motion sensor is highly sensitive, even if the elevator car moves in a blind shaft, even a small gap at the junction of the elevator doors may be sufficient, especially if the sensor is installed opposite the elevator door. You can check this by closing the gap on one of the floors, or reducing the sensitivity of the sensor.
If, nevertheless, the culprit of the false operation is network interference, then you can try connecting a capacitor with a capacity of 0.01-0.1 mF for a voltage of at least 300 V in parallel with the motion sensor to the network connection terminals.

Sergey:
Good afternoon Alexander, I was touched by the quick answer to my question. Today we closed the elevator window with an aluminum shield, the sensitivity of the sensor is max, the elevator is moving and still turns on the light - this means that the sensor “sees” the elevator. We reduced the sensitivity - everything worked as it should, but a representative from the company that manufactured elevators of this brand protested, since according to the regulations, it is not permissible to close the window in the elevator door. As a result, we installed an infrared sensor, a passive option, and the problem disappeared.
P.S. I would like to add from the bitter experience of installing active sensors, they are buggy and the timer is buggy, the solution to the problem is simple: you need to turn off the power several times in a row, and everything starts working.

Why do energy-saving and LED lamps blink?
included after the motion sensor?

I received a letter by email from Anatoly from Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

Anatoly:
I'm also a bit of an electrician, I installed the motion sensor myself. As long as the incandescent lamp was on everything was fine. I installed a saving lamp - when it is turned off, it blinks, and the LED lamp also switches on. How can I get rid of this?

Answer:
Energy-saving and LED lamps, unlike incandescent lamps, have an electronic circuit inside with rectifying diodes and an electrolytic capacitor installed after them. To produce a weak glow, these lamps require a current of only a few microamps. Therefore, if the switch opens a non-phase wire, then due to leaks through the air, a charge may well accumulate in the electrolytic capacitor and when it accumulates to a certain level, the lamp may blink. This phenomenon is also observed when using backlit switches.

When connecting a lamp through a motion sensor, there are two possible reasons why blinking may occur. If the sensor uses a mechanical relay as a switch (a click is heard when activated), therefore, when connecting, the neutral and phase wires are swapped.

When a semiconductor device, such as a triac, is used as a switch in a motion sensor, it has a leakage current when turned off. In this case, if the phase and zero connections are correct, blinking can only be eliminated if you connect an electromagnetic relay instead of a light bulb and power an energy-saving or LED light bulb through its contacts, breaking the phase wire. You can do without a relay if you connect a 5-10 watt resistor with a nominal value of 5-10 kOhm in parallel with the light bulb. But then the economic efficiency of using energy-saving lamps decreases.

How to adjust the motion sensor model TDL-2012-AC

I received a letter from Vyacheslav by email asking me to help me understand the controls of the motion sensor model TDL-2012-AC, due to the fact that the product does not come with instructions for connecting and adjusting.

Vyacheslav:
Please tell me about the Chinese motion sensor model TDL-2012-AC. What parameters control the first two switches? The first one seems to be the level of illumination at which the sensor is triggered. And second?

Answer:
Pictograms, letters and numbers indicate the following:
- switch 1 regulates the sensitivity to illumination, that is, the level of illumination in the room at which the sensor will start working;
- the second is used to select sensitivity to movement;
- the remaining switches numbered 3-8 are designed to set the time for which the motion sensor will turn on the lighting, 5, 40 seconds. and 1, 4, 8 or 16 min.

A fairly common practice is sound and motion sensors in the house. We suggest you consider how to make motion sensors with your own hands, instructions, diagrams and photos in our article.

How the device works

The operation of the device is based on the reception and transmission of impulses emanating from the vibration of air (or water, for example, in swimming pools) while moving (and it does not matter whether it is a car, a person or an animal). The functionality of the device may vary depending on the requirements for it. There are several types of motion sensors:

• thermal (react to temperature changes in the reachable field). The most striking example is an infrared or laser sensor, mainly used in security systems;
• sound (transmit and receive impulse when air vibrates from sounds). A very simple device, used to record movement in open space;
• oscillatory (respond to environmental fluctuations and changes in the magnetic field when moving within reach). They are most often used in an apartment or house to turn on or off lights, sound, and other things.

How to make a sensor

Let's look at how the most common motion sensor for alarm is created. It is done based on this scheme

You need to prepare the following tools and parts:

• voluminous body (can be taken from an old camera);
• Soviet-style control element base (buy at any electrical goods store or at a flea market);
• soldering machine;
• wires;
• screws;
• screwdriver;

Step by step guide

An autodyne is assembled on the basis of a transistor, which has now become a local oscillator and a mixing device for signaling. As soon as air vibrations (movement) are detected in the field protected by the device, the signal level will change. It fully corresponds to the Doppler shift, and will be equal to several hertz.

Video: how to make a motion sensor with your own hands

Next, with the help of a capacitor (in the diagram C2) and a low-pass filter (shown as C1, L3, the pulse will be sent to the alarm contact, which will also be a filtering part. Thanks to this, the pulse will reach its maximum and maintain these parameters for a certain time. Resistor (on Figure R11) will adjust the sensitivity of the circuit.

The comparators in this case are VD3 - a zener diode and a small relay (K1). It is imperative to take into account that the nominal mains voltage is 11 volts. Because of this, we also recommend connecting a signal-boosting stabilizer to the circuit.

Step two: adjust the board to the required parameters

There is an antenna at the top of our board; it needs to be thoroughly polished and treated with degreasing solutions; it is very advisable to cover it with rosin or at least acetone, because there is a high probability of oxidation of the antenna material during its use.

Next you need to wrap coil L1 and coil L2 with twelve turns of small-section wire (we took PEL-0.23).

Using a screw with a diameter of 3, screw the bushing to the central hole of the future sensor, secure it, and check the strength of the connection.

Now let's start fitting our body. We measure it, we need the board to fit into the box freely, i.e. the body is either sawn or another one is selected. In it we mark the location of the center of the board and there we also drill a similar hole, as in the diagram, treat it with acetone, and try on the board.

Three millimeters need to be drilled into the corners of the housing where the electrical circuit is installed. Some deviation is allowed depending on your mounting screws.

The screws, sleeve and plates can be of any material, but be sure to check that the holes and legs are even. In some cases, you will still need to drill holes for future LEDs, but basically they are visible through the body.

The simplest sensor is ready, when assembled it will look something like this. The installation is carried out according to a clear scheme: we connect a room lamp or a fluorescent lamp to the detector.

How to make a laser motion sensor

In the movies, everyone has seen lasers that signal the entry of robbers into a bank. Making an electronic motion sensor with your own hands using a laser is also not as difficult as it seems. You need to prepare the following components:

• infrared diode or photodiode, depending on capabilities and requirements;
• capacitive relay type RES55A,
• wire diagram;
• transistor and resistor blocks;
• 5 volt charger;
• multimeter;
• other tools and parts (gasket, screws, soldering iron).

First, let's disassemble the charger. We expose the wires and find positive and negative contacts there. Next, according to the rules, we need to set our resistor to minus. Now we connect a diode to it using a cathode, and the anode must be soldered to the adjustment resistor. Next, we solder the transistor emitter to the negative wire and connect a resistor to the base circuit.

In total, we get: resistor - minus, contactor - to the relay, relay - signaling device. The schematic diagram of an infrared sensor looks something like this:

Using a screw, you need to attach this entire structure to the gasket, and connect the power wire to the screw head. Important: install the connecting screw so that it rests against the spacer spring; in this circuit it is a sensitive part.

This light alarm can be installed anywhere as long as there is an outlet nearby. It is most logical to place it at foot level.

Any of the above options can be customized to suit individual needs.

1. The webcam itself can act as a motion indicator. If you connect it to the signaling device, it will even make sounds, but in most cases it is enough to simply download a special program to your computer;
2. When connecting the sensor to the lighting system, make sure that there are no fans or large household appliances within its reach;
3. To create a “smart home” with your own hands, we recommend using a touch switch. The fact is that in most cases there is already a built-in motion sensor;
4. Select diodes for your laser carefully. IR radiation can be harmful to the eyes, so it is not recommended for domestic use;
5. Car alarms are made using a similar principle. Only an audible alarm is also attached to the circuit diagram. When the sensor detects movement, a light turns on and a tone sounds, similar to a metal detector. Such a device is also called a radar sensor;
6. If desired, include a capacitive display in the circuit; it will display the “Work” and “Stop” indicators. Or connect the monitor to a circuit similar to a webcam, and get a full-fledged home video surveillance network;
7. It is quite possible to make a GSM alarm on a regular phone; to do this, you just need to download the program, just like on a PC.

If you need to carry out repairs, then all the indicators can be disassembled very quickly and basically the problem lies in the contacts, just clean them.

When you simply don’t have time to make motion sensors yourself, you can buy them at any electrical store; there are good reviews about the GrandWay and Siemens models. The average price of the device is 500 rubles.

A motion sensor is an electronic infrared device that detects the presence and movement of a person and helps switch power to lighting and other electrical appliances. It is based on a special detector of temperature changes in space (). Nowadays there are a lot of models of various Chinese detectors on sale, which are almost all similar to each other and differ only in the design and power of the switched lamps - the connection diagram itself is usually the same.

If you need to connect several powerful lamps at once through this device, then the best solution would be to use a magnetic starter or a powerful relay.

Installation Features

To install it, you need to choose a place that provides the best viewing angles both horizontally and vertically with a maximum coverage area. Most PIR motion sensors have a dead zone, the location of which should be taken into account when choosing their placement height and angle of inclination.

If the sensor is made in a fixed housing and does not have positioning adjustment, then it is necessary to check the technical data sheet for correct placement of the device. Sometimes this device requires the presence of not only phase and neutral wires, but also ground (ground). Although most operate from a regular two-wire 220 V network.

Electrical connection diagrams

How to connect a motion sensor with a switch

An option in which it is installed parallel to a conventional switch.

How to connect a motion sensor without a switch

And this is for connecting it directly to a 220 V network without any other buttons.

How to connect several sensors to the network at once

On long stairs or corridors, you may need several pieces that control one lamp or a long white LED strip.

Inside the PIR sensor there is usually a terminal block with standard colored and labeled contacts:

• L, brown or black - phase wire.
• N, blue - neutral wire.
• Ls or L’, red - phase return to the lighting lamps.
• ⊥ , yellow-green - protective grounding.

Lighting devices should be connected between contacts A and N. Electrical power should be supplied to L and N, strictly observing the polarity of the connection phase. If you are interested in the circuit diagram of the detector, then follow the link at the beginning of the article.

Configuring and adjusting the sensor

After installation, it is necessary to carry out the procedure for adjusting the motion sensor for lighting. After all, the geometry of the room is different for everyone (humidity, lighting, wall material).

1. LIGHT or LUX - sensitivity threshold for illumination.
2. TIME - trigger timer.
3. SENSE - sensitivity.

The usual limits for adjusting the timer response time are set in most devices from a few seconds to ten minutes. The photosensitivity threshold can only be set in devices that have an appropriate light sensor. It determines the daylight brightness at which the device stops supplying voltage to the lighting fixtures. Setting the sensor sensitivity is the most subtle and capricious setting. In any case, the sensor should respond to the appearance of a person in the room, and not small animals. When changing the viewing angle of the device, sensitivity adjustment is often required.

Video

Man has come up with a huge number of electronic devices designed to protect his life and property. At the same time, a convenient and reliable tool today is a motion sensor for turning on the light; there is not a single scheme for turning on these devices depending on the parameters of the controlled room.

A motion sensor for lighting reacts to the appearance of a large object in the area of ​​propagation of its rays or waves, depending on the technology used in the device. The first models of these electronic assistants were initially used to improve the quality of security of industrial facilities. Today they are used almost everywhere and not only to ensure order, but also as a convenient means of turning on the lighting without unnecessary actions, thereby providing yourself with comfortable conditions for moving. The motion sensor used to turn on the light reacts to the appearance of a person or large animal in its sensitive area. The reaction to the appearance of an object is the switching of power circuits.

Options for using a motion sensor

In addition to lighting devices, the motion sensor can also be used to activate other warning devices. This could be an audible beacon or a central alarm system. When adding to a security complex, the sensor is mounted at the most important entrances to the building or in the corridors. You can also use the sensor as a switch to turn on lighting in dark rooms where you constantly need to turn on the lamp.

It is much easier and more convenient to automate the process. When a person appears in the coverage area, the sensor will automatically close the power supply circuit of the lamp and turn it off after the object leaves the area. Depending on the modification, the sensor can be configured to delay the moment of shutdown after a person disappears from 10 s to 7 m. This will not only provide comfortable conditions of movement, but also save electrical energy, because the light will only turn on when a person is in the range of the emitter and receiver.

Functionality and features of the motion sensor

Before you learn how to install a motion sensor on a light, you need to familiarize yourself with its capabilities and varieties. This will allow you to understand what principle needs to be applied when performing installation of one type or another.

Depending on the installation location of the sensor, they are divided into:

• perimetric - were used as means of monitoring large areas, in particular streets;
• peripheral;
• internal.

According to the method of action:

• ultrasonic;
• microwave;
• infrared active;
• infrared passive.

Based on the type of signal, sensors are divided into:

• thermal;
• sound;
• oscillatory.

Depending on their functionality, sensors are divided into the following types:

• Universal or multifunctional. They are used not only to detect movement in the controlled area, but also determine the need for switching on. If the illumination level corresponds to the specified value, the lamp does not turn on; if not, it turns on.
• Indoor. They are mainly used to monitor indoor activity, working as part of an alarm system. Activate alerts.

How to install a motion sensor on a light

Installation of a motion sensor to turn on the light can be done in several ways, depending on the design of the room or some requirements from customers.

Depending on how to install the device, they are distinguished into the following types:

• Overhead. The sensor is mounted on the wall.
• Ceiling. The control device is installed on the ceiling; lighting can be integrated with a light motion sensor in a single housing or located directly next to the lamp.
• Mortise. The device is installed by installing it into a wall; its main purpose is to detect activity in office premises or living rooms.

Variants of motion sensor activation circuits

There are several options for connecting motion sensors to turn on the lights. The choice of a specific one is up to the customer. This is due to the fact that the sensors can be different, that is, with different contact groups. Not all device models can be used to connect devices with high current consumption, for example, spotlights with incandescent lamps. In this case, it is better to use starters as intermediate switching components, and to increase the reliability of the presence monitoring system, use different types of sensors, combining their switching circuits. For example, ultrasonic and infrared.

If we consider the models of sensors, depending on the production technology and operating principle, then these can be either ultrasonic or microwave, or infrared. But it should be remembered that the first two types of sensors have a built-in high-frequency generator, which can be excited due to various interferences and powerful electromagnetic waves. Therefore, they must be installed in places remote from all these factors. These could be warehouses, checkpoints, etc.

For home use or in environments with a lot of interference, sensors with infrared emitters are more suitable. In this case, both active and passive ones can be used.

Generalized diagram for switching on motion sensors

The simplest circuit for connecting a motion sensor includes only a few components:

• sensor;
• connecting wires;
• lamp or audio warning system.

Almost all sensor models have a single structural device, which is a housing, a contact block, a scattering sphere or glass. The sensor itself has only 3 contacts, so there should be no difficulties with its electrical connection. Moreover, almost every model comes with installation and configuration instructions.

The figure below shows the simplest circuit for switching on a motion sensor, consisting of the sensor itself and the lamp. Installation of such a sensor can be done in almost any convenient place.

Important points when connecting according to this diagram is to maintain the polarity of the wires. The phase wire from the alternating voltage network must be switched through the sensor to the lamp. You need to pay attention to the color. As a rule, blue is zero, brown is phase, red is the switch output. Colors may differ between manufacturers, so it is advisable to use a phase indicator or other devices. As the latter, you can use not only a lighting device, but also an audible alarm. When installing a powerful floodlight with a consumption of more than 0.5 kW, it is recommended to use an intermediate starter and install it in a separate installation box. This is necessary to prevent burnout of contacts when switching a low-resistance load.

Combining a motion sensor with a switch

To ensure constant operation of the lamp, regardless of the level of illumination and the presence of a person in the range of the sensor, a switch can be installed in the circuit. A single-key type switch can be used as it. When it is turned on, the switching contacts of the sensor are bypassed, which ensures constant lighting mode.

It is important to remember that to implement the inclusion of the sensor according to this scheme, it is necessary to strictly monitor the color of the wires in order to prevent an unexpected short circuit.

The neutral or neutral wire from the switch goes directly to the luminaire (lamp) from the network, the phase wire passes through the switch, the contacts of which are parallel to the switching group of the sensor. If a starter is used in the circuit, then its winding must be powered from the switch.

Connection diagram for several sensors

The first type of scheme is widely used in rooms of simple shape. This can be a square, rectangle or circle, in general, something where only one specific area needs to be controlled. If you want to organize automatic switching on of lighting in complexly shaped rooms with additional branches and bends, for example, in curved corridors, then you need to use several sensors. But this scheme also has its own nuances. For example, if you need to organize the comfort of movement along a long corridor, but at the same time it is necessary to ensure maximum savings, then the sensors should be turned on independently of each other, that is, in parallel.

If you want to create a reliable security system, then connecting the motion sensor to the light should be done according to the diagram presented below.

Here the sensors are interconnected by a phase wire from the network. The neutral wire is supplied to all sensors and lamps or alarms without intermediate switching. It is important here not to confuse the colors of the wires and control the phase on all devices so as not to create a short circuit in the circuit. When any of the sensors is triggered, the main signal light or sound warning system will turn on.

When creating a system with controlled lamps, a switch is installed parallel to the contact group of sensors. If the circuit consists of several motion sensors, and it is necessary to ensure that each of the lamps is switched on independently, then a switch is installed on each sensor.

Before checking the motion control device, you should make sure that the colors of the wires are correct and that they are securely clamped in the terminals.

How to properly install a light motion sensor

How to properly install a motion sensor that reacts to light so that the system works reliably without false alarms. The first step is to determine the parameters of the room. It is important that the viewing angle of the sensor is maximum and covers a large area.

If the coverage area of ​​one sensor is not enough, then several are used. At the same time, they are installed in the corners of a curved room of irregular shape. The installed sensor should not overlap its controlled area with the neighboring one. In addition, it is important to remember another installation rule to avoid false alarms of sensors: there should be no plumbing pipes, power or high-frequency cables, trees or shrubs in the sensor’s coverage area.

To correctly install a lamp with a motion sensor or a separate sensor, you should pay attention to the instructions that come with each sensor. As a rule, manufacturers present various installation options and their combinations in order to ensure the best performance.

When installing motion sensors outdoors, it is necessary to use protective terminal boxes. The sensors themselves must be securely hidden under the canopies of buildings and protected from snow or rain.

Setting up a motion sensor for lighting

There are several types of sensors on sale depending on functionality. Among them we can highlight:

• Simple. They are used only for switching the power supply circuit of a lamp in constantly dark rooms, reacting to movement in the controlled area.
• Universal. It is possible to adjust the operating time after automatic switching on (TIME), the sensitivity threshold in infrared sensors (SENS) and the moment of switching on at a certain level of illumination (LUX). Setting up a motion sensor for lighting can be done within 10 seconds to 7 minutes, which is usually required on landings. The staircase lighting circuit with a motion sensor in this case is no different from those given above.

The adjustable sensor allows for better energy savings and provides the most comfortable conditions for moving around the room, depending on the light level.

Video on the topic

Connecting lighting through a motion sensor allows you not only to save energy, but also to add comfort and convenience to our homes. Selecting the installation location, connection diagrams and testing do not require a high level of qualifications, so almost every home craftsman can do this.

Ceiling sensors with all-round visibility are usually mounted in the center of the room, or at its highest point. There are many more installation options for wall-mounted units.

For staircase lighting

In an apartment building, it is best to come to an agreement with all residents of the entrance and install a common lighting system for all its spans. If such agreement could not be achieved, you can make personal lighting of the entrance door to the apartment by installing a sensor above it and setting it to minimum sensitivity, only when directly approaching.

In a country house or cottage, you can install a staircase lighting system that turns on the lamps sequentially as you move along it. In the minimum version, only two devices are required: below and above.

In the utility room

In the technical room of the house, in the garage, storage room or other similar places, it is most advisable to install a light switch combined with a motion sensor, which is best mounted opposite the front door so that it is triggered when it opens.
When entering the room, the lighting will turn on for a time sufficient to switch it to constant mode. It is possible to organize separate systems: a low-power duty lamp is turned on from the sensor, and the main lighting is turned on independently with its own switch.

For street lighting

Outside, sensors and lighting devices can be installed above the entrance gate, entrance to the house, garage, bathhouse, gazebo or other premises. You can install separate sensors for each street lamp in the garden or on the path near the house. For street lighting purposes, sensors with an external brightness analyzer should be used, operating only at dusk.

Now on the lighting market you can find options for LED lamps for outdoor lighting, combined with solar panels and motion sensors. They do not require external power supply lines. There are also cordless models that run on batteries or rechargeable batteries. For the same purpose, rational use of electricity at home is installed.

The sensors have plastic housings that must be protected from shock or other damage. Particular care should be taken when handling the plastic Fresnel lens, which is an important component of the optical system of the device.

When installed outdoors, care must be taken to ensure that the devices are not exposed to direct sunlight or precipitation. In such cases, it is better to provide for the installation of protective visors for them. It should also be taken into account that in windy weather the sensors can be triggered by the movement of branches located near trees.

Indoors, these devices are not recommended to be placed near heating devices. It is advisable that hot radiators or stoves also do not fall into their field of vision. To do this, you can adjust the height and vertical angle of the device accordingly.

When performing any work with mains voltage, safety regulations must be strictly observed. When connecting the power wires to the devices, it is necessary to de-energize them using the switch on the power panel or by unscrewing the fuse plugs. If you are not completely confident in the correct, accurate and safe implementation of all procedures for installing devices, it is better to entrust this to professional craftsmen.

How to connect an infrared motion sensor - detailed instructions

To mount the device, it is necessary to choose a location that provides the best viewing angles both horizontally and vertically with a maximum coverage area. Most infrared motion sensors have a dead zone, the location of which should be taken into account when choosing their height and angle of inclination. If the sensor is made in a fixed housing and does not have positioning adjustment, then it is necessary to check the technical data sheet for correct placement of the device. Mounting the device on the wall must be reliable, allowing for its subsequent orientation in space.
Before connecting the motion sensor to the light, you should unscrew the back cover and carefully study the attached connection diagram. Unlike a conventional light bulb, this device usually requires not only a phase, but also a neutral wire.

Did you know that the answer to the question is not so clear-cut.
And the seemingly simple process of connecting a switch to a regular light bulb requires taking into account many different nuances - from installing electrical wiring to installing the light bulb in the wall. All details can be studied.

And if there is a protective ground connection terminal inside, then it is necessary to ensure its presence at the installation site. Therefore, conventional lighting network wiring is not suitable for connecting the device. It is necessary to reconnect the wires in the distribution box or connect an additional wire from the box or outlet.

Deciding on a suitable motion sensor installation scheme

Inside the device there is usually a terminal block with standard colored and labeled contacts:

• L, brown or black - phase wire.
• N, blue - neutral wire.
• A, Ls or L’, red - phase return to the lighting lamps.
• ⊥, yellow-green - protective grounding.

Connection of lighting devices should be made between contacts A and N. The power supply from the electrical network should be supplied to L and N, strictly observing the phase connection.

One sensor

Classic standard connection scheme.

With switch

Allows you to bypass the sensor by applying voltage directly to the lighting fixture.

Multiple sensors

Typically used for rooms with complex configurations, long corridors and passages, staircases.

In addition to connection contacts, many models of infrared sensors have adjustment controls:

• DAY LIGHT or LUX - sensitivity threshold for illumination.
• TIME - trigger timer.
• SENSE - sensitivity.

How to check whether devices are connected correctly

It is best to check the functionality of these devices before installing them by connecting them according to a temporary circuit. This is especially true for simple models that do not have any adjustment controls. If after installation they do not work as expected, it is most likely due to incorrect installation.