How to Install Security/Motion Sensor Lights

Security lights are ideal for brightening up the exterior of your home and illuminating obstacles and pathways that could pose trip hazards. They’re also recommended to help you see any potential intruders or wild animals that might be roaming around in the dark. Motion sensor lights come on automatically when there’s movement outside, but that very feature can make them a nuisance if they’re not properly installed. Use these tips to make sure you’re installing security and motion sensor lights the right way.

Most homeowners should only attempt to install new security lights to replace existing outdoor fixtures. Trying to run new wiring for an entirely new exterior fixture is a task best left to an electrician. If there’s already a light fixture or outdoor outlet within a few feet of the desired location, attaching the new fixture is easy enough for almost anyone to handle. Make sure you know how to disconnect the power to the circuit supplying the fixture, or the entire house, before attempting this project.

Some security lights and motion sensors are installed at ground level, but most are high on the walls of the home to keep them out of the grasp of criminals. This means that you'll need to take steps to mitigate electrical risks and the risk of falling when using ladders. Make sure you and the ladder steer clear of contact with any overhead power lines running into the home. And avoid setting the ladder too close to any exposed wiring. Place the feet of the ladder on a level, stable, and even surface, and don’t put your weight on the top rung.

For the least amount of work, find a new light with the same number of wires and the same size electrical box as the old unit. It doesn’t take much work to swap in a new electrical box to support a larger or smaller light fixture, but changing the wiring going into the fixture does take expertise. Most models should feature a three-wire pattern of a white neutral, black hot, and green or bare ground wire.

Use a voltage tester on the wires before touching them to verify that the power is properly disconnected. Touch one part of the tester to the ground, then touch the other lead to both the hot and neutral wires. Any indication of voltage means the wires are still live. Testing for this will prevent any shocks as you connect the new fixture. After verifying you’re safe to work on the fixture, simply wrap the ends of the matching wires together and secure them with wire nuts. Make sure the wires coming from the home are run through a gasket or other waterproofing feature to ensure they’re not a conduit for moisture that could damage the fixture.

Speaking of waterproofing, check any existing gaskets or seals on the electrical box if you’re not replacing it. New electrical boxes will need putty or flexible rubber gaskets to keep water from soaking through where the wiring enters. Silicone caulk is also recommended for a bead around the edges after mounting the fixture on the box. This will prevent the most moisture control while still being easy to access and replace as necessary.

If you’re installing a motion-activated light rather than just a manual switch-controlled model, you’ll need to carefully place the sensor and then adjust its aim. Sensors work best when pointed at an area where traffic could pass from side to side rather than at it. This can be tricky since many homeowners think of lighting up the areas where they’re most likely to walk directly at an entrance or path. You may want to install lights with separate sensors so they can be placed to the side of a walkway or path while the light is still directly above it. If you keep getting too many nuisance activations, try limiting the range of the sensor by placing small strips of masking tape on either side. This creates a more narrow band of detection that will pick up fewer movements and focus on a smaller area.

Once the wiring is complete, test out the lights at night to see how well they work. Almost all security lights are adjustable, so getting better illumination is just a matter of getting the ladder out and changing the direction of the lamps.