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PIR light coming on in bright sunshine

readiescards

By readiescards
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readiescards Regular Member

readiescards

Posted
Posted

Got some fairly cheap PIR security lights around my house. The older ones are now starting to come on whenever they detect motion even if it is a bright sunny day. They worked fine for 18 months or so.

Fiddling with the settings seems to have little impact, though can't be 100% sure I fiddled all the options.

 

Does the ambient light sensor drift over time normally?

 

It is not a major issue just a bit odd

20190512_111206.jpg

lizzie Advanced Member

lizzie

Posted
Posted

Ive got some less than 12 months old and not cheap and this last week they are doing the same thing .....very annoying ...... I have not fiddled with settings, they dont do it every day just some days.

gravelld Regular Member

gravelld

Posted
Posted

Would like to know solutions for this. I noticed one of mine has a cracked plastic layer over the sensor, and some of the plastic has dropped out. I would've thought this increases the sensitivity?

Temp Advanced Member

Temp

Posted
Posted (edited)

Ive read that some PIR have a test or walk mode that allows them to be set up in daylight. Apparently a power cut can sometimes put them into test mode and some fiddling with the switch is needed to get back to normal mode.

 

Missing lenses might let spiders in, blocking light to the sensor?

 

Any dirt on the photo cell will also alter the trigger point making them switch on earlier/off later or stay enabled all day. Might just need to readjust or clean the photo cell.

Edited by Temp
ProDave Advanced Member

ProDave

Posted
Posted

I was going to suggest the "test mode"

 

Try turning the power off, waiting a good couple of minutes then turning it back on. That should restore normal mode.

  • Like 1
  • 1 month later...
AliMcLeod Regular Member

AliMcLeod

Posted
Posted (edited)

I've had PIR lights which had a toggle mode whereby if you flipped the power on/off/on/off/on quickly, the PIR is disabled and the light stays on. Doing the same again put it back to PIR mode. Can you get to the light to see the model number so we can check the manual (I think I know the answer to that)?

Edited by AliMcLeod
AliMcLeod Regular Member

AliMcLeod

Posted
Posted
  On 20/06/2019 at 06:08, readiescards said:

Cos the came from China I brought a few spares so I can see the model number ?

Expand  

 

 

Oh, so you'll also have a manual then? Does it say anything about a test mode or a "always on" feature? Or is it one of those imported products with a few pictures and very little else? 

lizzie Advanced Member

lizzie

Posted
Posted

Mine is not chinese but it does the same and I cant get up a ladder to find the brand....electrician fitted and brand is not specified on the bill, it will have to ask him when he comes back. Ive done the resetting turning on and off thing......

Onoff Advanced Member

Onoff

Posted
Posted

I appreciate it says IP65 on them but is there any way water could have gotten in them? Loose gland, gland pointing upward and not tight etc.

Onoff Advanced Member

Onoff

Posted
Posted

PIR    Override:
You    can    disable    the    PIR    allowing    the    light    to    remain    on    permanently    and    switch    back    to    PIR    operation    when    required:
• Disable    PIR - Switch    the    mains    power    OFF    for    2-3    seconds then    ON    again,    the    PIR    is    disabled    and    the    light    will    stay    on.


Note: When    following    the    Disable    PIR    steps    ensure    you    switch    OFF    and    ON    within    5    seconds,    if    over    5    seconds    the    PIR    will  not    be    disabled.


• Enable    PIR - Switch    the    mains    power    OFF    for    2-3    seconds then    ON    again,    the    light    will    turn    on    as    set    on    the    time    
adjustment    and    will    turn    off.

Dee J Regular Member

Dee J

Posted
Posted
  On 21/06/2019 at 19:40, Onoff said:

I appreciate it says IP65 on them but is there any way water could have gotten in them? Loose gland, gland pointing upward and not tight etc.

Expand  

IP65 seems extremely optimistic for a lamp with an external sensor. That knuckle join  supporting the sensor is the usual culprit. I don't fit that pattern any more...Too much trouble and call-backs. I much prefer units with the sensor built into the lamp and all setup done via a remote control. 

  • 2 years later...
Adsibob Advanced Member

Adsibob

Posted
Posted
  On 21/06/2019 at 19:44, Onoff said:

PIR    Override:
You    can    disable    the    PIR    allowing    the    light    to    remain    on    permanently    and    switch    back    to    PIR    operation    when    required:
• Disable    PIR - Switch    the    mains    power    OFF    for    2-3    seconds then    ON    again,    the    PIR    is    disabled    and    the    light    will    stay    on.


Note: When    following    the    Disable    PIR    steps    ensure    you    switch    OFF    and    ON    within    5    seconds,    if    over    5    seconds    the    PIR    will  not    be    disabled.


• Enable    PIR - Switch    the    mains    power    OFF    for    2-3    seconds then    ON    again,    the    light    will    turn    on    as    set    on    the    time    
adjustment    and    will    turn    off.

Expand  

I'm looking for an indoor PIR sensor that has this functionality. Can you recommend one?

Temp Advanced Member

Temp

Posted
Posted

We have an outdoor one that does this sort of thing. We just leave it in PIR mode as its a pain to remember the magic sequence of flicking the switch to change modes. 

Adsibob Advanced Member

Adsibob

Posted
Posted
  On 23/12/2021 at 22:32, Temp said:

We have an outdoor one that does this sort of thing. We just leave it in PIR mode as its a pain to remember the magic sequence of flicking the switch to change modes. 

Expand  

I think the alternative is to have an additional switch that can transfer the circuit from going through the PIR sensor or not. 

Onoff Advanced Member

Onoff

Posted
Posted
  On 23/12/2021 at 22:14, Adsibob said:

I'm looking for an indoor PIR sensor that has this functionality. Can you recommend one?

Expand  

 

Just look for one with "manual override" e.g:

 

https://www.alertelectrical.com/ovia-lighting-recessed-360-low-profile-flush-pir-with-manual-override-ovpir009wh.html

 

They're all going to be much the same, the ceiling mount ones. 

 

Tbh Steinel is the brand for all things PIR imho. If you can accept fugly then maybe something like this?

 

https://www.lights.co.uk/steinel-ir-180-up-easy-motion-detector-switch.html?

 

Shop around on price, links picked at random.

Adsibob Advanced Member

Adsibob

Posted
Posted
  On 24/12/2021 at 05:16, Onoff said:

 

Just look for one with "manual override" e.g:

 

https://www.alertelectrical.com/ovia-lighting-recessed-360-low-profile-flush-pir-with-manual-override-ovpir009wh.html

 

They're all going to be much the same, the ceiling mount ones. 

Expand  

Unfortunately that does not come in matt black, which is what I need.

 

  6 hours ago, Onoff said:

 

Tbh Steinel is the brand for all things PIR imho. If you can accept fugly then maybe something like this?

 

https://www.lights.co.uk/steinel-ir-180-up-easy-motion-detector-switch.html?

 

Shop around on price, links picked at random.

Expand  

Unfortunately according to the instruction manual, that does not have a manual override. Reading Steinel's catalogue, I see that although many of their lights have a manual override, none of their PIR sensors do, which is a shame as most of their products do come in matt black.

 

The search goes on.

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