How to Wire a Motion Sensor to an Existing Light

Utilizing a motion-activated light at homes, offices, or public indoor spaces could significantly reduce electricity waste while adding a hands-free, automated lighting experience. Most of the time, a motion sensor light switch is the optimal solution for indoor use because it’s easy to upgrade and replace your existing wall switch and the wall sensor switch is more accessible for users to have manual override control.

Sometimes we need to detect motion from a broader coverage where a motion sensor light switch is incompetent with the restricted detecting area on the wall. In this case, a ceiling mount motion sensor or a standalone motion detector located on the wall, which can detect people from up to a 360 degree with a larger sensitivity zone, can perfectly solve our problem.  

Another benefit of adding a motion sensor, i.e., a occupancy sensor, to your existing light is that you can have automatic ON/OFF lighting, which is completely hands-free and suitable for public rooms and offices. Additionally, a ceiling occupancy sensor only requires available wirings for installation and is more flexible with where you place it, while the wall sensor switches must be installed into a pre-existing wallbox.

Step 1. Prepare Tools for Installation

Before we add a motion sensor to the light, prepare these tools first so we can speed up the process.

• A motion sensor
• Screwdriver
• Optional
  • Wirecutter: to cut wires if necessary
  • Wire connectors: most motion sensor light switches would include wire connecters by default in the accessory pack
  • Voltage tester: to identify the hotwire and ensure the voltage is off
  • Electrical tapes: to mark the hotwire
  • Junction box: for fixing and installing the motion sensor

Step 2. Place the Motion Sensor

Turn off the power to the light which you want to add a motion sensor to. Find a place where you want to install the motion sensor between the power source from your house to the light.

Install a junction box and cut the hot wire and neutral wire for installing and fixing the motion sensor, if needed.

Now we mark the hot wire and load wire.

1. Turn on the power and use the non-contact voltage tester to test each black wire in the junction box. The hot wire has power but the load wire to your light does not have power. 
2. Turn off the power and use the non-contact voltage tester to confirm.
3. Mark the hot wire with electrical tapes if needed.

Step 3. Wire the Motion Sensor to the Light

This is a standard motion sensor wiring diagram and you can apply nearly all wirings like above. The wiring is pretty straightforward, similar to installing a motion sensor light switch.

There are only 3 wires needed. The L is for line wire or hot wire, which is the power source from your house. The L1 is for load wire which powers the lights. The N is the neutral wire, and you only need to simply wire them together.

1. Connect the hot wire from your house to the hot wire on the motion sensor. 
2. Connect the load wire to your light to the load wire on the motion sensor. 
3. Connect the neutral wire from your house to the neutral wire on the motion sensor. 

Step 4. Adjust the Motion Sensor

Now we partially screw the motion sensor into the junction box and turn on the power for testing the best setting.

Test a couple of times and adjust the motion sensor’s setting to the best value, such as time delay, motion detection sensitivity, light sensor LUX.

Alter the motion sensor to ensure it can detect the ideal motion detection area. Install and screw tight the motion sensor.