Install a motion light.
Motion lights turn on when the motion sensor detects movement, and after a preset amount of time, the light turns off once movement in the vicinity stops. If you have an older house, you can replace your existing light fixture with a motion detector light and hook it up to the old wiring that's already in your house. When you secure the wires with wire nuts, mount the motion light fixture on a mounting strap and install a watertight gasket, even old wiring will power your new motion sensor lights.
Instructions
1. Turn off power to the light fixture where you'll be working by flipping the appropriate circuit breaker to the "Off" position.
2. Remove the light bulbs in your existing fixture, and then use your voltage tester to make sure there's no power running through the lines. One prong of your voltage tester sits on the brass threads inside the light socket, and the other voltage tester prong sits on the center metal tab at the bottom of the light socket.
3. Read the meter on your voltage tester to see if there's still power running through the electrical wiring. The voltage meter needle will not move if there is no power.
4. Unscrew the screws that mount your existing light fixture to the wall, and then pull the fixture away from the wall, where you will see the exposed wiring. Untwist the wire nuts that secure the light fixture wiring to the old wiring on your house and pull the wires apart from each other. Set your old light fixture to the side; you don't need it anymore.
5. Set the mounting strap, located in the box with your new motion light fixture, over the existing electrical box. Screw it in place.
6. Locate the bare copper wire in your existing electrical box and run it to your new light fixture. In newer wiring, this would likely be a green wire. When you work with older wires, it's the bare copper wire. Look for the green screw inside the light fixture, which is the grounding location. Wrap the bare copper wire around the green screw, and then tighten the screw to secure the ground wire in place.
7. Follow the color-coded system for your wiring to connect the rest of the wires in your old electrical box to your new motion light fixture. Pair your white neutral wires together and your black hot wires together. Twist a wire nut over the top of each pair to secure the two wires together.
8. Hang a watertight gasket, also included when you purchase a new light fixture, over your electrical box to protect your wiring from rain and other elements you may experience when using an exterior light fixture. If you install an indoor fixture, the watertight gasket is not necessary.
9. Tuck in your wiring and press your new motion light fixture up against the wall. Screw it in place by mounting it into your mounting strap, which will securely hold the light fixture to the wall.
10. Turn your circuit breaker back "On" to restore power to the area.
Tags: light fixture, motion light fixture, voltage tester, your existing, your motion
