Motion sensors are a vital part of your security system, alerting you when there’s an intruder.
They also have other functions like lighting hallways and opening automatic doors. However, one of the many questions that pop up is if motion sensors require cleaning.
Find Out If Motion Sensors Need Cleaning.
Depending on the type of motion sensors and their outdoor location, they might need to be cleaned at least every three to four months. This is because some components, like the outer casing and the sensor lens, can gather dust. Any obstruction on these components will diminish the efficiency of the sensors, so they need frequent cleaning. Generally, indoor motion sensors if in a clean place won’t need as much cleaning.
This article explores whether motion light sensors often go bad and if motion sensors need to be cleaned. I also describe how to clean motion sensors.
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Do Motion Light Sensors Often Go Bad?
By specialized technology, motion light sensors come on when the sensor detects movement. These light sensors are easy to use, cost-effective, and convenient, and many people use them indoors and outdoors.
Most motion sensor lights will work continuously with proper installation, but they can fail due to:
- Inclement weather (mainly outdoor lights), including lightning and storms
- Age
- Power surges, outages, and other electrical failures
The frequency of dysfunction depends on how long you’ve had the sensor, your environment, and the regularity of maintenance.
Here’s a brief description of how the types of motion detection work with motion light sensors:
Contact sensors
Often found on windows and doors, you activate them by opening the window or door to which you fastened them. Whoever opens the door or window interrupts the direct signal from one part of the sensor to the other.
Light change sensors
These motion detectors monitor ambient light, turning on the lights whenever they detect a significant change in lighting. An example is a porch light set to activate only when it gets dark outside.
Signal Blockage sensors
This type of motion sensor detects blocked signals. For instance, a person or object crossing in front of the sensor physically blocks the signal it emits. A blocked sensor signals the light of the movement, causing it to come on.
Heat detection sensors
The motion sensor lights come on when the sensor notes a sudden temperature change, like a body crossing in front of it.
How To Know If A Motion Sensor Light Is Bad
Motion detector lights provide extra security for your home and help you navigate your property better. In addition, detecting a dysfunctional light enables you to fix it early, ensuring your safety.
Here’s how you can tell if the light is bad:
- The light seems less sensitive than usual, or it works occasionally
- It doesn’t come on even when large objects (people or cars) trigger it
- The light stays on—it should go off after movement ceases, usually within 30 to 60 seconds
Your motion sensor lights should have a good level of sensitivity and work all the time. If it displays any of the features above, you can try resetting it. If a reset doesn’t restore normal functioning, you may have to change the sensors.
How to fix a bad motion light sensor
Fixing or resetting a motion light sensor involves addressing specific parts or components that could be causing the issues. It boils down to a process of elimination until you find the actual cause. Here’s what you should do:
Clean the photocell
It’s a vital part of the motion sensor light. If debris or dust covers the photocell, it may interrupt the normal functioning of the motion sensor light.
Clean the photocell gently with a dry rag until all the debris is clear. Check to see if the light’s working now and if it isn’t, move on to step two.
The light switch method
Sometimes tweaking the light switch is all it takes to reset the motion sensor light.
If it’s wired to a wall switch, continue by:
- Turning the switch on, then off for two or three seconds
- Turn it back on to see if the light works
- If the light’s still off, repeat the process four times
- Turn the switch off if the light comes on at the first trial or after repeating the process
- Then wait for five to seven seconds before turning it back on
If it works, the light should remain off until it detects motion and reset the motion detection unit.
The breaker method
The breaker panel is another easy way to reset your motion sensor lights.
Follow these steps to do it:
- Turn off the circuit breaker controlling the motion sensor lights
- Leave it off for about 30 seconds to one minute and turn it back on
- Check the motion sensor lights if they’re working again
If this doesn’t work, consult the owner’s manual. Some models may need the breaker to stay off for up to an hour for a proper reset.
Replace the batteries
If your motion light sensors use batteries, old batteries may be the issue. Try replacing all the batteries with new ones and see if the lights work well. If they don’t, it’s not a battery problem.
Replace the bulbs
If you’ve tried the methods above without change, the bulbs could be damaged. Replace the bulbs with fresh ones and see if the lights work. If it works, fantastic. If not, it’s time to call in a professional.
Know when to throw in the towel and hire a professional to diagnose and fix the problem. If you suspect an electrical problem, it’s crucial to call for help early. You will save a lot of time and money if someone with experience tackles the issue from the beginning.
Do Motion Sensors Need to Be Cleaned?
A motion sensor (detector) is a unique sensor that alerts you when it detects movement within the area it monitors. The sensor signals your security system’s control panel on detecting motion.
Your monitoring center receives the signal/alert from the control panel, and that’s how you know of potential threats. Over time, you may notice a decreased functionality in your motion sensor.
It may become less sensitive to objects within its range or cannot respond at all. Poor maintenance can speed up your motion detectors’ dysfunction and subsequent failure. To avoid an early breakdown, you need to clean your motion sensors.
By cleaning the sensor and other maintenance practices, you ensure that your motion detector works well for a long time. Here are some tips on cleaning and maintenance.
- If the manufacturer sealed the sensor in an airtight metal casing, you don’t have to bother with cleaning it.
- Clean the lens every two months.
- If batteries power your motion sensors, change the batteries once per year.
- Before painting, take your motion detectors down because paint can splatter on the lens as dust accumulates.
Apart from home security, motion sensors also find application in other fields, functioning in these capacities:
- To control automatic water faucets and toilets – turn them on and off
- To control ATM displays
- In industrial fields, motion sensors keep track of the number of products on assembly lines
- They also shut down dangerous equipment in industries when someone gets too close
- Motion sensors work at automatic ticket gates
- Motion detectors work for some parking meters
A dirty motion sensor can’t detect and report movement accurately, leaving your home vulnerable to intruders.
How Do You Clean Motion Sensors?
Considering the types and models of motion sensors available, it’s best you clean each one according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Also, indoor and outdoor sensors may require different degrees of cleaning because of the variations in environmental exposure.
It may be easier to clean DIY motion sensors than those installed by a professional or security company. Regardless, you should take whatever measures you can to clean your motion sensors.
Here are some instructions on cleaning motion sensors:
Cleaning supplies: a soft microfiber cloth, a can of compressed air, and a little cleaning solution are all you need. Window cleaner can serve as your cleaning solution, or even water can suffice.
Products to avoid include solvents like alcohol and ammonia, rough materials like paper towels and newspapers, and harsh antibacterial agents. Using these items to clean a motion sensor could affect the infrared clarity and distort its readings.
Opening the motion sensor: Some models may have small screws or a slot for a flathead screwdriver to pop the cover off. Lift the lid off carefully because applying too much force may damage the structures within.
Cleaning the sensor: once you’ve uncovered the contents of the sensor, blow off any dust that has gathered on the lens. You can use the can of compressed air, releasing the air at a shallow angle. This ensures that you blow the dust off instead of blowing it back to other parts of the lens.
Moisten the cloth with the cleaning solution or water, and wipe the sensor with gentle pressure. Next, clean the light bulb surface, the lens of the infrared sensor, and the fixture. Clear off mildew, debris, or insects that the light may have attracted inside the sensor.
When cleaning inside the sensor, be mindful of the printed board inside so you don’t damage the components—IR or microwave detectors.
If the sensor is filthy inside and there’s no change after cleaning, you should get a new one. Remember that a dirty sensor won’t be as effective and may not work. So clean your sensors as often as possible so you can be sure that they’re working correctly.
Conclusion
Depending on the motion sensor type (IR or RF) and where the motion sensor and light are fitted, you might need to clean the sensor.
If the motion sensor and light are outdoors and if it builds up first over the sensor then you might have to clean it.
However, if the motion sensor is indoors it is not likely that the sensors would require cleaning.
