by Brenna Hartmann, the Fixie Chick

I love the idea of motion sensor exterior lights. Lighting an area only when necessary is a great way to save energy while being able to detect night time activity and increase visibility outside of the home. Until recently, many of the exterior motion sensing lighting options came in the form of a “flood” light. Although they work well, they are not always visually appealing.

Motion-Activated Security Flood Light

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Fixie Chick Tip:

Check with your town to see if you need a permit for this type of lighting project.

Contact a licensed electrician if necessary.

Read all installation requirements and instructions for the motion sensors fully.

Note which direction you place the sensor and level of sensitivity,

especially if you live in a high traffic area.

Originally I was shopping for a new coach light to install on an existing lamp post at my Mother’s house. The one she had was old and faded and missing some of the panes on the light fixture.

I was also looking to update the look with a bronze finish to go with the shutters I painted in terra cotta last year. I found the perfect coach light and as I was strolling through the electrical department, I noticed a small box marked “Motion Sensing Post Light Adapter.” It was less than $20, so I put it in the cart.

After turning the power off at the circuit breaker, I removed the old coach light. I lightly sanded the post and sprayed it with a multi-textured bronze colored paint; I used the time while it was drying to read the instructions on the Sensor. I was happy to see that the installation would require very little effort and was impressed with the features the sensor offered. I decided to keep the sensor and install it for my Mom.

Now she has what appears to be a brand new lamp post, and she can set the dimmer control to come on half bright for selected time after dusk (three hours, six hours, or until dawn). If motion is sensed, the light turns on full bright for the“ on-time” (pre-set to one, five or twenty minutes) then the light returns to dim mode. The photocell keeps the light off during the daylight hours, so there is no chance of wasting energy if she accidentally leaves the light on. To save even more energy, we topped off this project with an ENERGY STAR light bulb.
The Fixie Chick
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