How to Install Exterior Motion Light
- 1). Disconnect the power to the outside fixture that you are replacing with an exterior motion light. There's a circuit breaker inside the home electrical box that you'll turn off to cut the power to the fixture. Use the fixture switch to see if the power is off by attempting to turn the fixture on and off.
- 2). Position the stepladder under the fixture so you can reach it. Remove the light bulbs from the fixture by unscrewing the bulbs from the light sockets. Remove the screws that secure the fixture housing to the exterior of the house with a Phillips-head screwdriver.
- 3). Pull the fixture away from the house until you can access the wires behind the fixture. Untwist the plastic wire nuts that connect the house wires to the fixture wires. Remove the fixture from the house and set the fixture aside.
- 4). Cut any frayed ends of the house wires with the cutting side of the wire strippers. Remove 1 inch of insulation from the ends of the house wires with the wire strippers. Usually, original fixtures connect using a black wire and a white wire. There is also a green wire that connects to the junction box as a grounding wire. Locate this wire, if you have one, and remove the screw securing the wire end to the junction box.
- 5). Strip 1 inch of insulation off of the ends of the new exterior motion light with the wire strippers. Connect the housing and wires to the house. Use plastic wire caps to connect the white and black house wires to the corresponding wires on the exterior motion light fixture. Attach the green wire from the house to the green or copper terminal screw on the back of the fixture housing and tighten the screw with a Phillips-head screwdriver.
- 6). Push the wires into the junction box and secure the motion light fixture to the junction box with the supplied securing screws. Most exterior motion light fixture housings have a weatherproof seal. It is a good idea to apply a bead of silicone caulk around the outside perimeter of the housing where the housing meets the house using a caulking gun. This will help keep moisture from getting between the wall and the housing.
- 7). Install the fixture bulbs into the exterior motion light. Turn the circuit breaker on to the light fixture. Refer to the instructions with your kit on how to properly aim your motion sensor. The motion sensor is between the two light bulb sockets on your fixture. There are many ways of adjusting the sensor depending upon the manufacturer. You will be able to adjust distance, sensitivity and the length of time the light stays on after detecting motion.
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