Remote motion detector plus another

Status
Not open for further replies.

mark32

Senior Member
Location
Currently in NJ
A customer wants a remote motion detector to activate a flood setup (w/motion detector), around the corner of his detached garage, so the floods will come on whether he enters either side of his backyard. At first I said sure, then thought about the wiring. I became concerned about possible damage done to the detectors if, lets say, the gentleman sets off the remote sensor, in turn activating the floods. At this point there will be voltage on both the line and load side of the other detector (I'd send a feed to both sensors and a switch leg between them both) and it is very likely as he continues to walk it will trigger the flood's own detector thus where my concern arose. Thinking about this more I believe there will not be any problems in the above scenario as the sensor will see the same results when activated in a normal install. Anyone see a problem with this?
 
mark, all you need to do is to wire it as you would a 3 way switch. Feed one motion detector with the power. then run a 3 wire over to the other sensor and switch leg from the 2nd sensor to the light. Feed both sensor wth the black wire and the reds will get connected to the return for the light. I have done this and it works fine.
 
It sounds like Dennis is suggesting that paralleling the sensors' outputs will not be a problem, and I agree. I've seen sensor fixtures that even suggest wiring like this so both fixtures will operate when either sensor senses.

I don't even think you'd need a switch. You'd never have either sensor's output (red) wire energized without its line (black) wire being energized. Plus, I've heard of sensors being wired backwards with no permanent damage done.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top