How to Deactivate a Motion Sensor on a Lamp

Motion detectors are used in a variety of security applications for both outdoor and indoor lamps. The motion detecting ability of a lamp can be deactivated by physically disconnecting the motion sensor wiring. The sensor itself operates as a switch and once it is disconnected, the lamp will no longer be controlled by motion. You can deactivate the motion sensor with basic wiring knowledge.

Stepladder
Phillips-head screwdriver
Flat-head screwdriver
Voltage tester
Electrical tape

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the circuit breaker assigned to the lamp.
- 2
  Remove the lamp from the electrical box. Turn the lamp base screws counterclockwise using the appropriate screwdriver. The lamp and the motion detector are attached as one unit.
- 3
  Locate the two wires attached to the motion detector. One wire will be either blue or red, and the other will be white.
- 4
  Remove the wire nuts from each of the two wires. Turn the nuts counterclockwise by hand.
- 5
  Test the two wires to verify the absence of electrical power using a voltage tester.
- 6
  Disconnect the blue (or red) wire from the motion detector from the two black wires.
- 7
  Reconnect the two black wires with a wire nut. Tighten clockwise by hand.
- 8
  Disconnect the white wire from the sensor from the two white neutral wires.
- 9
  Reconnect the two white wires with a wire nut and tighten.
- 10
  Apply electrical tape to the wire nuts. Overlap the tape onto the wire insulation.
- 11
  Wrap the exposed wire ends of the motion detector with electrical tape.
- 12
  Push the wiring into the electrical box. Secure the lamp fixture to the box with the base mounting screws. Tighten the screws clockwise.

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