How to Install a Motion Switch in a Living Room

Installing a motion-sensing light switch in your living room means never having to fumble for the switch in the dark again—the motion sensor detects when someone enters the room and automatically switches on the light. Follow these steps to install one in your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wire strippers
• Screwdrivers (Phillips and flat)
• Circuit tester
• Motion switch

1. Shut off the power to the relevant circuit. Let everyone in the house know not to turn it back on.

2. Remove the wall plate for the existing switch.

3. Use a circuit tester to test the wires to make sure there is no residual power flowing through the wires.

4. Remove the screws holding the old switch in place.

5. Disconnect the wires that connect to the switch. There should be a black wire, a white wire and a bare (or green) ground wire.

6. Remove the old switch.

7. Cut the wires to remove the old, stripped wire, then use wire strippers to strip a small amount of insulation from the cut ends.

8. Connect the stripped wires to your new motion switch by wrapping the wires around the connections in the back of the switch. Tuck the ends of the wire behind the switch box.

9. Position the motion sensor switch into the switch box, then secure it with the mounting screws that came with it.

10. Adjust the timing and sensitivity controls to your preference.

11. Replace the wall plate for the switch and turn the power back on.

Tips & Warnings

• Some new brands of motion switches don’t require that you match particular colored wires to colored connections—check the instructions that come with your switch to find out.