How to Install a Single Pole Motion Sensor Switch

A motion sensor switch is a great way to help reduce the amount of electricity that's wasted on lighting in your home. While you may not immediately think that you waste lighting, consider this: do you have anyone in your family who leaves the basement or garage lights on? How about the hallway light or the light on the stairs? There are plenty of opportunities for you to save some cash on your electricity bill, just by replacing your regular switch with one that is motion controlled. This way, when someone forgets to turn off the light it will automatically go off after a few minutes on non-activity. Here's how to do it.

Things You'll Need

• Motion sensor switch (single-pole)
• Screwdrivers
• Wire strippers
• Electrical tape
• Voltage tester (touch-type)
• Wire connectors

Instructions

1. Before you begin, turn off the power to the circuit you will be working on by toggling off the breaker in the electrical panel.

2. Remove the switch plate cover.

3. Remove the two screws that are securing the switch to the wall box. Gently pull the switch out of the box using the top and bottom tabs as your holding points. Be careful not to tough the terminals until you test for voltage.

4. Take the touch-type voltage tester and test both terminals for voltage. If you register voltage, you must find the right circuit breaker before continuing.

5. Once the power is completely off, loosen the two screws on the switch and remove the wires. Loosen the ground screw and remove the ground wire.

6. Use the wire strippers to cut away the exposed section of wire and re-strip about 3/4 inches of insulation from the ends of the wires.

7. Pull the neutral wires out of the box. Remove the wire connector that is holding the neutral wires together.

8. On the motion sensor switch you should see two black wires and a white wire. There will also be either a green ground wire or a grounding screw on the body of the sensor. Connect the ground wire from the box to either the sensor's ground wire or screw.

9. Add the motion sensor's white wire to the other white wires in the box and use a wire connector to combine them together.

10. Use a wire connector to connect one of the motion sensor's black wires with one of the black wires from the box. Do the same thing with the other black wires.

11. Wrap electrical tape around each wire connector for added protection and gently push the wires back into the wall box.

12. Fit the motion sensor switch into the wall box and secure it with the two screws.

13. Install the new cover plate for the sensor and turn the circuit back on.

Tips & Warnings

• If the walls have been painted over, the switch plate may be sealed to the wall. Use a sharp knife to score around the plate to prevent the paint from peeling on the wall when you remove the plate.

• Never install a motion sensor when the circuit is hot. Not only is it dangerous, but you can also damage the sensor.

• Always turn off the power before working on an electrical circuit.