electricalledmotion-sensor
I have bought a new motion sensor for my corridor LEDs. The lights turn on fine with it, however, when the sensor is set to OFF, the lights blink indefinitely (a few times per second) and never actually turn off.
It turns out the sensor has a minimum watt requirement of 40W, and I'm quite certain the LEDs use less than that, so could that be the cause of the issue?
If so, how can I easily raise the wattage of the circuit?
And if that's not it, then what could be causing this?
Thanks in advance!
Assuming you're talking about motion sensors like this:
Switches like that need power. They can work by trickling current through incandescents if hooked up like a normal single-throw switch (in series with feed going to lights). If the switch has 4 wires (hot, return, switched, and ground) then you can hook them all up and it will power itself using it's own hot + return. In that case, it shouldn't have to trickle power through the light's circuit, and fluorescents should be able to turn off.
Put the sensor in the space you are trying to light, and suddenly this "common need" becomes "not a need at all" which is why you can't find them, since that's how it's done, when done conventionally.
Either move the switch into the room or get a remote sensor switch and put the sensor in the room.
Best Answer
This is common with sensors that are not listed for use with LED’s The sensor is drawing a tiny amount of power to power the electronics, this s just enough to cause a glow and sometimes flashing. You have 2 options use higher wattage lamps like you have tried to prove the sensor was working OR find an LED compatible sensor. I use motion sensors that work with LED’s you will find many of the led type need a neutral so they power the electronics with out drawing current through the lamps this is causing the flashing.