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guy_n_cognito_tu t1_jea40fw wrote

Many motion detector lights have a feature where you can flick the switch off, then on very quickly, and that will deactivate the motion detection feature and give you constant on.

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mararch t1_jea62b2 wrote

Then when you shut it off for, I think, 5 seconds or more, it resets to motion detector mode.

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Pinstrip3 t1_jea7gtf wrote

Yes, rather easy. Rewire the sensor so it's connected through a wall switch.

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ark_mod t1_jeajmqn wrote

It looks like OP got the real answer in other responses. To explain in more detail for others...

What pinstripe suggests isn't easy at all for 99% of people and is the wrong way to do it. Yes you could disassemble your motion sensor, rewire the sensor, modify the external housing and run extra wires to the switch. But why? Depending on your skill level it could look professional or it could look like someone hacked you the electrical box... Not to mention the labor involved and the fact that this custom solution will be very confusing to anyone that does work in the future.

The correct way to do this is purchase a motion sensor with a built in always on feature. As others mentioned you just need to flick the power off/on to get it to stay on. Leave it off for longer you reset it. The switch then has standard wiring instead of a custom solution. If in the future you (or the next owner) wants to replacev the light they can without dealing with a custom switch and wiring related to modifying the sensor box.

My point - the are "off the shelve" solutions to this issue. No need to custom modify the light and sensor to achieve this.

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Pinstrip3 t1_jebd27q wrote

What you suggesting is sounds to be the right solution.

On a side note I didn't mean to rewire the sensor itself but to simply connect it after the wall switch. That way it can be overriden by the switch, but only to turn it off, not to make it stay on.

Sometimes English is a struggle ;)

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Domepiece9 OP t1_jea7xge wrote

currently have a regular porch light that is connected through a wall switch. I plan to replace that regular porch light with a motion detection porch light and run through the same switch. However, I was assuming wall switch would only turn motion detection on or off, but wanted to figure out a way to be able to turn on that light by overriding the motion detection with the same switch.

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Pinstrip3 t1_jea8udq wrote

I believe You'd need a second set of cables or use third (ground) cable as a last resort.

If you connect the sensor to the switch you will be able to turn on/off the light but it will auto turn off after set period of time and go into motion sensing mode. That's how it works in my case anyway. Downside is I have to turn the switch off and back on to turn on the light.

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Domepiece9 OP t1_jeabqg8 wrote

Check out a couple of the other responses in this thread. It sounds like you can override that in some models.

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Pinstrip3 t1_jead6g8 wrote

Yeah, I've seen. I've got led lamps with built in daylight and motion sensors, rather cheap. I don't need them to stay on for longer periods so I just left it as is.

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MrRonObvious t1_jea47k1 wrote

On most motion detectors, you can flip the switch on and off rapidly to override the motion detector function. You'll have to check the owners manual.

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