What is a Sensor Light? - TEKLED UK

What is a Sensor Light?

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Photodetector devices that detect light are known as light sensors. To detect illuminance, react to variations in the amount of light received, or transform light into electricity, many types of light sensors can be utilised. 

Occupancy sensors, a type of motion sensor light, work by shutting off the lights in empty rooms and spaces. The sensor turns on the light when motion is detected and turns it off when no longer detecting motion.

What Does Sensor Light Do?

Motion sensor lights' primary objective is to make you feel safe and secure in your home. These lights are automatically activated when daylight falls below a certain threshold. If there is ample daylight, the lights do not go on and off all the time which saves a lot of electricity. You can also choose products that let you customise individual settings on your light through the time span, range and sensitivity. Using integrated motion sensors in your indoor lighting gives you the added benefit of not worrying about your utility bills if you forgot to switch off your lights. The lights automatically switch off when no motion is detected for a certain amount of time.

How Does Sensor Light Work?

Both indoor and outdoor use of IR sensors is common. They take a thermal image and turn on the light in response to any changes. When daylight levels drop below a specific level, ceiling lights equipped with motion sensors turn on.

What are the Usage Areas of Sensor Ceiling Lights?

Bathrooms, hallways, and aisles frequently require LED ceiling lights with motion sensors.  What is sensor ceiling light

What are the Advantages of Sensor Light?

You can spare guests or staff members who are unfamiliar with the space some inconveniences by installing motion sensors to turn on and off the lights. You will, for instance, do away with the often difficult process of needing to find the light switch in a dark room, let alone while they are outside the room. Add to this the scenario when someone is carrying something in both hands and enters a dark space. LEDs that are turned on by motion sensors eliminate these hassles.

Motion sensors improve safety by preventing accidents. Where necessary, people can keep an eye on their steps. By doing so, there will be no need to leave the lights on all the time, which will save on energy costs.

Moreover, Even though many bulbs have a lifespan of up to 20,000 hours, shutting them off when not in use increases their longevity. This ultimately results in cost savings on LED replacements and labour for installation. 

What are the Disadvantages of Sensor Light?

At night, lights that turn on with every motion might feel obtrusive and distracting, especially if the light is strong and hinders vision. Additionally, the lights could go out when you least expect it, such as in the middle of an activity. You'll therefore need to move around a bit to keep the lights on.

It's a good idea to keep motion sensors out of non-climate-controlled areas like garages, attics, patios, and sunrooms since they use their infrared beams to detect high temperatures.

What are some Points to Consider When Choosing a Sensor Light?

Before selecting a sensor lighting, all application requirements must be taken into account.

Given that each sensor has a unique set of brightness attributes, it is crucial for you to examine the sensor's brightness. When you wake up in the middle of the night, you don't want to be greeted by a bright light, you may need dim LED sensor lights, such as those in your bathroom. To be able to see in the dark with ease outside, you might need a sensor that can offer brightness. It is advised that you purchase LED sensor lights with 10-50 watts of brightness.

The range that the light covers should be your top priority. Therefore, you should choose the LED sensor light range that best suits your demands and requirements since it would be foolish to spend extra money on a high-range sensor if you do not need a high range. 

The next thing you need to consider is the motion sensor's LED bulb installation's coverage area width. The optimum LED sensor has a range of about 40 feet. However, there are a wide variety of motion sensors on the market, including:

Using a 90-degree angle of the range is adequate to brighten corners.

You can adopt a 270-degree angle to cover the enhanced detection.

360-degree range sensors are an option if you want to use one sensor to cover everything from the ceiling to the walls.

What are the types of Sensors?

Here are some of the most commonly utilized sensors in LED lights:

Motion Sensors (PIR Sensors): Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors are widely used in LED sensor lights for security and convenience. They detect the infrared radiation emitted by warm objects, like humans and animals, turning the lights on when motion is detected. This makes them ideal for outdoor security lights, indoor night lights, and bathroom lights.

Photocell Sensors (Dusk-to-Dawn Sensors): These sensors detect ambient light levels to automatically turn LED lights on at dusk and off at dawn. They are commonly used in outdoor lighting for streets, gardens, and porches to save energy and provide illumination only when needed.

Ultrasonic Sensors: Less common than PIR sensors, ultrasonic sensors emit ultrasonic waves and measure the reflection off a moving object to detect its presence. They can be used in combination with PIR sensors to improve accuracy and reduce false triggers. Ultrasonic sensors are suitable for spaces with complicated layouts where motion detection needs to be more precise.

Microwave Sensors: Similar to ultrasonic sensors, microwave sensors emit microwaves and detect their reflection from moving objects. They have a longer range than PIR sensors and can detect motion through obstacles like glass and thin walls, making them useful for automatic doors and more secure areas.

Sound Sensors: Sound-activated sensors are less common in LED lights but can be found in specific applications. They turn the lights on in response to sound, which can be convenient for situations where physical movement might not be detected by a PIR sensor, such as when a person is sitting still but clapping hands to activate a light.

Touch Sensors: For indoor LED lights, especially desk lamps and under-cabinet lighting, touch sensors offer convenience and ease of use. A simple touch can turn the lights on or off, adjust brightness, or change light color, making them popular for personal lighting solutions.

Does Sensor Light Save Money?

Motion-activated light switches may not function in rooms with high usage, but they can help households save money in rooms with moderate to low traffic or when lights are mistakenly left on.

Why Does a Ceiling Light with Sensor Light Up Constantly?

Your motion detector may stay on due to a number of factors, including ageing, storm damage, a power surge, bad installation, and incorrect settings. A few problems are simple to solve without assistance from experts.

High Sensitivity Setting - If the sensitivity of your light is set too high, it may turn on in response to the tiniest triggers, such as a leaf moving in the wind or a speck of dust that rests on your motion sensor.

Long Duration Settings - In most circumstances, the time that your motion detector light is on once it is triggered should not exceed 20 to 30 seconds. But you may change the parameters to have it run for longer. For instance, a lot of lights have settings that range from a couple of seconds to an hour or more. It can appear that your motion light never goes out if your duration setting is set too long.

Many lights have an automatic option that makes them turn on and off continuously. You might have activated this mode without even being aware of it. Lights can become stuck in this mode due to malfunctions as well.