![]() The Benefits of using Motion Sensor Lights and Motion Sensor Light Bulbs You will need to consult the manufacturer’s user manual to determine how to control your motion detector light manually. This may involve a series of toggling the switch on and off…and then on again. Some motion lights may have mechanisms to turn the light on/off manually as well. Regardless of the type of sensor employed, the function is the same, to turn on the motion sensor light when it is triggered. The most commonly used motion detectors are Passive Infrared (PIR), but there are a number of different types, including: Regardless of the physical placement of the sensor, a motion detector actually sense the heat signature and mass as it moves across the coverage zone.Ĭonsequently, it only “sees” living objects that radiate heat, of a minimal size, moving within a particular area. The motion sensor can be built into the light bulb, attached to the fixture, or even mounted separately from the fixture. Motion Activated Lights detect movement within the coverage range of whatever type of motion sensor that is being used. ET: Adds up-to-date information on new options from Philips Hue, Ring and others.As the name implies, a motion sensor light is one that is activated by a motion detector.Įssentially, when a human, or other large body, enters the area within the coverage area of the motion detector, the motion detector is triggered and activates the lighting switch to turn on the light. Expect full reviews and buying advice for all of it in the months ahead. ![]() We'll be sure to test those lights out at the CNET Smart Home once they're available, along with any other new outdoor-friendly smart home They'll be the least expensive Ring products to date, with step lights starting at $18 each and path lights starting at $30 each. A base kit with one light and the power supply costs $130, with additional lights selling for $90, so they definitely don't come cheap, but they're an option worth considering, especially if you've already bought into Hue's well-established smart lighting ecosystem.Īnd again, if you're more interested in outdoor security lighting than in color control, then consider waiting until April, when Ring's new outdoor lighting lineup launches. Still, they make for a pretty easy outdoor aesthetics upgrade.Īnother color-changing option: Philips Hue's Calla path lights, which look like little lighthouses for your yard. The lights communicate using Zigbee, so allow me to remind you that you'll need a hub from Wink or SmartThings or an Amazon Echo Plus to control them. However, if you feel inclined to upgrade, you should know that you've got a growing number of smart alternatives.įor smart, multicolor lights that look good lighting up a path or a garden, check out Sylvania's Gardenspot starter kit, which sells for $70 or less on Amazon. Smarts aside, there are plenty of good-looking decorative options out there, including solar-powered lights that don't require you to break out the extension cords. Specifically, I'm talking about path lighting. New motion-activated path lighting options from Ring are on the way, too, and should cost a lot less. On the high end, Philips Hue's lineup of outdoor lights include these color-changing Calla path lights. That alone is enough of an advantage to nudge some users into the smart switch camp. That's not a problem with smart switches - even when they're switched off, they're still hard-wired, so your automations and remote controls will always work regardless of whether the light is physically on or off. One other thing to keep in mind if you're trying to decide between smart bulbs and smart switches is that smart bulbs only work if the power is on, which means you'll need to retrain yourself and your family members to leave the switch in the on position at all times. Make the swap, and you can automate your back porch light and add Alexa controls into the back room while you're at it. ![]() Spend a little more and you'll find options like the Ecobee Switch Plus, which features built-in sensors for motion, temperature and ambient light plus built-in Alexa voice controls. Both work with a good variety of third-party platforms, includingĪlexa and Google Assistant for voice controls. ![]() Of those, I like the Belkin WeMo Light Switch and the Kasa Wi-Fi Light Switch from TP-Link. Most basic models that just offer simple automations and remote on/off functionality can be had for less than $50 each. ![]()
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