Motion Sensor help

[voyager9]

I need a little help with the behavior of an outdoor motion detector on my house. I just bought the house back in July so I didn't install it and haven't messed around with it too much There have been other things on my list.

Here's the problem. The light/motion sensor is wired to an indoor switch near the back door. Ordinarily the light switch is off. When I first turn it on, nothing happens. If I go away for a minute or two then come back and turn it off, then back on again the light comes on. Eventually the light turns off (I assume the motion sensor timed out) and I have to toggle the switch again. Walking in front of the sensor doesn't trip it, it could be that the sensor is dirty. Does anyone have any experience with motion sensors wired to switches? What confuses me is the initial on, wait, off, on-steps. If I just toggle the switch a few times right away without waiting the light does not go on.

Thoughts?

[Reverend]

Go to Home Depot, find a similar light and buy it. Take the directions out in the parking lot and go back inside the store and return it. You now have the wiring diagram and trouble shooting info you need to sovle the problem. I used to work their and people did this all the time.

[wellingcountry]

I'm going to forward this to my father who is an electrician and see what he says and I'll get back to you.

[firstin312]

If its anything like my front door light, it goes like this. Turn on the switch and the light is on motion detection, turn it off for about 1 minute and then back on its on steady, shut if off and switch it back its on motion again. Don't know if that helps