PIR sensor settings for porch light

[Sprogginz]

I have a PIR sensor porch light.
It doesn't seem to be functioning well e.g. not coming on when it's supposed to and vice versa.

I was never really bothered about this light until now since I'm setting up CCTV. I inherited this light when I bought the house so I don't have the instructions for the PIR settings.

I have phoned the company who made it and they said they will pop a copy of the instructions in the post but the text is very small as they are struggling to read it!

In the meantime and in case I can't read the instructions, can anyone work out what the settings are and mean? I'm not sure if they're generic, therefore, basically apply to all PIR sensors.



I want the light to come on only when it senses movement when it's dark. As said, the sensor might be faulty so I may have to replace the whole thing, it's at least 7 years old.

Thanks very much and hope you can help.

 

[ETAF]

not 100% sure - but looks like you have two settings for brightness level to trigger - 1st switch
then 2nd
maybe the angle it triggers at - wide or narrow
then the other switches are for distance

so i would say its currently set to Wide Angle , 30" distance away to trigger
looks like 5", 30", 1ft 3ft 5ft 8ft - distance

I have phoned the company who made it

do you have a make on it?

Thats how i can set mine up with a dial, distance it triggers and light sensitivity - so how dark it needs to be before it operates

 

[Sprogginz]

Thanks for your help.

Yes, it does look like it says 5" and so forth, but didn't think it would actually mean 5 inches as I don't see the purpose of that distance. Also, 30" is nearly 3' anyway so I thought it meant something else.
I'm wondering if one switch (maybe the first one?) turns on dusk/dawn mode thereby cancelling the others. I guess I'll have to try the setting and see what happens, but if it is faulty then it may be difficult to figure out....bum.

This is the make and model made by Poole Lighting Ltd. Tried searching online myself to no avail.



Thanks again.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Surely there is no point having the settings at:

5", 30", 1ft 3ft 5ft 8ft.
As said 30 inches is more than a foot and nealy 3 feet (2.5 feet)

Perhaps it's seconds and minutes.

Google the make, model number and "instructions".

 

[ETAF]

yep, 5" did seem a bit strange , so maybe not the meaning i thought
Maybe its the time ON
5 seconds
30seconds

1'5" often shows mins and seconds
so maybe its also seconds and minutes ON

I tried a search and included DIP Switch, which is what you have an image of , no real answers

I would try it and see
what you call the Dawn/dusk, maybe that works regardless of daylight and the setting is OFF , so works all the time and ON for sensitive to daylight , only comes on at night

 

[Sprogginz]

Got it!

Make and model doesn't come up with anything so just searched 'PIR sensor settings' instead and looked under Google's Images section, halfway down the page there it was, not the light but the PIR control unit in this different product.......assuming it's the same!

Instruction available for download too! You're right, it's seconds.

Thanks again.

 

[ETAF]

excellent, looks the same
so your good to go

 

[markyd1]

or just buy a new one for about 20 quid for a good quality one

 

[Sprogginz]

or just buy a new one for about 20 quid for a good quality one

It looks like it's faulty so I'll have to buy another one now.

Problem is though, these PIR lights seems to be a hit and miss judging by the reviews whether on Screwfix, Toolstation, Amazon etc. They may work well enough for a garden but I think I need one that still has an adjustable PIR sensor where I can reduce the distance to the minimum otherwise it'll keep coming on when someone walks past the front of the house as it's located inside the porch. If it can't sense movement through the porch glass then that would change everything of course!

Ideally, I'd like a white lantern style but can't find one that is adjustable. I'm thinking of getting a PIR sensor separately instead so if it goes tits up again then at least I just need to change the sensor and not the light as well.
I'm wondering if it's the environment that shortens the life of the PIR sensor since my porch along with others can get pretty damn hot in the summer.

If anyone knows of any pretty good PIR sensors or of any reason not to get one separately then please let me know.

Thank you.

 

[ETAF]

i have a seperate sensor, which i only recently changed , and know its been up and working since before 1997 when my mother-in-law moved into the bungalow. This is the one I had, and as i say replaced recently - it also has a remote, which we often use to just turn the light on all the time
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/4654394-180-pir-detector-with-remote-control-black
they do it in white also

 

[Sprogginz]

i have a seperate sensor, which i only recently changed , and know its been up and working since before 1997 when my mother-in-law moved into the bungalow. This is the one I had, and as i say replaced recently - it also has a remote, which we often use to just turn the light on all the time
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/4654394-180-pir-detector-with-remote-control-black
they do it in white also

Thanks, that's what I was thinking of, remote control being a bonus!

After a bit more research and unfortunately removing the idea of having a lovely white lantern, I think I might give this a try. I just need something to be able to find the keyhole really at minimum. Also I could also have it facing the house within the porch eliminating any movement outside.

Then there's this which is another possibility, all cheap to try.

Ideally, the sensor you suggested and a lovely white lantern, all working wonderfully would be my desire but obviously requires more wiring etc.

Thanks again.