Is Your Motion Sensor Light Blinking Red? (We Have a Fix!)

Outdoor floodlights with motion sensors have become a popular part of many home’s nighttime security. The comfort of coming home and having the approach to your door fully illuminated without running lights all the time is important to many people. However, like any mechanical device, motion-sensing lights can have problems. In many cases, the light quits working and the red LED indicator light blinks continuously.

A blinking red indicator light on a motion-sensing light fixture usually means that the light needs resetting. You can reset the light by turning off the power to the light fixture on many residential motion-sensing lights. Some brands of motion-sensor light fixtures may have different methods of resetting the motion-sensing system.

There could be other problems with the motion-sensing light fixture that would cause the LED indicator light to blink. Diagnosing a problem with an exterior motion-sensing light can be frustrating. We have a few tips, tricks, and some steps you can follow to determine and remedy a blinking red indicator light on your motion-sensing light.

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The motion sensor used in most exterior automatic flood light fixtures is an ingenious device. The technology used in modern motion sensors traces its lineage back to World War II and the technological race to protect shipping from submarines.

The motion detectors used in most new motion-sensing light fixtures use ultrasonic sound. The sensor emits an ultrasonic ping. This burst of sound, too high for your human ears to register, bounces back from anything in its path. A small computer tracks these return signals. A moving object, or person, triggers the computer, which turns on the lights.

This simple concept takes some highly sophisticated electronic equipment and a small computer brain. You can see that there can be several problems associated with this technology. When the computer senses a problem, a blinking red indicator light may be the result.

Almost all new motion-sensing light fixtures include a photoelectric cell. One of the goals of having a motion-sensing light is for the light to come on only when you need it. That is usually after dark.

It doesn’t make much sense to have a motion sensor turn on your light during the day. The photoelectric cell oversees this feature. Sunlight on the photoelectric cell turns the entire sensing system off during daylight, so the light doesn’t come on when it isn’t needed.

There are problems associated with photoelectric cells that can keep your motion-sensing light fixture from working properly. However, a blinking red indicator light is typically not associated with photoelectric cell problems.

The other features and accessories we mentioned earlier integrate with the motion sensor and the photoelectric cell to operate your light fixture. Understanding and troubleshooting problems with the wide variety of options found on some motion-sensing light fixtures are beyond the scope of this article.

Typically, a problem with one of these accessories or options doesn’t cause the red LED indicator light to blink. A blinking red LED indicator usually means problems with the motion sensor or the computer that controls the light fixture.

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A rapidly blinking red LED on a motion-sensing light fixture may happen after a power surge or other power-related events. A power surge may have taken the control computer offline. Performing a power down and power up cycle gives the computer a chance to reset and return to normal functions.

If your motion sensing light replaced a standard porch light, it probably still has a wall switch close to the front door. Performing a power cycle in this instance is as easy and flipping the light switch off, waiting a few minutes, and turning the switch back on. Turning the light switch off and on often solves the problem immediately.

Many homeowners have motion-sensing light fixtures around the perimeter of their homes. In general, these light fixtures have a separate electrical circuit providing power. You must turn off the power at the circuit breaker to power cycle these motion-sensing light fixtures. Flip the breaker to the off position, wait a few minutes, and return the circuit breaker to the on position. Check all your motion-sensing fixtures for proper operation.

If a reset doesn’t stop the red LED indicator light from blinking, the problem is probably internal to the light fixture. There are several issues to check. Unfortunately, this may involve climbing ladders to reach the light fixture and get close enough to see any possible problems. When you can inspect the light fixture, check for these visible problems.

Before you begin working on the light fixture, turn off the power to the light. If you are testing the light, be careful working around an energized fixture. Working on a fixture with power can be extremely dangerous.

Once you make any repairs to your motion-sensing light fixture, it needs testing. Daylight is a much easier time to work on a light fixture. However, the photoelectric cell will turn off the power to the light. A properly working photoelectric cell can make testing difficult during the daytime.

You can place a small piece of black electrical tape over the photoelectric cell to trick the computer into thinking it is dark. Playing this trick on the computer will allow you to check the functionality and settings on your light fixture without waiting until dark.

Remember when you remove the tape after testing your light fixture to make sure you clean any tape adhesive residue from the photoelectric cell lens. This adhesive can attract and hold dirt and debris if left on the light fixture.