Tip
Light sensors should work flawlessly and need little or no resets for the life of the fixture. If frequent resets are needed to keep the lights operating properly, clean the sensor unit with a damp cloth. If that doesn't solve the problem, the unit will need to be replaced.
Dusk-to-dawn lighting uses a light sensing photocell to operate your outdoor lights during dark hours. Motion sensor security lighting uses a motion sensor and a photocell to operate your exterior light for a predetermined amount of time once motion is detected. Manually overriding your dusk-to-dawn light turns it off, while overriding your motion sensing light causes it to remain on. A brief power outage lasting no more than one or two seconds also can override your lights. Either way, you can manually reset them.
Step 1
Flip off the light switch that powers the outdoor lights.
Step 2
Leave the light switch off for one second.
Step 3
Turn the light switch back on to reset the light sensors to auto.
Cecilia Harsch
Cecilia Harsch has been writing professionally since 2009. She writes mainly home improvement, health and travel articles for various online publications. She has several years of experience in the home-improvement industry, focusing on gardening, and a background in group exercise instruction. Harsch received her Certified Nurses Assistant license in 2004. She attended Tarrant County College and studied English composition.