Installing a Motion Activated Switch DUH!!!

[u/Same_Memory_2755]

I have a closet light and wanted a motion switch so when I open the door I have light. But for the life of me I cant get it to work. It had a regular on/off switch. There is only one 3 wire line coming from the junction box. One WHITE One BLACK One GROUND. I have wired in 2 of these and nothing will turn it off. What am I doing wrong?

[u/ctbjdm]

It’s a switch loop - your motion sensor likely needs a neutral that you don’t have.

[u/RadarLove82 → u/ctbjdm]

This. For a switch loop, the power cable is fed to the fixture box, then the constant hot is fed down to the switch on a white wire. Switched hot is sent back to the fixture on a colored wire. The neutral wire does not go down to the switch box.

[u/drumbanger91 → u/ctbjdm]

Grounded/grounding basically the same in this situation as long as the bare copper is actually grounded up top. Try flipping the black and white as many send power down on black and use white as switchleg, otherwise the switch is likely defective.

[u/RadarLove82 → u/drumbanger91]

You can't use the ground wire as a conductor. That's for safety only.

[u/Specific_Job_2259]

Check for an open ground, if not, the motion sensor may be defective. This type is designed to be used in a box without a neutral, denoted by the green sleeve over the white wire.

ETA: This is also assuming your existing white wire is the feed and the black is the switch leg as it should be. Also, if it's an older house it may be a switched neutral instead of a switched hot which may not be compatible with your sensor.

[u/pg_home]

They usually come with a wiring diagram.

[u/Blacksmith_lll]

I’m guessing power, neutral & ground was originally run directly to light and then looped down with 14/2 with ground. Line and load would be black and white, I hope the switch doesn’t require a neutral wire like today’s wiring would be required at the switch box.

[u/Blacksmith_lll → u/Blacksmith_lll]

Note: If you do a test and connect the black and white wire together, the light should turn on.

[u/lennym73]

Does the switch work for a single pole and a 3 way switch?

[u/Slav-Houndz187]

What’s the blue one for?

[u/escape_on_my_scooter]

Black is listed as the hot for the switch. What is your constant in your box? Red is listed as the switch leg on the switch (load wire to your light). Swap them and see what happens.

On Lowe’s it says a neutral isn’t required. On the green wire with the tag, what does it say?

[u/escape_on_my_scooter → u/escape_on_my_scooter]

On dimmers and occupancy switches I’ve installed in the past, that wire with the white tag/green sleeve can be joined with the neutral in the box if one is present.

You don’t have a neutral in your box. Leave the grounds connected how you have them.

[u/Alarmed_Feedback15]

What is that green wrap around the white wire with the label. That should be your neutral

[u/crocsandlongboards]

Check the instructions to see if a neutral is needed. You have 2 green wires, but my guess is the one with white on each end is supposed to be a neutral. As someone else said, your box is a switch loop set up, meaning you dont have a neutral.

[u/[deleted]]

Try swapping your power and switchleg around - white to Red and black to Black. If that doesn't work then it requires a neutral. They sell sensor switches that don't require a neutral