Motion sensor lighting in garage

[dr4zy]

I've been thinking of ways to make my garage lighting a little smarter. Right now, I've just got the standard overhead lights wired to a switch, but I'd love if they could automatically come on when I either pull the car in or open the garage door, like the kind a setup where the regular garage lights (and not just a separate motion light) would come on whenever motion is detected or the door activates.
I've looked at a few motion sensing fixtures, but most of them are standalone floodlights rather than something that ties into the existing garage lighting. What I'm picturing in my head, I'd like a solution that works with the fixtures I already have, maybe a smart switch, relay, or sensor that can trigger the circuit without me touching the wall switch.
Would love to hear some inputs, thanks to you all

 

[Power_Grafh]

You don't need to swap your fixtures. Just throw in a smart switch or a motion-sensing relay in place of the wall switch and you're done. That way your existing lights kick on when motion or a trigger is detected, instead of adding a whole new floodlight.

 

[PeppyBlueBear]

Just make sure your sensor / switch can handle the load (LEDs, ballasts, etc.), that it’s rated for garage environment (dust, temp), and that it has override/manual mode. You don’t want lights stuck off if the sensor fails.

 

[c4peCodder]

@dr4zy if you want to automate your existing garage lights using your current fixtures, the simplest solution is to replace your existing wall switch with a smart motion sensor switch or a more comprehensive smart home system using separate sensors and a smart switch or relay.

 

[Alan]

A lot of folks end up using a smart switch plus a ceiling-mounted motion sensor so the lights behave exactly like normal but still kick on automatically. Works well if you want to keep your existing fixtures and avoid the floodlight look. Do you want the lights to stay on for a set time after motion, or turn off as soon as the garage is still?

 

[barfle]

Way back when (late 1970s), I “automated” my garage lights. I had bought four 2-tube flourescent lights (state of the art at the time) to replace the single incandescent bare-bulb fixture in my first garage. I then paralleled the wall switch with a relay powered by the garage door opener. I had a little neon pilot light in the ceiling so I could tell that the opener had kicked in to avoid having the lights flicker if I turned them off too soon.

Oh, the opener was a Heathkit! Definitely no app involved..

So I had plenty of light to work with in the garage, plenty of light when I came home, but I didn’t have to leave all those flourescents on all the time.