Outside Lights

[barmy]

I have 2 outside lights which are on movement sensors, is there anyway I can put them on a switch so that I can put them on full time if necessary, say when dining out in the garden.
Thanks

[Canary42]

These frequently have some sort of method of making light constant, instructions come with the kit (usually consist of a certain way of switching, like on off on within 5 seconds or something similar.)

[woofgang]

only if you have the kind where the off timer can be turned off. Some also have a timer function where you can delay them being turned off after they have been activated but even then they will turn off eventually

[douglas9401]

Back when electricity was cheap I had halogen lights on which the 'off' could be defeated by simply switching on/off/on. Don't know how much good it did the lamps but it worked.

[ivor4781]

think the only way to do this i by climbing a ladder and fiddling with the timmer. NOT worth it

[jon1968]

Are they switched already or just wired in. I've got three different types of exterior lights and doing the off/on/off/on thing in quick succession overrides the timer function.

[The Builder]

If the lights don't have the necessary circuitry to override the sensor, then there's another way.
You'll have a 2-core cable to the light, giving a neutral and permanent live. This needs to be changed to a 3-core (plus, of course, the earth.) The extra core would have a switched live from a switch sited wherever you like.

When the switch is off, the light works on the sensor (permanent live). When switched on, current flows directly to the lamp, bypassing the sensor.

Sounds complicated, but any electrician would sort it in no time.

[barmy]

Thanks folk for your advice, The builder's answer is the way I want to go!