Last week we did a How2 on setting up the EagleEye Motion Sensor in your mailbox to recognize when the mail had arrived. After we posted the article up on the website, we received many emails asking for help setting up the motion sensor in the house to do various tasks. So we’re going to show you how to do just a couple of simple tasks using the HawkEye Motion Sensor.

So the first thing you’re going to need for this venture is a HawkEye Motion Sensor (MS13A), a X10 Transceiver (RR501 or TM751 or any X10 security base receiver), and a lamp of your own choosing. (It’s important to note here that the HawkEye is set, by default to detect motion at all times, day or night.) You can set it up so that it only works at night, or so that it goes from dusk to dawn. We’ll talk a little about each of those in this article.

If you choose any option beside the default, you will need to make sure that you put the HawkEye where it will see plenty of sunlight (or daylight if you live where there isn’t a lot of sunshine). You’ll also want to make sure you don’t place it too close to the light source it’s controlling, as that may create some interesting problems. It may cause the lights to come on, and then shut off. It could get quite annoying, although it could also make for an amusing evening.

To have the HawkEye turn the lights on at any time, you need only follow the next steps.

1. Set up the HawkEye Motion Sensor where you want it to see you. For example, if you want it to turn on the lights any time you enter the living room, then set it up near the living room entrance.
2. Then plug the Transceiver module into an AC outlet.
3. Plug the lamp into the Transceiver.
4. Make sure that you have the addresses all set to the same code (i.e. A1 to A1, etc.).

And you’re set up. Your motion sensor will now work any time it senses motion.

Now, if you want it to turn on the lights at dusk, and turn them off at dawn, here’s how you do that.

1. Follow steps 1 through 3.
2. Now, when you program the addresses, set the transceiver module code ONE NUMBER HIGHER. For instance, if the motion sensor is set to go off when there is motion, at A1, then it will turn on the lights when it becomes dark by setting the code to A2.

If you want the lights to only go on at night, while still using the motion sensor, then follow these steps.

Inside your HawkEye Motion Sensor, you will see two buttons. On the left, a "House/On" button, and on the right, a "Unit/Off" button.

1. The first thing you want to do is press the "Unit/Off" button once. The red LED light at the top of the motion sensor will flash.
2. Then press and hold the "House/On" button.
3. A green LED will turn on.

Three seconds later the HawkEye will report its dusk/dawn setting. Now you’re set only to sense motion at night.

When the HawkEye senses motion, here’s how the settings will look.

If the red LED blinks once, the HawkEye is set to detect motion at all times.

If the red LED blinks twice, the HawkEye is set to detect motion only when it’s dark.

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