A PIR motion sensor lets compatible linear high bay lights respond to movement instead of staying at the same output throughout the day. It can be useful in intermittently occupied aisles, storage areas, and work zones where lighting needs change as people come and go.
This guide explains how the JC-LGL PIR Motion Sensor works, which fixture configurations include it, and how to choose settings that suit your space.
1. How Does the JC-LGL Linear High Bay PIR Sensor Work?
The JC-LGL PIR Motion Sensor controls a compatible fixture’s occupied, dimmed, and off states based on motion and the selected daylight and timing settings. It connects at the fixture’s sensor base and detects movement through changes in infrared energy.
The following sequence describes timed operation with a finite standby period, as documented in the PIR sensor manual. Daylight control can affect activation and standby behavior.
detected again
How Does the Daylight Sensor Setting Affect Motion Activation?
The Daylight Sensor setting determines whether the fixture needs to turn on when motion is detected. If the space already has enough ambient light, the fixture may remain off. Test the setting under normal daytime conditions to make sure the light turns on when additional lighting is needed.
Note — Smart Daylight: This is a separate function described in the sensor manual. When enabled, low ambient light can turn the fixture on at standby level without movement, and motion raises it to occupied output. After the hold time it returns to unlimited standby; sufficient ambient light switches it off, even if the area is occupied. It does not follow a finite standby countdown to shutoff.
For timed shutoff, use a finite standby period and confirm that daylight control permits the expected activation.
2. Do You Need to Buy a PIR Sensor and Programmer Separately?
PIR is included with a Motion Sensor fixture configuration; a compatible programmer is purchased separately when you need to change settings. For a fixture without Motion Sensor, buy a compatible PIR sensor separately if you want occupancy control. Check the selected product option before ordering.
| Your selection or need | What to buy |
|---|---|
| Fixture without Motion Sensor | If you want occupancy control, buy the appropriate PIR sensor separately. Confirm the fixture model and sensor connection; wattage alone does not determine compatibility. |
| Fixture with Motion Sensor | PIR is included. For example, the Motion Sensor fixture configuration includes the sensor; another PIR purchase is unnecessary for that fixture. |
| Need to change sensor settings | Purchase a compatible remote programmer separately if you do not already have access to one. |
A remote programmer is only needed when you want to change the sensor settings. The PIR sensor can operate with its existing settings without keeping the programmer nearby.
Choose the fixture configuration first, then add only the sensor or programming tool your setup requires.
3. Which PIR Sensor Settings Should You Start With?
Start with the factory settings: a 5-minute hold time, 30% standby brightness, and a 60-minute standby period. Use them as a starting point for testing worker movement and task duration, then adjust as needed. The PIR sensor manual documents these values; an already reprogrammed sensor may have different settings.
| Setting | Factory value | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Hold time | 5 minutes | How long the light remains at full output after the last detected movement. |
| Standby brightness | 30% | The reduced light output during standby. |
| Standby period | 60 minutes | The time spent dimmed before switching off in timed corridor operation. |
When Should You Increase or Shorten Hold Time?
Increase Hold Time for tasks with little movement; consider a shorter delay for quick passage. Hold Time is adjustable from 10 seconds to 60 minutes, with several preset intervals in between. Shorter settings may suit areas used mainly for quick passage. Longer settings can help prevent unwanted dimming when workers spend time reading labels, handling stock, or staying in one place with little movement. Test the chosen delay during normal work.
Set standby brightness for the visibility needed during quieter periods, and choose a finite standby period if you want timed shutoff. 30% brightness does not mean measured electrical consumption is 30% of full power.
How Do You Change PIR Sensor Settings?
Use a compatible remote programmer to adjust hold time, standby brightness, standby period, and supported daylight or sensitivity settings. The RC-100 Sensor Remote Control Programmer is the separately sold tool for configuring supported JC-LGL sensors.
When changing sensor settings, stay within the specified remote range. The PIR sensor manual lists up to 50 ft (15 m) indoors under its stated “no backlight” condition. This is a remote-control range, not the PIR motion detection range.
One programmer can configure multiple compatible fixtures. Test changes on one fixture before applying the same setup to similar areas. Different work patterns may need different settings. For button-by-button programming and transfer instructions, see the RC-100 manual.
Keep settings that work during normal tasks; change the relevant parameter when testing reveals a specific problem.
4. How High Can the JC-LGL Linear High Bay PIR Sensor Be Mounted?
The JC-LGL PIR sensor supports a maximum mounting height of 40 ft (12 m). Actual detection performance depends on mounting height, aisle layout, line of sight, and movement patterns. Compare the sensor’s detection pattern with your space, then verify coverage on site.
Tall shelving and equipment can block the sensor’s view. Check aisle entrances, cross-aisle transitions, rack ends, and task positions. Someone standing still or making small movements may be harder to detect than someone walking.
If normal movement is not detected reliably, check the sensor’s view and mounting position first. Extending a timer will not correct a blocked view. For fixture installation planning, see the Linear High Bay Installation Guide.
How Do You Confirm Coverage Before Repeating the Setup?
Test normal movement, realistic task pauses, and the selected lighting sequence in one representative area before applying the setup elsewhere.
- Walk the normal approach routes and perform a typical task, including realistic pauses.
- Leave the area and observe the selected hold time, standby brightness, and shutoff behavior.
- Check for triggers from adjacent activity, then record the accepted configuration and verify it at each location.
A mounting height within the specified limit is only the starting point; reliable detection must be confirmed in the actual layout.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
For unexpected sensor behavior, first check daylight conditions, detection coverage, and the selected operating mode and timing settings.
Why Doesn't the Light Turn On When Someone Enters?
Motion alone may not turn the light on when daylight control is enabled. If ambient light is above the selected Daylight Sensor threshold, the fixture may remain off even when movement is detected. If the area is dark enough but the light still does not respond, check the sensor’s detection area, mounting position, and selected settings.
Why Does the Light Dim While Someone Is There?
The sensor may be missing small movements, or the hold time may be too short. Start with a walking test. If walking is detected but a stationary task leads to dimming, increase the hold time. If walking is missed too, check the sensor’s view, position, and mounting height. Where daylight control is enabled, also consider whether ambient light is affecting activation.
Why Does the Light Stay On?
The standby period may still be running, nearby movement may be restarting the timer, or the selected mode may use unlimited standby. First check the operating mode and both timing settings. A manual override can also prevent the normal automatic sequence.
Why Did Changing the Settings Have No Effect?
The change may not have reached the sensor, or the selected parameter may not apply to its current mode. First check that the programmer and parameter are supported and that the transfer was completed according to the manual. Then repeat the relevant motion or timing test. If behavior is unchanged, contact support with the fixture version, intended setting, and observed result.
Conclusion
PIR lighting responds to motion together with the selected daylight and timing settings. In timed operation, those settings determine whether the light turns on, how long it stays bright, and when it dims or switches off. Reliable response also depends on a clear sensor view of the occupied area.
The selected fixture configuration determines whether PIR is included. A compatible remote programmer is a separate tool for changing settings, and one can serve multiple compatible fixtures; it is not needed for the sensor’s ongoing operation.
For help selecting or configuring your setup, contact support@jclgl-led.com with your fixture version and application details.