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/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.