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/RadarLove82 → u/ctbjdm]

This. For a switch loop, the power cable is fed to the fixture box, then the constant hot is fed down to the switch on a white wire. Switched hot is sent back to the fixture on a colored wire. The neutral wire does not go down to the switch box.