Table of Contents

Motion Triggered Porch Light

This short How-To will show you how to set up a motion triggered security light. Using Indigo's conditional logic, you will define the light to only come on if motion is detected after sunset, and using Indigo's auto-off functionality you will instruct Indigo to leave the porch light on for 30 minutes after motion is last detected.

Required Hardware

* Any X10 RF motion detector module: ActiveEye MS16A, HawkEye MS13, or EagleEye MS14

* X10 RF transceiver or receiver: TM751, V572AB, EZX10RF, W800RF32, MR26a, or CM15A

– OR –

* An INSTEON Motion Detector 2420M

* At least 1 AccessPoint RF

See the hardware section for hardware compatibility details and more information on the differences between the X10 RF receivers.

Specify the Motion Sensor's Auto-Off Duration

After you have defined the X10 or INSTEON motion sensor Device in Indigo:

  1. Manually set the auto-off duration of the motion sensor itself to the shortest possible duration. See the motion sensor's instructions for the steps on this, as it varies from module type to module type.
  2. Press the Edit Module Settings… button from inside the motion sensor's Device dialog.
  3. If you are using an INSTEON Motion Sensor, turn on the After delay of N minutes from when module last sent OFF checkbox, and enter 30 inside the duration edit field control. If you are using an X10 motion sensor, turn on the After delay of N minutes from when module last sent ON checkbox, and enter 30 inside the duration edit field control.

The motion sensor's state will now remain ON for a bit more than 30 minutes from when motion was last detected.

Defining the Motion Detected trigger

  1. Select Trigger Action List from the View menu
  2. Press the New… button at the top of the main window
  3. Name the trigger Front Porch Motion Detected
  4. Select Device State Changed from the trigger Type popup
  5. Select your motion sensor's Device name from the Device popup
  6. Select Becomes On from the popup below the Device's name.
  7. Choose the Condition tab
  8. Select the if dark radio button
  9. Choose the Action tab
  10. Select Control Light / Appliance from the action Type popup
  11. Select Turn On from the Action popup
  12. Select the name of your porch light from the Device popup

Defining the Motion Stopped trigger

  1. Press the New… button at the top of the main window
  2. Name the trigger Front Porch Motion Stopped
  3. Select Device State Changed from the trigger Type popup
  4. Select your motion sensor's Device name from the Device popup
  5. Select Becomes Off from the popup below the Device's name.
  6. Choose the Condition tab
  7. Select the if dark radio button
  8. Choose the Action tab
  9. Select Control Light / Appliance from the action Type popup
  10. Select Turn Off from the Action popup
  11. Select the name of your porch light from the Device popup


That is all there is to it. Now you have an intelligent, automated security light!