Do Motion Sensors Make The Right Detection?

Motion sensors are integral part of home automation and security systems. These sensors can easily detect sound and produce an alarm or switch on an image recording device. Drive way motion sensor is perhaps a common motion sensor device that we might have encountered in homes and offices or commercial establishments.

motion sensor lighting is also widely used to switch off lights when not needed and light up a passage or rooms when there is a need. Today wireless motion sensors, microwave motion sensor and infrared motion sensor alarms are gaining huge popularity. Let us see some more details on these motion sensors, how they work and does it make sense to invest in a device for your home.

How do Motion Sensors Work?

Motion sensors work on two major principles, PIR (Passive infrared sensor) and Dual-technology sensor . The most common motion sensor available in the market is passive infrared sensor. This sensor requires both heat and movement to set it off thus eliminating false alarms caused by vertical blinds, plants and the like. The motion sensor must be programmed to filter out normal motion – like varying lights, movement of pets from suspicious moments – especially during nights or when you are away.

The driveway motion sensor for example enables the garage door to open, switches on the light if it is dark and same way closes the door on your exit. It also opens the gate on your return, switches on the flood lights and the front yard lights and lights the drive way for you.

Types of Motion Sensors

There are many types of motion sensors from the simplest infrared detectors to the most sophisticated laser beams. These sensors serve mainly one purpose that is to detect the presence of some motion or some ‘body’ in the area it operates. This 'sensing' can be of something that happens at a specific location or one that occurs within a larger area. A specific location would be the door front – if someone steps on the doormat it could trigger a switch or an alarm. Area would refer to someone moving within the field of view of a particular sensor – perhaps the entire compound / driveway/ lawn of the house. It is large compared to location specific sensors.

In both cases – local as well as area the principle is the same - a simple electronic device which is sensitive to 'heat', or rather to the infrared light that is coming from warm /hot objects like humans or animals for example.

Continue to : How to Select and Install Motion Sensor Lighting

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