History of Motion Sensors
Motion sensors have been used with alarm systems since the 1970s. Back then, motion sensors were based on ultrasonic technology. Sound waves were emitted from a sensor, and the resulting reflected sounds were analyzed to detect changes. When a change was detected, the motion sensor notified the alarm system’s control panel (or whatever it was connected to). These ultrasonic sensors were frequently blamed for triggering false alarms. A phone ringing, an alarm clock sounding, or the heating system coming on could cause a false alarm. A better solution was needed.
The best solution found and used today is based upon infrared technology (abbreviated “IR”). Other technologies based on microwave and radar were tried, but they never gained the popularity of infrared technology. Infrared sensors began to appear on the market in the 1980s. When they first came out, they were somewhat expensive, but as production ramped up and more manufacturers found ways to use them for different applications, the price dropped quickly. The most popular consumer uses of IR sensors are for motion-sensing floodlights.
How Motion Sensors Work
IR sensors look for the presence of human heat moving across their field of view. The sensors are passive, which means that they are looking for the movement. Unlike radar and ultrasonic systems that emit a signal and look for a reflection, IR sensors just receive.
All IR sensors have some common ratings and specifications. The first is the detection pattern or the field of view. This defines how wide or narrow the IR sensor can detect. Typically, they look like the image on the right.
The Problem Using IR Sensors Outdoors
If motion sensors are so much better now than the early ultrasonic models, why can’t they be used outdoors with an alarm system? Strangely, it still comes down to the issue of reliability. With motion-detecting floodlights, if the sensor false alarms, the only consequences are the lights’ coming on for a few minutes. If an IR sensor connected to an alarm system falses, the sirens are set off and in some cases, the police may be dispatched to investigate. The noise of the sounding alarm sirens will surely irritate your neighbors. You don’t want a mob burning down your home because the alarm system is going off constantly!
When IR motion sensors are used outdoors, they are more likely to cause false alarms. The most common cause of a false trip is rapidly changing weather conditions. For example, when a warm winds blows across the X10 Motion Sensing Floodlights , it’s not uncommon for them to trip on. Not only do the floodlights come on, but so do the X10 devices inside the house that are set to X10 addresses controlled by those floodlights. This is acceptable since no noise is being produced.
There are some alternatives to IR sensors that can be used outdoors that will decrease the likelihood of false alarms. The IR bea...
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