Intrusion Motion Sensors Tutorial

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Oct 04, 2016

Motion sensors are one of the most common, and most useful alarm sensors, but they also often cause problems. Many motion sensors types exist and their suitability vary across applications. As such, knowing the differences in types and what impacts performance is key.

In this note, we examine:

  • 5 main sensor technology types including PIR, Multi-Tech, Photoelectric, Laser and Tomographic
  • 3 major factors that impact detection areas - detector type, interference tolerance and environmental impacts
  • 4 typical areas where motion detectors are used (offices, warehouses / large indoor areas, residential and perimeters), and which types are best

We address sensor limitations, prices, and more inside.

****** ******* *** *** of *** **** ******, and **** ****** ***** sensors, *** **** **** often ***** ********. **** motion ******* ***** ***** and ***** *********** **** across ************. ** ****, knowing *** *********** ** types *** **** ******* performance ** ***.

** **** ****, ** examine:

  • * **** ****** ********** types ********* ***, *****-****, Photoelectric, ***** *** ***********
  • * ***** ******* **** impact ********* ***** - detector ****, ************ ********* and ************* *******
  • * ******* ***** ***** motion ********* *** **** (offices, ********** / ***** indoor *****, *********** *** perimeters), *** ***** ***** are ****

** ******* ****** ***********, prices, *** **** ******.

[***************]

Sensor **** *****

****** ****** ******* *** use *** ** ******* methods ** ********* ********. In ***** *****, *** theory ** ********** ****** these *****:

  • ***:******* ***************, *** **** ****** type ** ****** ******, monitor ******* ** *** level ** ******** ****** in *** ***** ****. The ****** ** ********* to **** ****** ************ changes ***** ********* ******** an ****** ****** ******* a ********* ****. **** PIRs **** **** **** $30.
  • *****-**** (*******/ *********): ** **** *****, sensors **** **** *** detection ****** *** ***** to ********* *****. ** combat ****, **** ****** sensors ****** ******** ********* including ***** ********* ** doppler ******* **** **** also ****** ******** ** order ** ** ********** triggered ** ** ***** system. ********* ** ******* sensors **** *** ********* energy ** ***** ***** to *******, *** *** prone ** ***** ******** on ***** ***; *** coupled **** *** ** even ** **** ******* improves ********* *********** ** that ****** ****** *****. Most *****-**** ******* **** less **** $***, ***** residential ***** ******* **** than $**.
  • *************: **** ****** '****** Infrared' *******, ** ******* differ **** **** ** the **** **** ***** when *** **** **** emit ** ***********. ** sensors ******* ******** ******* and ********/********* *****, *** they ******* ******* ******* in *** ****** ** light ****** ******** ****** what ** *******. *********, PE ***** ***** ** price **** $* (***** indoor) ** $***+ (**** range *******) *** ****.
  • *****: *********** * ****-******* variation ** ************* *******, infrared ***** ******* **** and ******* ******* ****** of ******, **** ** terms ** ***** *** distance. ***** ****** ***** can ** ****** ***** for ******* ********* *****. These ******* *** *********, usually $*** - $**** for * ****** ****.
  • ***********: **** **** ** sensor **** ********* ********* over * ***** **** to ******* ********. ***** sensors **** *** ***** benefit ** ********* ******* non-organic ***** ******* **** walls, *****, ** ******* and*** **** ***** **** providers **********. ***** ***** ******* must ** ********* ** a *******, **** ***** mesh ******** ******* **** $300 - $**** *** room.

Detection ******** ****

*** **** ******** *** any ***** *********** ******* on * ****** ** factors **** ********* *** effective **** *******. *** shape *** ******** ** the ********* **** **** between *******, *** *** often ******** ** **** sheet ******** **** ****:

** *******, *** ********* area ******* *******:

******** ****: **** ************ ****** a **** ****, ***** others **** ****** ** a ****** ****. *** example * '*****' *** may ****** * ***** 20 **** *** *** runs **** **** $**, compared ** ** ** laser **** **** *** detect ** ** ** that ********, *** ** a ****** ******* *** at **** *** *****. Also, ** **** *****, the *********, ***********, *** configuration ** *** ****** itself ** * *** cost ******. ** *******, fixed ********* ***** ** false ****** *** ***********, but ***** ******* **** configurable ********* *****, ******** detection ************, ** ******** sensor ***** **** ***** or *********** *** *** most *********.

************ *********:*** **** ***** ** sensors, ****** ******* ** light ** **** *** impact ****** ***********. *** example,******* ** ************* ******** by ****** **** ***** or **** *******. *******, common *********** **** ******* trash *** ***** ****** alarms. ** ***** ****, more ****** *** **** expensive ******* *** ** required.

************* *******:**** **** **** *** difference ******* '******' ** 'outdoor' ***** ** *** the ********* *********** *** impact ***********. ********* **** humidity, ********** ********, ***********, and ************* *** ****** detection ********. *** *******, while * ** **** detector *** ** ******** for * **** *********** range, * ****-**** ***** unit *** **** ********* range ********* ** *** weather.

**** ***** ********* ** mind, ******** ******** ***** can ** ******* ** typical *********** ****. ** examine *** **** ****** ones *****.

Choosing *** ***** ******

** *** ******** *****, sensor ********* ***** ** cost, ***********, *** *********** for ****** *** ***** are ********* ** ******:

********** ******* ** *****/****** Rooms

*** ******* ****** ** cubicle *****, **** *** often *** **** ****** based ** *** ***** ($10-$50 ****), *** ******* their ******** ************* ** focusing ****** *****, ** indoor ****** ***** ********* does *** ******* **. Indeed, ***** ****** ******** that ***** ******* *** PIRs ******** **** ******* trash, *** *******, ** animals *** **** ********* not ******** ** *************** controlled *** ********* ******.

***** *** ******* ** security, *** ******* **** are **** *** ******** control ******** ** '********* sensors' **** ******* ****** on ** *** ********* on ****** ** *** room. ** **** *****, the ******** ** ***** PIRs ** *** **** room *** ***** ***** triggering ** *****-***** **** intrusion ****, *** ****** these ******* ****** ********* troubleshooting *** ** *********.

********** ** ***** ****** Areas

**** *********** **** * key **** ** ***** sensor **** ** **** for ***** *****. ** the **** ** ******** over * ***** ****, then * *** ** even ******** *** **** are ***** ******. *******, the ******** ******* ** using **** ******* *** often ** ******* ** selecting ******* **** **** detect ******** ** ********** points, **** ******** ***** or *******. *** *******, the ******* ********* ***** below:

*** **** ****** *** range **** *****-********** ***** to ****** **** ****** or ************** ***** *** detection **** ********.

**********, *****, ** ******

*** *********** ************, '*** immunity' ***** ******* ***. Unlike ********** ****** ***** small ******* ******* *** not ******, ****** ****** they ***. '*** ******' sensor ********** ******* *** tuned ** *** ******* alarms ** ******** ***** a ******* **** ** detected (**: ** ******), or ****** *' - 5' ** *** *****, where ******* ********* ****.

******* *** ********* ***** is ***** '****** ****' to ***** ***** ******** on ****, **** *** not ** *** '**** security' ****** *** ********** environments ***** *** ********** detection ***** ** *********** could ** * *******.

******** **********

**** ***** ****** ******, outdoor **** ********* ***** are ********** ** **** assessment. ***** *** ******* need ** ****** ********** at ********* ******** **** gates ********** ******, ****** **** ***-******* devices *** ****. ******* of ***** ***********, **** may *** ** ** effective ** *************, *****, or ***********/***** *********.

******* ** *** **** variation ** ************ *** distances ** *****, **** situations *** **** ** make *** ** ***** detection ******* **********, ********** ***** *****,***** ****, ********* ******* *** *********.

Video ***********

** **** *****, ****** sensors *** ** ****** to ***** ************ ******* too. ****** ******* **** are ********* *** ****** inputs ***** **** ***** cameras **** ********* ** triggering ********* **** ****** detection *****, ********** ** very **** ******.

******, **** ******* *** equipped **** ********** ****** detectors ** *** ****** housing, ** **** ********** LEDs ** **** ******** illuminators *** ********* ** movement ** ****** ** 'hard ** ***' **** image ******* ***** ***** miss ****:

** ***** ************, ****** sensors *** ** ******** over * ***** ****, and **** *** ********** sensor ** *********, *** nearest *** ****** ** 'targeted' ** **** ********. Such ************ *** ***** substantial *** **** ***** at *** *** ** monitoring ****** ****** **** to *** ****** ******, but *** ******** *** be **** ********* ** covering ***** ******* ********** using *** ****** ****** of ********* **** ** supplanting **** **** ****** sensors **** **** *** or *** ****.

** ******* *** ******* in ****** **** ******** **** + ******* Guide.

Comments (10)

Undisclosed #1

10/04/16 02:59pm

What are some of the more reliable photoelectric sensors out there? I can only find a Honeywell one that could be used for skylights.

Avatar

Mark McRae

Inaxsys Security Systems | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/04/16 10:29pm

Optex make the most reliable and performant photoelectric sensors that I have been exposed to

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/05/16 02:40pm

In addition to Optex, Takex is another option for commercial detection.

Avatar

Patrick Hart

IPVMU Certified | 10/05/16 02:35am

high-tech laser unit may have detection range shortened in hot weather.

Hi Brian,

I think this should read Passive Infrared not laser. The laser is not effected by heat, wind or light. The laser also generates x/y coordinates that tell you the exact location of an event. This reduces the expense by lowering costs.

Avatar

Brian Anderson

IPVMU Certified | 10/05/16 03:17am

Outdoor detection, SpotterRF is the BEST way to go. That tech is amazing.

Darryl Howse

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Brian Anderson | 10/05/16 10:05am

Brian

I am glad I saw your comment re SpotterRF.

Looks like a great product from what I have seen.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Darryl Howse | 10/05/16 02:31pm

For all, we have several articles on SpotterRF:

Low Cost Radar / Analytics Replacement (SpotterRF)

SpotterRF 7X Radar Increase

Darryl Howse

IPVMU Certified | 10/05/16 09:46am

Anyone have any links or information on covert motion detectors? i.e, ones that are outdoor rated, have black or dark fresnel lens and are generally designed to be hidden?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Darryl Howse | 10/05/16 02:37pm

I have used Optex PE beam outdoor units in the past, similar to these:

Is that what you mean, or something different?

Darryl Howse

IPVMU Certified | 10/05/16 07:03pm

Thanks Brian,

Is an option, but all my work is in the rural / wilderness area including forestry.

Will do some research on these and see if they are a fit.

Most of my solutions I use are modified for a purpose.

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