Outdoor Motion Sensors: Effective, Or Prone To False Alarms?
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When it comes to home security, we are firm believers in perimeter protection (that is, designing your alarm system so that the alarm is triggered before a burglar enters your home, not after). But what about going one step further, and have your alarm activate if a potential thief even sets foot on your lawn? Or gets too close to your home? We definitely don't mean installing a standard motion sensor on the outside of your house, as this would never work (they're just not designed for this purpose). If you choose to go this route, you would need a motion sensor designed for the outdoors, with built-in safeguards to prevent false alarms.
Many of the bigger alarm companies won't install these units, only because they like to stick to a specific product line and don't have time for special requests. Local alarm companies are generally more flexible, and you should have better luck with them. One outdoor motion sensor we've had particular success with (in residential and commercial applications) is the Optex VX-402 Outdoor PIR (passive infra red) detector, although there are other manufacturers that produce units with similar features. Optex also offers a "stand alone" wireless device (RCTD10U) that does not require a home security system to function; although these are more appropriate for use as an annunciator system.
1. Your outdoor motion should have a built-in speaker, to announce a warning to intruders that they have been detected. Your technician should set the device to sound two or three warnings before your actual home security system goes into alarm.
2. Just about every motion detector has an adjustable detection area, whether it is designed for indoor or outdoor use. But for obvious reasons, this is especially important for outdoor motions. A unit installed in a strategic area with a smaller detection area will reduce false alarms.
3. The unit should have a minimum of two detection zones (right), to determine whether the object is indeed human, and not an animal, vehicle, etc.
4. Be sure the unit built for all-weather conditions, including extreme cold and heat. It should be able to compensate for higher ambient temperatures, especially when these temperatures approach those of the human body.
5. Having a detector with a wireless option can reduce installation costs but may not be as effective, especially in colder climates.
2. Just about every motion detector has an adjustable detection area, whether it is designed for indoor or outdoor use. But for obvious reasons, this is especially important for outdoor motions. A unit installed in a strategic area with a smaller detection area will reduce false alarms.
3. The unit should have a minimum of two detection zones (right), to determine whether the object is indeed human, and not an animal, vehicle, etc.
4. Be sure the unit built for all-weather conditions, including extreme cold and heat. It should be able to compensate for higher ambient temperatures, especially when these temperatures approach those of the human body.
5. Having a detector with a wireless option can reduce installation costs but may not be as effective, especially in colder climates.
Above:
A dual zone detector will only go into alarm if both the upper and lower zones are activated.
A dual zone detector will only go into alarm if both the upper and lower zones are activated.
What Features Should An Outdoor Motion Sensor Have To Prevent False Alarms?
How To Ensure Your Security System And Outdoor Motion Sensor Work Together Efficiently:
We only want our outdoor motion detector to scare off potential intruders, and not have the police alerted. To do this effectively, have your alarm company set up your system so that:
1. The first, second, and third detection will emit an alarm or warning from the outdoor unit's speaker;
2. The fourth detection will emit an alarm from your home security system's siren (this is where an outdoor siren and/or strobe light comes in handy).
3. Police will not be dispatched if the monitoring center receives a signal from the zone that the outdoor motion is assigned to. Of course, if any other device (door, window contacts, etc) is tripped, police will be notified.
1. The first, second, and third detection will emit an alarm or warning from the outdoor unit's speaker;
2. The fourth detection will emit an alarm from your home security system's siren (this is where an outdoor siren and/or strobe light comes in handy).
3. Police will not be dispatched if the monitoring center receives a signal from the zone that the outdoor motion is assigned to. Of course, if any other device (door, window contacts, etc) is tripped, police will be notified.
Above:
Optex VX-402 Outdoor PIR Detector
Optex VX-402 Outdoor PIR Detector
Where Can I Get An Outdoor Motion Sensor?