| After the door and window alarms, indoor motion | | | | Dual -- One of the frequent issues in indoor motion |
| detectors are a primary feature of good, effective | | | | detectors is with the family pets. These sensors |
| home security system. Unfortunately, many people | | | | have to be able to distinguish between the |
| are leery of motion detectors. They either think they | | | | movement of a family member and that of an animal |
| are "too" hi-tech and therefore not affordable, or | | | | in the house (say a cat or a dog). These dual sensors |
| they've had negative experiences with too many | | | | utilize microwave and infrared technologies and are |
| "false alarms" by accidental triggering. | | | | able to ignore movements that should not trigger the |
| The truth is, motion detectors are available based on | | | | alarm system. |
| a variety of technologies and covering a wide range | | | | Ultrasonic -- These sensors can be one of two types. |
| of prices. These devices have also become much | | | | They can either emit high frequency sound (called an |
| more dependable and efficient as technologies have | | | | active sensor) or they can detect sounds (called a |
| advanced. | | | | passive sensor). Being among the most sensitive |
| Here are the various kinds of indoor motion | | | | motion detectors available they are also among the |
| detectors available.. | | | | most costly. For that reason alone, they are not |
| Infrared -- Though magnetic sensors are the most | | | | typically not found in home applications. |
| common in home security systems (used for door | | | | Shock -- Typically these are not thought of as a |
| and window alarms), infrared sensors are the most | | | | motion detectors because they are not detecting the |
| frequently used in motion detectors. These sensors | | | | movement of people, but of air. More commonly |
| are designed to detect radiated heat and are often | | | | known as glass break sensors, these actually detect |
| referred to as PIR sensors, or passive infrared | | | | the shock wave created when a window is broken |
| sensors. The fact that this particular technology is so | | | | and so they are often referred to as "glass break |
| cheap and reliable has made it standard choice among | | | | sensors". These devices are sometimes called "sound" |
| most security systems. | | | | or "acoustic" sensors. Many times they are used as a |
| Microwave -- Microwave sensors are able to detect | | | | redundant monitor for the magnetic sensors typically |
| movement by emitting microwave energy. | | | | used for windows. |
| Microwave energy does have its shortcomings. For | | | | Though the best case scenario is to keep the |
| instance, it is able to penetrate walls which allows it | | | | potential home intruder out of your home, |
| to detect motion in other rooms. The most frequent | | | | sometimes they do gain entrance. When that |
| application of this type of sensor is in automatic | | | | happens, it is critical to be alerted to any |
| doors as seen in many retail businesses. But, | | | | "unauthorized" movement in your home. Indoor |
| combined with other technologies (see below) it is still | | | | motion detectors play a vital role in home security. |
| quite useful in home applications as well. | | | | |