Choose your outdoor infrared sensor (PIR sensor)

Your infrared sensor (PIR sensor) utilises passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect heat radiatioh of moving human bodies. Upon detection, the connected lighting load wil illuminate for a user-determined time period. An in-built daylight sensor (Photoelectric Cell) ensures operation and detection

only atnight.

How to choose your outdoor infrared sensor(PIR sensor)?

Core considerations:

1. Detection range (coverage) - the most important!

This refers to the area where sensors can effectively detect human movement, including detection distance and detection angle.

1) Detection angles: Common ones include 90 °, 120 °, 180 °, 240 °, and even 360 °. You need to choose based on the characteristics of the installation location.

Corridors and porches: Choose narrow angles (such as 90 ° -120 °) to avoid detecting unnecessary areas (such as sidewalks).

In front of courtyards, backyards, and garages: choose wide-angle (180 ° -240 °) or even wall mounted full angle (360 °) for maximum coverage.

2) Detection range: ranging from a few meters to over twenty meters.

Entrance/small path: 5-8 meters is sufficient.

Lane/Courtyard: Requires a length of at least 10 meters, or even 20 meters.

Tip: When purchasing, check the "Detection Range Map" in the product manual, which is more intuitive than just numbers.

2. Installation location and method

1) Wall mounted: The most common type, installed on walls, under eaves, and on the side of columns. Suitable for illuminating entrances, lanes, and courtyard areas.

2) Wall corner installation: Specially designed for installation in wall corners, it can achieve almost 180 ° coverage and eliminate detection blind spots.

3) Ceiling mounted/suspended: Installed under the ceiling or canopy, providing 360 ° panoramic coverage. Very suitable for enclosed courtyards, patios, or garage interiors.

3. Protection level (IP level)

Outdoor use must be waterproof and dustproof! Please make sure to choose products that meet the IP rating standards.

IP65: Completely dust-proof and able to prevent low-pressure water jets from all directions. This is the minimum standard for outdoor sensors, which can cope with daily rain and snow.

IP66: It can resist stronger water jets (such as heavy rainstorm and sea waves).

Suggestion: Choose products with IP65 or higher rating directly to ensure durability.

4. Lighting and sensing settings (adjustable)

A good sensor should provide flexible adjustment options to meet different needs.

1) Sensitivity adjustment:

Function: Adjust the sensitivity of the sensor to moving objects.

How to use: Increasing sensitivity can detect small movements further away; Lowering it can avoid accidental triggering caused by small animals (cats, dogs) or distant tree branches shaking.

2) Delay time adjustment:

Function: Adjust the duration for which the light remains on after the last detected movement.

How to use: It can range from a few seconds to over ten minutes. Setting between 30 seconds and 2 minutes is commonly used to ensure that you have enough time to walk to the door or garage.

3) Environmental light sensitivity adjustment (Lux value adjustment):

Function: Make the sensor only work when the ambient light is below a certain brightness.

How to use: Ensure that it only starts at night or dusk, and does not light up even if someone passes by during the day, thus saving energy.

5. Power supply mode

1) Hardwire connection (wired): It is necessary to connect the home circuit. The most stable and reliable, without the need to replace the battery, it is the preferred choice for most fixed installations. But it requires some electrical knowledge or professional installation.

2) Battery powered (wireless): Extremely flexible installation, no wiring required. Suitable for areas with temporary use or wiring difficulties. The disadvantage is that the battery needs to be replaced regularly, and its performance may decrease in extremely cold weather.

3) Solar charging: environmentally friendly and convenient, usually an upgraded version powered by batteries. Good products can achieve self-sufficiency, but the initial cost is relatively high.

6. Additional features (optional)

1) Anti pet function: Filter out the movement of animals under a certain weight (such as<20kg/40kg) or height through algorithms, greatly reducing false alarms. A must-have for those who have pets at home!

2) Anti white light interference: Avoid direct exposure of strong light sources such as car headlights to the sensor, which may cause it to malfunction.

3) Intelligent linkage: Some high-end or intelligent models support Wi Fi or Zigbee connections, which can be linked with mobile apps to achieve remote viewing of trigger records, custom scenarios, etc. If pursuing intelligence, it can be considered.

4) Dual sensor technology: Combining infrared sensing (PIR) and microwave sensing (Radar), the two complement each other. PIR may miss slow movement, while Radar is insensitive to stationary objects and can penetrate glass. Dual technology greatly reduces false positive and false negative rates, but at a higher price.

To purchase a suitable infrared sensor (PIR sensor), it is necessary to clarify one's own needs and determine the appropriate parameters.

A good outdoor infrared sensor (PIR sensor) can bring great convenience to your life!‌