How Do Motion Detectors Work?

December 8th, 2022

If you are looking into getting a security system for your home in Houston, TX, or you are interested in upgrading your current system, there are many features you can choose to have included in your package. 

One such feature is a motion detector. You may have heard of them in passing, but do you know how they work and how they can be beneficial to your home security?

Active and Passive Sensors

An active motion detector sends out a signal that is disrupted by movement. This means that when someone crosses the signal's path, the sensor is triggered, and it sets off an alarm. Passive motion detectors use infrared (PIR) sensors. These sensors are sensitive to infrared radiation and can detect body heat and changes in temperature. 

Sensors Are Triggered

When the sensors are triggered, what happens next really depends on the kind of setup you have. If the motion detectors are a part of a professionally monitored security system, then the monitoring center will notice the alarm and send the authorities even if they can't reach you.

If the motion detectors have a smart sensor that is separate from your home security system, you will get a notification on your mobile device. Then it is up to you to decide what happens next. If you aren't home, you can either call the police or have a trusted neighbor check things out for you.

Finally, if you have one of the more basic motion detectors and sensors, then it probably has a built-in siren and you have to be at home to hear it. You will not receive any notifications, and the sensor is not monitored.

Motion Detector Placement

In order for the motion detectors to do their job, they need to be properly installed and placed. When they are not properly installed, you may find a high risk of false alarms, if they even work well at all.

If you are using PIR motion sensors in Houston, they need to be kept away from any kind of heat source or you can have several false alarms. All sensors also should be installed near entryways and around walking paths where people will be passing by, and the sensors should be placed higher up so that pets and other animals can't accidentally set them off. 

Motion Detectors and Security Systems

Motion detectors and sensors are always going to work better when they are paired with a high-quality home security system that is being professionally monitored. If the alarm is triggered, you will find that with these systems, you will have much faster response times, and you can begin to eliminate the possibility of false alarms.

For more information on what security system and motion detectors would work best for your home in Houston, TX, then contact the security experts in your area today. They can walk you through all the options that are available to you and make sure everything is properly installed and working as it should.