Motion detector placement

Proper placement of motion detectors is very important. I like to install motions in key areas that I call trap areas so you don’t need motions all throughout the home but in those key areas that can trap an intruder. When you place a motion in a hallway be careful which model number you use because motion detectors have several zones and some detectors will not activate if not enough zones are breached so someone walking straight down a hall with a normal 90 degree motion may not be as effective as using say a PG9924 curtain motion which can be adjusted just for hallways.

Companies that are used to selling quick systems may not have the experience to do this correct configuration.

Placing motions in the corners of specific rooms or in areas that will activate if someone comes up or down the stairs or in between areas of the home such as the kitchen living room will be the best placement. Take care to not mount motion detectors next to heating vents or in areas that will be looking at large plants that could heat up and move with the airflow of the home. New motion detectors are more effective than the old ones at avoiding false alarms. Make sure you dust and keep the motion detectors free of spider webs and dust on the lenses. Lenses can be masked to ignore specific areas when you have a problem area. Many motion detectors will have an effective distance of around 30 feet or even 40 feet. In commercial applications we often install motion detectors that are listed for 60 feet or greater and we have beam motions that are also very effective in certain circumstances.

Some motion detectors will not look through glass although installation companies will not specifically mount motions looking at windows but will mount them looking away from window areas. Many current wireless motions will indicate at the panel when the batteries need to be changed and some will last up to 7 years. Normally we advise against installing motions outside but we do have specific motion detectors that are rated for cold weather if you need to install a motion inside a non heated garage. I had a blockbuster account years ago that would false alarm when the sun was shining through the windows and that would heat up the mobile advertisements and those would begin to rotate and the motions would activate so in this case Blockbuster needed to take those mobiles down in the areas where the motion detectors where installed. Often balloons can cause a similar problem.

Some motions are IR and some are dual tech and others are tritech which look for motion and heat using microwave and other technologies including an analytical chip that can help them avoid false alarms. Some companies will tell you that motions can ignore pets up to certain weight classes. When you have pets it is best to design the system using motions that are made just for that purpose.

When testing motions know that there is a specific process because the wireless motions will go to sleep in order to save on battery life so they may appear like they are not working properly so the tech often will place a piece of paper over the motion in order to test it properly so it does not go to sleep. Having a professional company such as Peak Alarm install your alarm system will be the most prudent action.

Some people only use their security systems when they leave their home. Most burglars do not stop by entering one room from the outside through a window and taking something and then leaving. They go through the entire home looking for valuables. So placing motion detectors in every room or glass break sensors and door and window contacts at every door and window are great if you have the money to invest in a complete comprehensive intrusion system. Most people cannot afford to do that so they put motions in trap areas and they will catch a burglar in those areas and the alarm will activate. Some owners will decide to put a motion in one of their rooms where the door is shut because they have pets and don’t want to risk having false alarms even with pet motions. When someone enters through a window that does not have a contact and they open that specific door the motion will activate.

Burglars know that once the alarm system is activated they have some time before the police or guard company will arrive. A loud siren is a helpful and depending on where you live the response times will vary. In Salt Lake City the police have a non response policy meaning they will not dispatch the police from a burglar alarm system activation unless it is from a panic alarm so customers in Salt Lake City and West Valley City need to have a Guard response company respond. Many alarm companies third party this service out for their customers although Peak Alarm keeps this service in house since Peak Alarm has Peak Security which is a division of Peak Alarm. Guard companies typically have a faster response than the police do and when a Guard company finds somethings out of the ordinary they will notify and wait for the police.

Call Larry Love with questions, suggestions or corrections about this information or when you need pricing on a security system for your home or business. Call (801) 898 6003 which is my cell or call 801 428 1384 which is my direct desk phone at Peak Alarm. Larry@peakalarm.com is my email address. I look forward to your call.

I also speak fluent Spanish. Tambien puede ayudarte en su idioma. Llamame.