How Do Motion Sensors Work In The Dark?

When looking to protect your home or business, you should consider motion sensors. Many burglars and prospective burglars will be put off by the existence of motion sensors on your home or business premises, as they provide round the clock security. In this post, we’ll look at why you should use motion sensors, what types are available and how they work in the dark to provide 24/7 protection.

Why Use Motion Sensors?

Motion sensors should be the lynchpin of your home or business security system. This is because they can detect when someone is in your home or on your business premises when they shouldn’t be.

By using one form of technology (or combining multiple forms), they can detect movement in an area of your home or business. They can then send a signal to your security system’s control panel to tell your monitoring centre that there’s an intruder.

What Types of Motion Sensor are Available and How Do They Work?

Motion sensors are designed to detect motion or movement within a designated area. Once a movement is detected, motion sensors can send a signal to the alarm system, sounding the alarm. They are a popular alternative to CCTV systems.

The most common form of motion sensors are passive infrared (PIR) motion detectors. However, some sensors use active infrared technology, while others use microwaves or ultrasonic radiation.

We typically use PIR sensors as part of our Back to Base systems. PIR sensors detect the temperature of a body within the room when your system is armed. They’re usually combined with contact sensors to improve security even further.

Other forms of motion detector are also available. For example, active infrared sensors are designed to emit an electrical signal that connects to a light detector. Once the beam is interrupted by an intruder, the motion sensor will sound the alarm.

Microwave sensors omit a continuous wave of radiation to measure the reflection of a moving object. If the continuous wave of radiation is disturbed, the alarm is triggered.

Finally, ultrasonic sensors emit ultrasonic waves that are reflected back when an object appears in its proximity. Once the sensors note a change in the reflections, the alarm is triggered.

Depending on your security requirements, you can also opt for a dual technology motion sensor. These combine some of the above features. For example, you could have a dual technology motion sensor that includes both a PIR sensor and a microwave sensor. If you’re unsure which solution is best for your home or business, we’re happy to work alongside you.

Do Motion Sensors Work in Complete Darkness?

The short answer is yes. Motion sensors do work in complete darkness, as none of the motion sensors mentioned above are reliant on using images to detect motion.

Instead of images, PIR motion sensors detect changes in the level of received infrared. Likewise, ultrasonic motion sensors also do not require images. Instead, they detect changes in the standing wave field of the ultrasonic sound they emit. The same is true for microwave motion detectors. These detect a disturbance in the microwaves they emit, rather than relying on imagery or light.

Most home and business security solutions now include PIR motion sensors, but any of the above types will be beneficial for your home or business, as they can work during the day and in complete darkness.

If you’re interested in installing motion sensors in your home or business, then please get in touch with us on 1300 773 633 for a free security assessment and quote.