Fire sensor or heat detector: installation, models, price. Self-installation of a motion detector Installation of motion sensors for lighting

Automatic devices, electronic devices and smart appliances are increasingly included in daily life modern man. They control and automatically manage many processes and tasks.

Many of these devices make it easier economic activity a person, others free him from performing routine and boring monotonous operations, others increase the comfort of living, and some can even increase the safety of housing.

One of these useful and often irreplaceable devices is a motion sensor (sometimes also called a presence sensor). The main task of such electronics is to detect the presence of a person (an animal, as a special case) or his movement in the zone of its control. When detected, the device sends a control signal to another device - this could be a sound alarm system, launching a computer program (when connected to a computer), or turning on or off the power supply (when using a relay). That is, any other electronic device.

Motion sensors are very widespread in security systems of enterprises and organizations, and on an individual basis, the most commonly used circuit is connecting a motion sensor for lighting or, a little less often, for opening and closing automatic locks. However, other areas of application at the household level are also very effective - for example, to ensure the safety of your home or garage.

The use of motion sensors in domestic buildings is most effective for organizing automatic lighting, which will turn on in the presence of people and turn off when they leave the room. Stairs, storage rooms, utility rooms equipped with such systems become more convenient, since most often people stay there for a short time, and a forgotten light can burn for days without any need for it.

The device itself has simple principle operation: the sensor detects an object located in its sensitivity field, which usually should not be there, and, reacting to this, closes the electrical circuit. When the object disappears from the “field of view” of the sensor, the electrical circuit opens again.

Types of presence and motion sensors

Despite the simplicity of the principle of operation, motion sensors differ in a variety of parameters. To more fully understand the picture of the range of products presented on the market, you need to know about them at least in general outline. This will allow you to optimally select the electronic device for your purposes.

Differences in location of the device:

internal location - as the name suggests, it is used to control the presence of a person in the room;
peripheral location - used for objects remote from the house (for example, turning on lights on a walking path as a person moves along it or illuminating the water in a pool when swimming at night);
location along the perimeter - most often located on fence posts and triggered when people or cars approach (convenient for lighting a garage area).

Differences in operating principle:

active type - the design has a signal transmitter and receiver; when a person appears in the signal area, the signal enters the receiver, and it is triggered;
passive type - a receiver and a transmitter in one housing; when the transmitter signal hits an object that appears, it is reflected and returned to the receiver, which is triggered by this.

Differences by signal type:

ultrasound - uses the sound of high, inaudible frequencies;
microwaves - ultra high frequency radio waves are used;
infrared radiation - the use of thermal waves (light of the infrared spectrum), these sensors are the simplest and therefore most common.

Differences in trigger source:

thermal type - triggering occurs when the temperature on the sensor sensor changes (the reflected infrared beam of the transmitter or the thermal radiation of a living object hits);
sound type - operation occurs when the sensor detects air vibrations at sound frequencies;
frequency-oscillatory type - the sensor sensor responds to frequency fluctuations and changes magnetic field caused by movement within the device's coverage area.

Differences in element design:

monoblock - the electronic device is made in the form of one monolithic case;
double-cased - with this design, the receiver and transmitter are separated into different housings and installed at a distance from each other;
multi-unit - the device includes a whole complex of receivers and transmitters (sometimes even different types), which works in a single connection.

Differences by mounting type:

overhead type - mounted on a vertical wall surface;
ceiling type - mounted on horizontal surfaces ceiling below;
mortise type - mounting inside wall or ceiling surfaces.

Motion sensor connection diagrams for lighting

For everyday use, the industry produces occupancy sensors in the form of ready-made units, making all the connection work easy to do with their own hands for anyone who is not afraid to install a socket or switch themselves.

Such units are necessarily equipped with documentation - a connection diagram or several of its variants, which will not allow even an inexperienced technician to make a mistake when connecting the sensor to the electrical network.

The design of household motion detectors provides for simple adjustment of three main settings using separate step or smooth controls (knobs, levers or sliders).

The parameters required after connecting the detector are:

distance to the trigger point;
signal delay duration (how long the signal will last from the moment the sensor is triggered);
capture area angle - adjusts the width of the cone-shaped area in which the presence or presence of an object will be detected.

To connect to the network with your own hands, household sensors are provided with three terminal pins - zero, input and output to the lamp (or other connected device).

Important! In theory, there is not much difference when connecting power to the zero or phase output, but in practice, if the connection is incorrect, the sensor will regularly produce false alarms, although otherwise its operation will not change.

Due to the presence of a signal duration regulator in the design of household detectors, the motion sensor circuit for lighting can be used completely independently, without additional electrical switches. However, in practice they are more common sharing. There are three main ways to connect presence detectors to the electrical network:

Some nuances

When installing motion sensors into a home lighting system with your own hands, in addition to following the connection diagram that is attached to the documentation from the device manufacturer, you should take into account some not entirely obvious features and use the developed recommendations in practice:

Important! When using several parallel detectors, they must be connected to the same phase, otherwise a short circuit will occur if more than one detector is triggered.

Often the room is cluttered with furniture or non-standard shape, the presence of niches or vestibules does not allow one sensor to cover the entire area, which means the efficiency will be low.

In such cases, several detectors are used, which must be connected with your own hands in parallel - this ensures that the lighting turns on when any of the installed motion detectors is triggered. It is necessary to place several devices so that their sensitivity zone covers the entire area of the room.

Motion detection settings

When the question of how to connect a motion sensor with your own hands has been resolved, one more mandatory procedure should be performed. Like any technical device, a motion sensor for lighting requires configuration after installation for maximum effective use.

To set up, manufacturers usually install three control knobs (or levers) on the device body, marked “TIME”, “LUX” and “SENS”.

Each of the regulators is designed to control one of the motion detector parameters:

From everything described, it is easy to conclude that connecting a motion sensor to the indoor lighting system of a private house or apartment is very effective and in a convenient way improve comfort. In addition, introducing such a device into your home can significantly save your budget by reducing the consumption of electricity, which will not be spent on lighting rooms where no one is.

For the convenience and safety of people, motion sensors have been invented that respond to the appearance or presence of a person in their coverage area. When a person appears in the sensor’s coverage area, the automation is triggered and any electrical equipment connected to it is activated, for example, lighting, a sound warning system, and an alarm system are turned on.

The photo shows a motion sensor, using an installation example of which I will demonstrate how to correctly connect it to electrical wiring For automatic switching on lamp at the entrance to the room.

Appearance The motion sensor is a rectangular or round plastic box with a window covered with a matte plastic film, which is a Fresnel lens. Through this window, using infrared waves, the appearance of a person in the control zone is monitored. The material from which the Fresnel lens is made is delicate, and when installing and operating the motion sensor, care must be taken so as not to accidentally damage the lens.

Before installing a motion sensor, you need to choose the one suitable for solving the task based on the size of the room and the conditions under which people and animals stay in it.

Choosing a motion sensor model for your home

Based on the method of detecting the presence of a person in the control zone, motion sensors are either active or passive.

Active ones work like a radar or echo sounder. They emit a signal and analyze its reflection. If the distance that the signal travels from the sensor to the obstacle and back has changed, then it is triggered. Passive sensors simply detect heat emitted by a person. There are also combined ones, which combine active and passive control methods.

Active sensors operate in ultrasonic or high radio frequencies. The ultrasonic range lies within 20,000 Hz; humans cannot hear such a sound, but dogs, cats and other animals hear it and begin to behave restlessly. If there are living creatures in the house, then it is not permissible to use motion sensors operating in the ultrasonic range.

Active motion sensors operating at high radio frequencies do not “notice” obstacles in the form of walls or furniture, and only detect the movement of objects. At incorrect installation can even react to the swaying of trees outside the window or the movement of people in next apartment, causing false positives. Moreover, they are the most expensive.

To control the switching on of lighting in an apartment, passive infrared motion sensors that respond to heat emitted by the human body are best suited. Therefore this type is the most common.

You should also pay attention to the horizontal and vertical detection angles of the motion sensor and the range. Typically, the detection area for ceiling mounted motion sensors is 360° in the shape of a circle. Motion sensors designed for installation on walls usually have a horizontal detection angle of 180° and a vertical detection angle of about 20°.

In the drawing, the blue lines indicate the outline of the room, and the figure formed by the red lines is the detection zone of the motion sensor. As you can see, the detection zone does not cover the entire volume of the room, therefore, when choosing an installation location, the detection zone is the determining criterion.

The detection range of motion sensors is usually limited to 12 meters, which for home use quite enough. If the room large sizes, has no rectangular shape or multi-storey, for example, like an entrance to a house, then in this case several devices are installed to detect the presence of a person throughout the entire area.

By design, motion sensors can be movable or fixed. The movable device allows you to change the detection zone by moving the sensor relative to the base in horizontal and vertical directions.

As you can see, this motion sensor provides the ability to change the position of its head, thanks to which, after installing it on the wall, you can change the control zone within small limits.

Choosing an installation location
light motion sensor

Before installing a motion sensor, in order to ensure its reliable operation and eliminate false ones, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing the installation location. It is necessary not only to provide the necessary detection zone, but also to protect the motion sensor from the influence of external factors that cause false alarms or block the operation of the sensor and take into account the need to connect it to the electrical wiring.

It is not recommended to install motion sensors near radiators of electrical and central heating and pipes supplying hot water, in close proximity to air conditioners, near thermal and electrical appliances that emit electromagnetic interference.

Even if you take into account all the recommendations and understand technical specifications, theoretically it is correct to choose best place difficult to install without practice. Therefore, it is advisable, before performing electrical installation work do a little research.

Designation of motion sensor terminals

The motion sensor inside has an electronic circuit and in order for it to work, it must be connected to the supply voltage. Typically, motion sensors are designed to be connected directly to a 220 V household power supply, except for radio sensors, which are powered by a battery installed inside. The connection diagram must be on the case, usually next to the terminal block for connection. In this model of motion sensor, the markings are made directly on its body using plastic embossing.

In order for the motion sensor to start working, it is enough to apply supply voltage to the terminals of its terminal block L and N. To connect it to the mains, you need to take a piece of double wire, install a plug on it on one side, and connect the other end, not forgetting to remove the insulation, to terminals L and N of the terminal block. The phasing of the wire connection, in this case, does not matter. Moreover, if you make a mistake and connect the wires incorrectly, then nothing bad will happen, the motion sensor simply will not work. In this case, the blinking motion sensor indicator will not light up.

In the photo, for clarity, a short piece of wire is connected. The length of the wire should ensure that the motion sensor can be connected to the nearest outlet when choosing an installation location. If you do not have a piece of wire of sufficient length, you can use an extension cord.

Typically, motion sensors have an LED that indicates what state they are in. If the sensor is connected to the power supply and is in standby mode, the LED flashes approximately once per second. When triggered, the blinking frequency of the LED increases, which allows you to know, without connecting a load, when choosing an installation location, whether the sensor has triggered or not. It should be taken into account that some types of motion sensors, after connecting to the power supply, become ready for operation after some time, 15-30 seconds.

Purpose of the parameter adjustment knobs

There are knobs on the body of the motion sensor for adjusting its parameters. Depending on the model and its purpose, there are from two to four handles. Next to the knobs there is usually a letter designation of the type of adjustment, a picture of the purpose of the adjustment and the direction of rotation of the knob to change the setting. Therefore, before installing a motion sensor, you need to understand what parameter and how each of the handles affects and in what position they should be installed for optimal operation in specific conditions.

Before you start looking for a place to install the motion sensor, it is advisable to adjust its parameters on the table and mark it with a marker to make it easier in real conditions. In low light, the factory markings are difficult to see.

Dimmer LUX allows you to set a light threshold above which the motion sensor will not respond to movement. Why turn on the lights during daylight hours if you can already see clearly. Initially you need to set it to maximum.

Timer time control TIME motion sensor. This is the time during which the light will remain on after the motion sensor is triggered. Initially set to minimum on time. It should be noted that if, after the motion sensor is triggered, a person continues to move in the detection zone, the timer is restarted, and the countdown until the motion sensor turns off will begin from the moment the person stops moving. For example, if you set the timer to 10 seconds, and a person moved or waved his hands in the detection zone for 10 minutes, then the light will be on all this time.

Sensitivity control SENS Rarely installed on motion sensors, as there is a practical need for it. It happens, it is needed if you want to not control part of the room, and this can always be done by adjusting the position of the motion sensor during installation. Initially you need to set it to maximum.

Microphone sensitivity control MIC It is present very rarely, since it is not in demand in everyday life and has low noise immunity. The noise of a passing truck or a child's scream in the entrance of a house can trigger a motion sensor. But to perform the security function, if properly adjusted, it can serve as an excellent means of protection, since the detection zone will be practically unlimited. Initially you need to set it to minimum.

Now that the preparatory work has been completed and all the controls are set to the required positions, you can begin to determine the installation location of the motion sensor. To do this, you can temporarily mount the sensor on a stepladder or board, and by placing the motion sensor in the intended installation locations, try to find the best one. As I wrote above, a rapidly blinking LED will indicate that it has been triggered.

It is convenient to connect the motion sensor for lighting to the electrical wiring in two places, in distribution box or directly at the place where the chandelier is connected to the wires coming out of the ceiling or wall. Therefore, before searching for a location to install the motion sensor, you need to determine where it is easier to connect it. It is difficult even for a professional electrician to deal with the wires in the distribution box, especially in houses built a long time ago, and the boxes are often covered with wallpaper or located under plaster. The easiest way to figure out the connection is to a chandelier or wall lamp.

After determining the installation location of the motion sensor, you can begin mounting it on the wall and installing electrical wiring.

Attention! Before connecting the motion sensor to the electrical wiring, to prevent electric shock, it is necessary to de-energize it. To do this, turn off the corresponding circuit breaker in the distribution panel and check the reliability of the disconnection using the phase indicator.

An example of installing a motion sensor in an apartment

The plaster on the brick wall was quite loose, and the distance between the centers of the holes had to be maintained to the nearest millimeter. I used a simple jig and a certain sequence of drilling holes in the wall. To make the conductor, a piece of plywood was taken, in which two holes were drilled, 4 and 6 mm. After drilling the first hole in the wall, a dowel was inserted into it and the jig was screwed through a 4 mm hole with a self-tapping screw. A second hole in the wall was drilled through a 6 mm hole in the jig.

So simple trick, with the help of cutting plywood, it was possible to drill holes exactly in the specified places.

All preparatory work done, and you can begin installing the electrical wiring and installing the motion sensor. But in order to carry out the work competently, and not just mindlessly connect the wires to each other, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the chandelier connection diagram.

Electrical diagram for connecting the sensor

As can be seen from the diagram, the neutral wire, which is designated by the letter N, connects directly to the chandelier bulb, and the phase one, which is designated L, connects to the second terminal of the chandelier light bulb through a switch.

In practice, you may encounter the fact that the switch opens not the phase wire, but the neutral wire. From a safety point of view, this is incorrect, but opening the neutral wire does not affect the performance of the chandelier. If there are a lot of light bulbs in the chandelier or double switch, then the chandelier connection diagram is more complex. To meaningfully connect a motion sensor, it is enough to consider how to connect it to a chandelier of one light bulb.

From a functional point of view, a motion sensor is an ordinary switch, only it turns off the light not from pressing the switch key with a person’s hand, but from movement in the detection zone. Since the motion sensor contains an electronic circuit, for it to work it is necessary to apply supply voltage to this circuit.

Motion sensors are available for installation instead of a switch. But to connect it, you need one more additional wire, and of course it is necessary that the detection zone with such an installation corresponds to the required one. Three wires sometimes fit to the switch to separately connect two groups of chandelier bulbs. If such use of the chandelier is not necessary and the detection zone is suitable, then you can install a motion sensor instead of the switch without laying an additional wire by making connections in the junction box.

Wiring diagram

The simplest case is when the motion sensor is connected to the terminal block of the chandelier. Since my lamp did not have such a block, I had to install it. I made the connection according to the wiring diagram below.

As can be seen in the diagram, phase wire connected to the top terminal of the terminal block and from it goes directly to the terminal block terminal, marked with the letter L. The neutral wire is connected to the middle terminal of the terminal block and then goes to the terminal block terminal, marked with the letter N. Two wires going to the light bulb are also connected to it and an additional outlet.

Phase wire L is connected to the normally open contacts of the relay, in the same way as to the contacts of an ordinary key switch. Next, from the relay contact, the wire goes to the lower contact of the terminal block and is then connected to the lower contact of the chandelier terminal block. The second terminal of the light bulb and socket are also connected to the same contact. When the motion sensor is triggered, the relay closes the contacts and voltage is supplied to the light bulb and socket.

As a light source, you can connect not only incandescent lamps to the motion sensor, but also energy-saving LED lamps and monochrome and RGB LED strips connected through adapters. You can also connect a radio or any other device.

Before connecting the wires, prepare their lengths sufficient for free connection with the terminal blocks. The insulation is removed from the ends of the wires and, according to the diagram, the wires are twisted together. After twisting, tinning with solder is performed using an electric soldering iron. If you do not plan to pass large currents, then it is not necessary to tin the wires.

When the ends of the wires are prepared, they are connected to the terminal block of the chandelier.

All that remains is to screw the base of the chandelier to the wall and screw the shade into it. As you can see, all the wires and the terminal block are hidden under the base of the chandelier and do not protrude anywhere.

I laid the wires to the additional outlet in a cable channel, since I didn’t want to scratch the wall and spread dirt. During the next toilet renovation, I will hide the wiring in the wall.

Now you need to make adjustments, set the timer time, the sensitivity of the motion sensor and the work can be considered complete.

Although the light has now begun to turn on and off automatically, out of habit, when approaching the door, the hand reaches for the switch, and when leaving, everyone constantly turns off the light without even noticing. I had to short-circuit the terminals of the switch on the wall so that it would no longer affect the turning on of the light, since if the light is turned off by the switch and turned on again, the motion sensor is triggered only after the time set by the timer has expired.

Features of connecting a motion sensor to turn on the light
in the entrance with an elevator

By email I received a letter from Sergei from St. Petersburg. Sergey is a professional electrician and encountered difficulties when installing motion sensors in the entrance of a seven-story building equipped with an elevator, and turned to me for advice. With Sergei’s consent, I decided to publish our correspondence.

Sergey:
Yesterday we installed active motion sensors to turn on the lights in the entrance on seven floors, and it turned out that when the elevator moves, the lights on each floor turn on, it’s beautiful, but the customer didn’t like it. The electromagnetic field's effect on sensors is understandable. But in another house under the same conditions everything works fine. Maybe the elevator is not grounded? Or maybe the elevator is old and causing such interference. How to protect yourself from this?

Answer:
Regarding influence electromagnetic field, then I doubt it, since the elevator is just a box with buttons and a lamp, and all the power equipment is located on the roof of the house in a special room. When the elevator car moves, only the limit position sensors on the floors are switched, but there the currents flow several milliamps and cannot have any effect.
The absence of grounding of the elevator is excluded, since this is one of the main points of safety requirements and is mandatory checked by supervisory organizations.
The influence of network interference due to the operation of the elevator power equipment also does not occur in your case, since then the lamps on all floors would turn on simultaneously.
One thing remains, the effect of moving the cabin itself on the sensors. If the motion sensor is highly sensitive, even if the elevator car moves in a blind shaft, even a small gap at the junction of the elevator doors may be sufficient, especially if the sensor is installed opposite the elevator door. You can check this by closing the gap on one of the floors, or reducing the sensitivity of the sensor.
If, nevertheless, the culprit of the false operation is network interference, then you can try connecting a capacitor with a capacity of 0.01-0.1 mF for a voltage of at least 300 V in parallel with the motion sensor to the network connection terminals.

Sergey:
Good afternoon Alexander, I was touched by the quick answer to my question. Today we closed the elevator window with an aluminum shield, the sensitivity of the sensor is max, the elevator is moving and still turns on the light - this means that the sensor “sees” the elevator. We reduced the sensitivity - everything worked as it should, but a representative from the company that manufactured elevators of this brand protested, since according to the regulations, it is not permissible to close the window in the elevator door. As a result, they set infrared sensor, passive option, and the problem disappeared.
P.S. I would like to add from the bitter experience of installing active sensors, they are buggy and the timer is buggy, the solution to the problem is simple: you need to turn off the power several times in a row, and everything starts working.

Why do energy-saving and LED lamps blink?
included after the motion sensor?

I received a letter by email from Anatoly from Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

Anatoly:
I'm also a bit of an electrician, I installed the motion sensor myself. As long as the incandescent lamp was on everything was fine. I installed a saving lamp - when it is turned off, it blinks, and the LED lamp also switches on. How can I get rid of this?

Answer:
Energy saving and led lamps, unlike incandescent lamps, they have an electronic circuit inside with rectifying diodes and an electrolytic capacitor installed after them. To produce a weak glow, these lamps require a current of only a few microamps. Therefore, if the switch opens a non-phase wire, then due to leaks through the air, a charge may well accumulate in the electrolytic capacitor and when it accumulates to a certain level, the lamp may blink. This phenomenon is also observed when using backlit switches.

When connecting a lamp through a motion sensor, there are two possible reasons why blinking may occur. If the sensor uses a mechanical relay as a switch (a click is heard when activated), it means that when connecting, the neutral and phase wires are reversed.

When a semiconductor device, such as a triac, is used as a switch in a motion sensor, it has a leakage current when turned off. In this case, if the phase and zero connections are correct, blinking can only be eliminated if you connect an electromagnetic relay instead of a light bulb and power an energy-saving or LED light bulb through its contacts, breaking the phase wire. You can do without a relay if you connect a 5-10 watt resistor with a nominal value of 5-10 kOhm in parallel with the light bulb. But then the economic efficiency of using energy-saving lamps decreases.

How to adjust the motion sensor model TDL-2012-AC

I received a letter from Vyacheslav by email asking me to help me understand the controls of the motion sensor model TDL-2012-AC, due to the fact that the product does not come with instructions for connecting and adjusting.

Vyacheslav:
Please tell me about the Chinese motion sensor model TDL-2012-AC. What parameters control the first two switches? The first one seems to be the level of illumination at which the sensor is triggered. And the second one?

Answer:
Pictograms, letters and numbers indicate the following:
- switch 1 regulates the sensitivity to illumination, that is, the level of illumination in the room at which the sensor will start working;
- the second is used to select sensitivity to movement;
- the remaining switches numbered 3-8 are designed to set the time for which the motion sensor will turn on the lighting, 5, 40 seconds. and 1, 4, 8 or 16 min.

Evgeniy Sedov

When your hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

Light has always played an important role in human life. IN primitive society Having produced fire, people became one level higher in the struggle for existence. Thanks to high technology Now lighting creates increased comfort. Surround your home with lighting devices: they will help you enter a room and immediately feel warm and cozy.

What is a motion sensor

The electric wave detector, which records various movements in the area of its activity, is the same motion sensor for automatically turning on the light. In other words, an object entering the response area triggers a sensory system that transmits the received data to the mechanism to which it is attached. The design ensures safety, allowing significant savings on energy resources.

The use of movement meters has a number of additional advantages:

If you have a basement, garage or any storage space, this type of lighting will definitely make your life easier. Often in such places the switch is not at hand. If you love creative chaos, there is a danger of slipping and putting your life in danger.
The motion sensor for turning on the light is multifunctional. In addition to the fact that it is compact and fits perfectly into any room interior, it can be wireless.
The benefit of installing a signaling device lies in the variety of planes. It can be used in access systems to premises (both a protected area and the entrance to a residential building), in alarm systems, in objects that control communications (air conditioning, lighting, ventilation, automated opening of doors and gates).

Types of motion sensors

Depending on the location, the presence sensor for turning on the light is divided into:

Interior. When there is a need to connect the device in the room itself. This type household receivers can be installed in any place where there are no sudden heat changes.
Street. A device for turning on the light, which captures a wide area (from 100 to 500 m). Such sensors will work perfectly in the yard, in the territories of large industrial facilities.

The installation can be:

Ceiling. A motion sensor to turn on the light is mounted in ceilings, floor panels, etc. Often the device circuitry detects movement with a range of 360 degrees.
Wall and corner. The advantage of the mechanism is its narrower response, which significantly reduces the number of false reactions.

If we take into account the equipment of energy meters, they can be divided into:

wired;
autonomous.

The first ones are more practical, since they work reliably after installation. This is because power wires are connected to the sensor. The downside is automatic shutdown without power supply. The autonomous motion sensor for lighting operates using built-in batteries. More modernized models have solar charging. True, this requires constant monitoring of the serviceability and amount of accumulated energy.

Depending on the type of installation, there are overhead (external) and built-in devices. The first include mechanisms that are easy to install and turn on. All you have to do is connect electrical communications without preliminary preparation. The second type of device has a huge advantage: it is made to match the design of the room. This will allow you to seamlessly integrate it at the design stage. What distinguishes such devices is the principle of their operation.

Ultrasonic motion sensor

The device works according to the Doppler effect: an object in motion is reflected by sound waves, which is read on a wave catcher. This type of equipment is considered particularly long-lasting and practical. It has a reasonable price and is resistant to environment. True, a switch with a motion sensor also has its drawbacks:

Reaction to noise is limited. For example, the device may not respond to leisurely movement.
The ultrasonic sensor has a negative effect on animals.

Infrared sensors

The operation of such a device is designed in such a way that when a certain thermal radiation is detected (for example, 36-37°C) within its coverage area, a light bulb turns on. This function directly depends on the number of lenses (20-60 pieces) installed inside the system. The more there are, the higher the coverage range. It is not advisable to install an infrared motion sensor to turn on the light in the kitchen, because there are frequent temperature changes.

The device is considered harmless to others and can be used as a passive device (as a receiver). Using the settings, you can adjust the viewing angle and sensitivity. Infrared meters function well indoors and outdoors. Flaws:

false response to heat emanating from room appliances;
the impact of precipitation and sun on the operation of the wave detector;
ignoring objects that do not emit heat waves.

Microwave detectors

The operating pattern of such a detector is similar to an ultrasonic one. The only thing is that the microwave motion sensor does not use sound, but electromagnetic waves frequency 5.8 GHz. The advantages of the device include:

miniature meter;
weather resistance;
reaction to slow motion of various objects;
large coverage.

rare use for area lighting;
high price;
misreaction to microwaves coming from outside the application areas.

How does a motion sensor work?

Today, there are countless different types of motion devices. For example, the same Legrand brand allows its consumers to choose the model that best suits their requirements. At the same time, a lamp with a motion sensor for an apartment remains practical and popular. It is easy to install and simple to operate.

As soon as any programmed actions occur in the area affected by the device, the detector will activate the relay and immediately transmit electricity through the circuit to the light switching device. The sensor will be active for as long as you manually set it (from 5 seconds to 10 minutes). If there is no movement in the room, automatic shutdown will work. In the settings you can set the level of illumination.

When choosing an installation, you need to decide in advance on its placement. The preference for the type of motion sensor depends on this. For example, an infrared device will not react to a person until he enters the room. To automatically turn on the light only when the doors are opened, it is best to use an ultrasonic device. You should take into account the operating rules of the mechanism and study the manual. You should not choose the location and viewing angle yourself if the instructions indicate clear installation boundaries.

Characteristics

The performance of heat regulators is assessed based on their properties. When purchasing bipolar devices, you must take into account that they perform their functions only with incandescent lamps. Three-pole - with any types of lamps. The motion establishment angle can be in horizontal plane(60-360°C) and vertical (15-20°C). In a house where a wave trap is installed, good energy output is important. Sometimes during installation it is necessary to install an intermediate relay or several light switching mechanisms.

Wiring diagram for a motion sensor for lighting

It is easy to install the mechanism - there are two simple schemes with a 220V supply without a switch and with it. Nuances:

If desired, check with a specialist how to connect the motion sensor.
When choosing a device, be sure to ask in advance how many volts are needed and what the propagation range is, taking into account the parameters of your area.
The scope of all the work takes a little time. More effort is expended when analyzing the location of the device.

It is important to assign a stationary place and a separate switch to the detector in order to turn off the system at any time in the usual way.
Never install the motion sensor near devices that emit heat or cold. This also applies to direct sunlight and drafts. In addition to the fact that the sensor will record false data, it may also soon fail.
Before installation, make sure that the surface on which the device will be mounted does not transmit external vibrations.

Video: How to install sensors to turn on the lights

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The motion sensor is used to automatically turn on the lights in the house. It detects an object moving in the room and sends a signal to turn on the light. It is very convenient to use such devices in everyday life.

What is a motion sensor and why is it needed?

The motion sensor is a special wave detector powered by electricity. It detects movements in the room. That is, any moving object entering the coverage area of the motion sensor activates the sensor system, which transmits it to the mechanism attached to it.

The device will not harm your health and will significantly save energy, and therefore the money that you could pay for it.

This device has many advantages:

By installing a motion sensor in any warehouse, will make your life easier. As a rule, in such rooms the switches are located quite far from the entrance. This means that if the room is creatively cluttered, you can easily get injured by tripping over an object.

Multifunctionality is one of the main advantages of motion sensors. Not only is it compact and ideal for any interior, but it can also be wireless, which is convenient. The motion sensor can be used for various purposes, be it opening a gate or signaling.

Types of motion sensors

Now there are several types of motion sensors. Before purchasing, you should understand a little about the characteristics of these devices. There are a large number of them so that everyone can choose a device that suits their specific requirements.

Motion sensors are divided into several types, depending on the location where it is located:

Type internal. This type of sensor is located indoors. You can install it absolutely anywhere in your house or apartment.
External type. Such a device operates at a distance of 100 to 500 meters. They are usually installed in the courtyard of a house or in large areas of various industries.

The installation, like the devices, is divided into two types:

Ceiling installation type. This alarm device is mounted in the ceiling. Typically, it works 360 degrees.
Wall-mounted or, another name - corner type installations. The advantage is considered to be a smaller opening angle, which reduces the number of false reactions.

The alarm power supply is divided into several types:

Wired power supply – they work well throughout the entire period of operation, almost like new. This happens because electricity is transmitted through wires. The alarm has a minus - it turns off if there is no electricity.

Autonomous or wireless power supply. It runs on one or more batteries that are pre-built. More modern models eat sunlight. However, such an environmentally friendly option requires control of electricity. It should not be too little or too much.

Installation

The sensors also differ in installation. There are external or overhead ones, as well as devices that are built-in. The first ones are easy to install; you only need to connect electrical wiring to them. The second type has the main advantage of being able to be manufactured for the interior and overall design rooms.

To better understand what it looks like, it’s worth looking at photos of such motion sensors. Thanks to this advantage The sensor can be planned at the design stage of the whole house project. Both types differ from each other in their operating principle.

Ultrasonic motion sensor

It works quite simply. The waves that come from the moving object are read by a built-in wave catcher. This type of sensor lasts a long time and is easy to use. The price of the ultrasonic sensor is reasonable and it is also environmentally friendly.

However, it has some disadvantages:

Often does not respond to slow moving objects.
It has a negative effect on animals, so if you have pets you should not choose a sensor of this type.

Infrared sensors

Such devices react to heat emanating from a moving object, then the light turns on. The implementation of this action directly depends on the number of light bulbs that are built into the system. The more lamps, the more territory the device covers.

It is not advisable to install such a sensor in the kitchen, because... there are temperature changes, and as you already know, these devices do not like temperature changes.

The sensor is harmless to animals and people. The device is customized to suit your viewing angle and sensitivity requirements. Sensors of this type work great both indoors and outdoors - this is definitely a plus. Infrared sensors include 12 volt motion sensors.

Disadvantages of infrared sensors:

They react to heat waves from equipment located in the room.
Precipitation and sun affect the infrared sensors.
Does not react to objects that do not emit heat.

Principles of operation of motion sensors

The principle of operation of the motion sensor is quite simple. When a moving object appears in the motion sensor's viewing area, the built-in detector will turn on the relay and, with its help, electricity will be transmitted to the light bulbs, thereby turning on the light.

The device operates for the time you specify in the settings. You can select from 5 seconds to 10 minutes. That is, for example, you set a timer for 5 minutes, if there is no movement during this entire time, the device will turn off the light.

Even before purchasing a sensor, you need to decide on its location. The type of device will depend on this. For example, an infrared sensor will not respond to a person if he has not entered the room. If you want the light to turn on when the doors are opened, install an ultrasonic type device.

How to install a motion sensor correctly?

You already know what a motion sensor is, their types, and how they work. Now let's talk about how to properly connect a motion sensor. When placing the device, be sure to take into account the size of the room where the windows and doors are located. This all affects correct operation sensor

Consider these factors when installing the device:

There should be no dirt or dust.
Any objects in front of the sensor, especially outdoors, can cause the device to trigger.
If you are installing an alarm with wiring, its insulation must be moisture resistant.
Mounting the sensor next to or opposite devices that emit light or electromagnetic waves is not a good idea.
Set the desired angle and direction, because the device will react to objects that fall within the coverage area.
Select lamps based on power, take with a margin of 15%.

So now you know everything there is to know about motion sensors. I hope after reading this article, you have decided for yourself which motion sensor is better to choose.

Photos of motion sensors

The photo shows a motion sensor, using an installation example of which I will demonstrate how to correctly connect it to electrical wiring to automatically turn on the lamp when entering a room.

Before installing a motion sensor, you need to choose the one suitable for solving the task based on the size of the room and the conditions under which people and animals stay in it.

Choosing a motion sensor model for your home

Based on the method of detecting the presence of a person in the control zone, motion sensors are either active or passive.

Active motion sensors operating at high radio frequencies do not “notice” obstacles in the form of walls or furniture, and only detect the movement of objects. If installed incorrectly, they can even react to the swaying of trees outside the window or the movement of people in a neighboring apartment, causing false alarms. Moreover, they are the most expensive.

To control the switching on of lighting in an apartment, passive infrared motion sensors that respond to heat emitted by the human body are best suited. Therefore this type is the most common.

The detection range of motion sensors is usually limited to 12 meters, which is quite enough for home use. If the room is large, has a non-rectangular shape or is multi-story, for example, like an entrance to a house, then in this case several devices are installed to detect the presence of a person throughout the entire area.

By design, motion sensors can be movable or fixed. The movable device allows you to change the detection zone by moving the sensor relative to the base in horizontal and vertical directions.

As you can see, this motion sensor provides the ability to change the position of its head, thanks to which, after installing it on the wall, you can change the control zone within small limits.

Choosing an installation location
light motion sensor

It is not recommended to install motion sensors near radiators of electric and central heating and pipes supplying hot water, in close proximity to air conditioners, near thermal and electrical appliances that emit electromagnetic interference.

Even if you take into account all the recommendations and understand the technical characteristics, it is theoretically difficult to correctly choose the best location for installation without practice. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct a little research before performing electrical installation work.

Designation of motion sensor terminals

In order for the motion sensor to start working, it is enough to apply supply voltage to the terminals of its terminal block L and N. To connect it to the electrical network, you need to take a piece of double wire, install a plug on it on one side, and connect the other end, not forgetting to remove the insulation, to the terminals L and N terminal block. The phasing of the wire connection, in this case, does not matter. Moreover, if you make a mistake and connect the wires incorrectly, then nothing bad will happen, the motion sensor simply will not work. In this case, the blinking motion sensor indicator will not light up.

Purpose of the parameter adjustment knobs

It is convenient to connect the motion sensor for lighting to the electrical wiring in two places, in the junction box or directly at the point where the chandelier is connected to the wires coming out of the ceiling or wall. Therefore, before searching for a location to install the motion sensor, you need to determine where it is easier to connect it. It is difficult even for a professional electrician to deal with the wires in the distribution box, especially in houses built a long time ago, and the boxes are often covered with wallpaper or located under plaster. The easiest way to figure out the connection is to a chandelier or wall lamp.

After determining the installation location of the motion sensor, you can begin mounting it on the wall and installing electrical wiring.

An example of installing a motion sensor in an apartment

With this simple technique, using plywood trim, it was possible to drill holes exactly in the specified places.

All preparatory work has been done, and you can begin installing the electrical wiring and installing the motion sensor. But in order to carry out the work competently, and not just mindlessly connect the wires to each other, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the chandelier connection diagram.

Electrical diagram for connecting the sensor

In practice, you may encounter the fact that the switch opens not the phase wire, but the neutral wire. From a safety point of view, this is incorrect, but opening the neutral wire does not affect the performance of the chandelier. If there are many light bulbs in the chandelier or there is a double switch, then the chandelier connection diagram is more complex. To meaningfully connect a motion sensor, it is enough to consider how to connect it to a chandelier of one light bulb.

Wiring diagram

As can be seen in the diagram, the phase wire is connected to the upper contact of the terminal block and from it goes directly to the terminal block terminal, designated by the letter L. The neutral wire is connected to the middle terminal of the terminal block and then goes to the terminal block terminal, designated by the letter N. It also goes to it two wires are connected, going to the light bulb and an additional socket.

When the ends of the wires are prepared, they are connected to the terminal block of the chandelier.

I laid the wires to the additional outlet in a cable channel, since I didn’t want to scratch the wall and spread dirt. During the next toilet renovation, I will hide the wiring in the wall.

Now you need to make adjustments, set the timer time, the sensitivity of the motion sensor and the work can be considered complete.

Features of connecting a motion sensor to turn on the light
in the entrance with an elevator

I received a letter by email from Sergei from St. Petersburg. Sergey is a professional electrician and encountered difficulties when installing motion sensors in the entrance of a seven-story building equipped with an elevator, and turned to me for advice. With Sergei’s consent, I decided to publish our correspondence.

Answer:
As for the influence of the electromagnetic field, I doubt it, since the elevator is just a box with buttons and a lamp, and all the power equipment is located on the roof of the house in a special room. When the elevator car moves, only the limit position sensors on the floors are switched, but there the currents flow several milliamps and cannot have any effect.
The absence of grounding of the elevator is excluded, since this is one of the main points of safety requirements and is mandatory checked by supervisory organizations.
The influence of network interference due to the operation of the elevator power equipment also does not occur in your case, since then the lamps on all floors would turn on simultaneously.
One thing remains, the effect of moving the cabin itself on the sensors. If the motion sensor is highly sensitive, even if the elevator car moves in a blind shaft, even a small gap at the junction of the elevator doors may be sufficient, especially if the sensor is installed opposite the elevator door. You can check this by closing the gap on one of the floors, or reducing the sensitivity of the sensor.
If, nevertheless, the culprit of the false operation is network interference, then you can try connecting a capacitor with a capacity of 0.01-0.1 mF for a voltage of at least 300 V in parallel with the motion sensor to the network connection terminals.

Sergey:
Good afternoon Alexander, I was touched by the quick answer to my question. Today we closed the elevator window with an aluminum shield, the sensitivity of the sensor is max, the elevator is moving and still turns on the light - this means that the sensor “sees” the elevator. We reduced the sensitivity - everything worked as it should, but a representative from the company that manufactured elevators of this brand protested, since according to the regulations, it is not permissible to close the window in the elevator door. As a result, we installed an infrared sensor, a passive option, and the problem disappeared.
P.S. I would like to add from the bitter experience of installing active sensors, they are buggy and the timer is buggy, the solution to the problem is simple: you need to turn off the power several times in a row, and everything starts working.

Why do energy-saving and LED lamps blink?
included after the motion sensor?

I received a letter by email from Anatoly from Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

Answer:
Energy-saving and LED lamps, unlike incandescent lamps, have an electronic circuit inside with rectifying diodes and an electrolytic capacitor installed after them. To produce a weak glow, these lamps require a current of only a few microamps. Therefore, if the switch opens a non-phase wire, then due to leaks through the air, a charge may well accumulate in the electrolytic capacitor and when it accumulates to a certain level, the lamp may blink. This phenomenon is also observed when using backlit switches.