Security Sensor Life Hack - does this really work?

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kiwifidget

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#237914 24-Jun-2018 10:13

Hi,

I have been quoted an obscene amount of amount of money (by 2 companies) to replace our standard PIR in-house motion sensors with pet-friendly ones.

Then I read on the interwebs that you can just turn your ordinary PIR's upside down to achieve a similar result.

Has anyone tried this?

Thanks.

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#2043080 24-Jun-2018 10:33

While it may work, I would strongly recommend not doing that.

The lenses that the sensor looks through are calibrated to provide a good spread across the room looking down from where they are mounted. This means there is effectively a blind spot along the upper part and roof of the room - not generally an issue as the majority of burglars don't walk upside down along the ceiling.

Turning your sensor upside down will mean it is aimed towards the roof. Yes, a cat may no longer set the alarm off as your sensor is not looking at the floor area anymore, however you will also lose a significant amount of detection ability within the area where people walk.

Modern pir sensors with pet immunity have the ability to detect and analyse the size of the item creating the movement in the room and if it's below ~45kg, ignore it. Will also mean the the cat can hop up on the bench, couch, table etc and still not set the alarm off - something your upside down sensor cannot do.

The sensors themselves are super easy to change. Price should be around $130 each for good quality pet immune pir, and it would take half an hour per sensor to change doing it yourself.

Edit - auto-incorrect

kiwifidget

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#2043487 25-Jun-2018 12:12

Hmm, good point about the ceiling.

My 2 quotes are :

5 Honeywell pet sensors supplied and fitted for $640 incl GST.

5 Bosch pet sensors supplied and fitted for $820 incl GST.

I don't know which is better between Honeywell and Bosch , but $180 buys a lot of pet food :)

Any views?

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nickb800

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#2043518 25-Jun-2018 13:05

You should be able to pickup the Bosch Blueline pet friendly PIR from somewhere like Amazon for $50 or less each. As above, they're relatively easy to change.

Bear in mind that they max out at around 40kg pets, so if you have huge dogs then maybe you need some expensive specialist sensors?

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#2043525 25-Jun-2018 13:19

nickb800:

Bear in mind that they max out at around 40kg pets, so if you have huge dogs then maybe you need some expensive specialist sensors?

Wait, is that how these things work? they just don't pickup smaller objects?

So.. up until a year or so ago, i was under 40KG... should i just drop a few to be undetected? ;)

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#2043530 25-Jun-2018 13:28

hio77:

nickb800:

Bear in mind that they max out at around 40kg pets, so if you have huge dogs then maybe you need some expensive specialist sensors?

Wait, is that how these things work? they just don't pickup smaller objects?

So.. up until a year or so ago, i was under 40KG... should i just drop a few to be undetected? ;)

I think it's something like up to 40kg in the lower field of view (close to floor) is okay, but not in the upper field of view. So quite possibly a 40kg human crawling could get through unescaped.

Someone more informed might be able to correct me/elaborate?

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#2043536 25-Jun-2018 13:37

nickb800:

hio77:

nickb800:

Bear in mind that they max out at around 40kg pets, so if you have huge dogs then maybe you need some expensive specialist sensors?

Wait, is that how these things work? they just don't pickup smaller objects?

So.. up until a year or so ago, i was under 40KG... should i just drop a few to be undetected? ;)

I think it's something like up to 40kg in the lower field of view (close to floor) is okay, but not in the upper field of view. So quite possibly a 40kg human crawling could get through unescaped.

Someone more informed might be able to correct me/elaborate?

what about a 40kg human with a tv on their back... would they get through?

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hio77

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#2043538 25-Jun-2018 13:39

reven:

nickb800:

hio77:

nickb800:

Bear in mind that they max out at around 40kg pets, so if you have huge dogs then maybe you need some expensive specialist sensors?

Wait, is that how these things work? they just don't pickup smaller objects?

So.. up until a year or so ago, i was under 40KG... should i just drop a few to be undetected? ;)

I think it's something like up to 40kg in the lower field of view (close to floor) is okay, but not in the upper field of view. So quite possibly a 40kg human crawling could get through unescaped.

Someone more informed might be able to correct me/elaborate?

what about a 40kg human with a tv on their back... would they get through?

being flatpanels mainly, could you not lay it down and push it infront of you?

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kiwifidget

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#2043539 25-Jun-2018 13:40

oh no! we are veering off topic!

@nickb800 , I have had a look on Amazon, but it seems like shipping to NZ may not be possible. :(

Does anyone know if there is much difference between Bosch and Honeywell in terms of performance?

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#2043545 25-Jun-2018 13:55

Personally I have always used Bosch sensors with installs I have done. I've never had any issues with them, being either the wired or wireless units. I can't offer you a comparison with the Honeywell units though I'm sorry.

As for the dectection, it also looks at size - your average cat or dog isn't 5' plus long (human crawling on floor) - in saying that, it would be interesting to see if @hio77 lost a few pounds and tried to imitate a dog's walk if it would confuse the sensor!

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#2043548 25-Jun-2018 13:56

Ge0rge:
As for the dectection, it also looks at size - your average cat or dog isn't 5' plus long (human crawling on floor)

is that measurement foot or inches... think I've got a problem with it iver way.....

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#2043550 25-Jun-2018 14:01

Had to quickly google, you had me doubting myself definitely ' for feet, " for inches!

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#2043862 26-Jun-2018 06:23

I have bosch blueline. Paid $89 through trademe from memory. I was under the impression they combined IR and microwave?

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#2043882 26-Jun-2018 07:31

kiwifidget:

oh no! we are veering off topic!

Not really! The thread is about burglar detection, and some innovative ideas on that.....

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#2043884 26-Jun-2018 07:40

A non scientific hack I heard about and used is to open the sensor and place a strip of paper along the bottom of the sensor glass/plastic. Worked fine for me and still detected humans while not triggering when the cat walked past.

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#2043885 26-Jun-2018 07:49

tchart: A non scientific hack I heard about and used is to open the sensor and place a strip of paper along the bottom of the sensor glass/plastic. Worked fine for me and still detected humans while not triggering when the cat walked past.

What if the cat hopped on the couch or window sill?

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