Surveillance for security purposes is not the only area that best utilizes the advantages of a motion detector built into a camera. The motion detector is technology’s answer to patience. It allows coverage of an area for longer periods of time than a traditional continuous filming camera does, making this device your best bet for sit-and-wait photo or filming oppurtunities.Saves Time

If you need to find an intruder on your security camera tape, the motion detector will save you from hours of viewing uneventful tape. The camera is only turned on when it detects motion in the area. This allows you to view just the action without having to weed through an entire tape consisting of hours of filming an empty area, which is what a traditional continuous-filming security camera would offer.

Saves Energy

Without a motion detector, your security camera will tape continuously, which wastes energy when there is nothing to film. The motion detector turns the camera on when it is needed and allows it to stay off when nothing is happening.

Element of Surprise

The lights need to be on so you can see what images appear on the security camera, but with a motion detector camera, the lights can be set to go on when the camera detects the motion. This offers the element of surprise to the person of interest appearing in the security film. A thief will scope out the area for cameras and avoid them, but if they enter a room with the lights off they will not see the camera until it is too late: The motion detector has turned on the lights and started filming before the intruder realizes he has been caught in the act.

Taping Wildlife

Motion detector cameras are used for purposes other than to catch intruders at home and at your business. The cameras are also used out in the wild when trying to capture pictures of animals that can be hard to find. The camera with a motion detector allows you to leave the camera on for long periods of time, unlike a camera that continuously films. A camera without a motion detector would need to have the tape replaced every hour or so depending on how long the tape can run for. With a motion detector camera, you do not need to constantly change the tape because it is only filming when there is something to film. Without this feature, you would not be able to leave a camera out in the wilderness for days at a time to catch pictures of wild animals because the tape would need constant replacing.

Step 1

Turn the electricity off to the circuit at the main fuse box that leads to the light fixture that you will replace. Remove the old lighting fixture by taking out the screws holding it in place.

Step 2

Guide the wires of the new fixture through the cover plate gasket and connect them to the house electrical wires, connecting the black wire to black wire and white wire to white wire. Use the nuts included in the motion detector package.

Step 3

Use the two screws provided in the new fixture’s package to attach the motion detector light fixture to the junction box. Screw in the outdoor light bulbs.

Step 4

Test the motion detector and adjust the range, sensitivity and mode. using the slide switch and the sensory adjustment dial on the bottom of the unit. Set the slide switch to the “test” position and the sensory adjustment to “medium” and adjust the settings from there.

Step 5

Position the unit so that it faces the area you want to illuminate. To test the range, walk in front of the sensor’s detection area at the farthest point you want the sensor to reach.

Step 6

Take the dial off the test position and move it to your desired settings. Fill in any screw holes from the old light fixture with caulk.

You can make a motion detectors without too much trouble, if you have some electrical abilities. Discuss the various types of homemade motion detectors you can possibly make with an electronics or spy store. You can also use some of these ideas to put one together quickly.

Step 1

Visit an electronics store to discuss the types of motion detectors possible for this project. You can make a very simple version with individual items at the electronics store, or you can use your PC and webcam capabilities to make one.

Step 2

Discuss such goodies as a 10K potentiometer, a one-kilo OHM resistor with LED, two CDS photocell batteries, one 741 Op Amp and a 9-volt battery breadboard with the electronics store personnel. The Op Amp goes in the middle of the breadboard. You must use your electrical expertise for positioning the nodes appropriately.

Step 3

Ask the same salesperson about putting together a motion detector with your PC and webcam as the main components. This will watch after your computer when you are away from it and show you who uses it in your absence. You simply need to set up your webcam in more of a surveillance mode.

Step 4

Depend on your outside light to give you an idea for an easy fix. You can make a motion detector easily following that example. Buy a light fixture that has motion-sensing capabilities. Add a simple light bulb and place the fixture where you want to monitor movement.

Step 5

Catch movement with any of these photo sensors at a distance of 8 to 12 micrometers.

The electronic doors on a store that open and close when we enter or exit use a motion detector device. Generally these are infrared detectors. The detector is usually a small box unit above the door itself which emits small bursts of microwaves or ultrasound waves. When the waves make contact with an object such as a person, they are then reflected back to the door as a disturbance which causes the door to open.

When infrared signals are used in a security system alarm, the same principles apply. The unit emits a wave which when disrupted by the movement of something in its path triggers an alarm to sound. Security alarm systems can also be photo-sensor alarms. These types of alarms are very common in store security systems. This is where a laser or beam of light is the sensor for the alarm. When something interferes with the beam, as when you cross through a doorway, it triggers the alarm to sound. When used in high security systems such as in a museum where there are priceless items, several beams of light are used to detect motion.

Another type of a motion detector alarm is the passive infrared alarm. Instead of emitting its own waves of infrared energy the alarm is constructed to pick up on the infrared energy of objects that pass by it. Since people emit infrared energy in their body heat, the sensor can pick up when a person passes by and then signals an alarm to sound. The drawback to this type of system is the amount of infrared energy needed before the sensor picks up the activity. Because the level usually needs to be rather high there is potential for getting past the alarm.

Many of the motion detector security systems used in homes will be connected to a master control box. The master controller is usually programmed with a delay timer for signaling the alarms. This delay time gives the homeowner a chance to override the signal if it was triggered by mistake. These master control boxes generally have a key code that needs to be entered before being able to override the alarm. This prevents unauthorized people from being able to shut off the alarm system. If you have valuables in your home you would benefit from using a motion sensor alarm of some type.