If you have seen the movie Predator, then you may remember the scene where Dutch (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) avoids getting captured and killed by the Predator when he accidentally covers himself in mud, which hides the heat from his body. The Predator, using body heat signatures to identify its prey, can't detect Dutch even though looking right at him -- the mud hides his body's heat signature. Well, I haven't tested it (yet?), but the same concepts should apply when trying to avoid detection by a motion sensor light! (if you test this, let me know and I'll post the results!)

In previous articles I have discussed how motion sensor lights work, and how the heat from objects moving across the motion sensing field will trigger a motion sensing light. This article is not meant to give you ideas for sneaking past someone's motion sensor, but instead is to help you better understand how your lights work and possibly help you better place your motion lights to pick up the type of motion you want to trigger your lights. I will plan to set up some testing in my backyard (using my kids - they will love it!) to see how well we can avoid our motion sensing lights--I'll post any results. Here are some suggestions and ideas on avoiding motion sensors (note that these apply to heat-sensing motion detectors like those typically found in motion lights - these do not necessarily apply to sound, beam or other detectors):

Here are some installation tips and guidelines to remember when installing your motion detector light.  Don't worry -- it's not that hard!  Read the instructions that come with your light, because each light is a little different.  Most instructions will provide easy to read, step-by-step instructions that will guide you through the process.  Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

• The cover of the outdoor electrical box must be waterproof. Your installation kit should contain a rubber gasket to ensure a good seal to keep moisture out of the box.  Seat the rubber gasket carefully. Also, if your electrical box will be placed up against a rough surface, or if you just want to ensure a good moisture-proof seal, caulk it as well.

   

How and where you place your motion lights will directly effect the security and convenience you get from your lighting.  Before installing (or even purchasing!) your motion lights, make sure to think about your intended use for your lighting, your home layout, and placement of your lights.  One factor will be whether you are using existing non-motion lighting (and simply adding a motion sensor to that existing lighting).  Also, you should consider whether you are using existing light wiring, or are adding new wiring to your desired installation location.  Here are some additional tips to maximize placement of your motion detector light.

Best Convenience

For best convenience out of your motion light, place the motion detection sensor to cover the walks and pathways leading to your front door, your back doors and your driveway.  This will ensure that your motion lights will turn on when you come home at night.  Motion lights also add great convenience to light up patios, decking, stairways, and areas around swimming pools.  Also, consider using motion lights to cover any areas you use at night to take out your pets.

 

With the current state of the economy, there is more concern than ever that burglaries and other household crime will continue to increase.  As a result, it is crucial now more than ever to increase security at and around your home.  While many home security systems and strategies will cost you thousands of dollars of upfront and ongoing cost, there are other supplemental and effective steps you can take now to increase your home security.  One effective measure that is relatively simple, quick and inexpensive to add to your home is to install motion activated lighting to your home and yard.

One of the main reasons that people install motion lighting is to deter the plans of would-be burglars and add safety to their home and home environment.  Other benefits and features of motion lighting include beauty, convenience and energy savings.

 

Based on our experiences with outdoor motion detector lights, this article will list the top 5 benefits that we have found. These are not the only benefits -- in fact, while reading this article, you will likely think of other benefits from outdoor motion lights. If you do, share them! Let us know how you have benefited from motion sensor lights!

• Security - this one is easy. Motion lights come on when motion is detected. With properly placed and set motion lights, intruders will be met with lights turning on in their face as they approach your house. Something to note: set your light sensitivity correctly. From experience, when your motion lights turn on in the middle of the night, you'll want to know what set them off! Setting the lights to avoid small animals like racoons, rabbits, etc. will help you avoid false alarms!

This solar powered motion detector halogen light really allows you to be flexible in placing the light around your house.  No electricity needed for this solar light -- allowing you to position the light where you want, giving you the convenience and safety of a motion light practically anywhere outdoors -- even in areas without direct sunlight!  This is because the solar panel is separated from the light unit, allowing you to place the solar panels up to 15 feet away from the location where the motion light fixture itself is installed.

The detector gives you a 35 foot, 180 degree motion sensing range, so the light will work in areas where full left/center/right coverage is needed.  Also, the unit uses a sealed lead-acid 6-volt 4Ah rechargeable battery, which are rated to give you at least 3 years of usage before replacement is needed.

I want to introduce you to a device that will give you great security features for your home, does not require complicated installation, and costs very little (less than $70 at the time of this article) compared to the safety features it provides. Bear with me for a minute while I explain what this wonderful, innovative, safety device will do for you and your home:

• You place the outdoor motion sensor in an area of your yard that you would like to monitor -- front or back porch area, walkway, outside of garage, etc.
• You then place the indoor unit in your home and plug it into a standard wall outlet. Plug a lamp or other indoor light into this unit. Keep the indoor unit within 100 feet of the location of the outdoor motion sensor.
• When motion is detected from the sensor you have placed in your yard, the light you have plugged into the indoor unit will turn on, and the indoor unit will also emit an audible alarm!
• You can manually override the indoor unit, to control the light directly without the use of the motion detector. Also, the alarm includes a volume control, and you can adjust the amount of time that the light will remain on after outdoor motion is detected.

Have an overactive motion detector? The sensitivity level on today's motion detector lights may cause the sensor to trigger too frequently, causing the light to stay on longer than desired, or causing the light to turn on too frequently due to motion detected from an unwanted area.  Here are some tips to fix this problem:

The front door light or front porch light on most homes is not motion controlled.  The light is either on or off, depending on whether someone remembered to flick the switch.  As a result, the light sometimes stays on during the day, or stays off at night - either way, not the best use of the light for either energy cost and conservation or safety.  One easy way to deal with this problem, save money on energy costs and get the safety benefits of a light at your front door that will be on when you need it, is to use a motion sensor light.  These lights come in many decorative styles, colors and designs that are sure to enhance the beauty of your home front.

Not so long ago, motion sensor lights came in only a few, flood light styles.  Colors were typically either black or white, and the industrial look of these lights did not lend themselves well to a front door setting.  Not so any longer.  Even the flood light motion light styles no longer have this drab industrial look.  But look further at the decorative wall-style motion light, and you will find a vast selection of beautiful styles and designs to choose from.

When placed correctly, indoor motion lights provide great convenience, function and savings. The principle is simple - the light motion sensor control is located in a wall switch unit, which is added as a replacement for the normal light wall switch. Once you add a couple of indoor motion light sensors to a few rooms in your house, you will wonder what you ever did without them. The motion sensor switch uses your existing house wiring, and is very easy to install. Instead of the normal switch, the wall switch plate for the motion light sensor will look like the picture above. After using these light sensors for many years, we've listed below some of the top uses for these products in an indoor environment.

When the light sensor in the new wall plate picks up motion, the light turns on. Once motion is detected, the sensor can typically be set to leave the light on for a fixed period of time (from 5 seconds to 25 minutes), or to turn the light off as soon as the sensor stops picking up motion. This automatic function saves money - the lights only stay on as long as you need them. These lights also typically include an on / off button, allowing you to simply turn the light off or on, regardless of whether there is motion in the room.