Many properties have dark corners which are not only good hiding places for unwanted visitors but they can also be quite dangerous and inconvenient when arriving at home or at work in the dark.

Imagine walking down an icy path, trying to find door keys in the dead of night. This is one of the locations where a motion sensor light can really help to make life easier.

Just like it says on the package, motion lighting is activated when any person, animal, or object passes through the beam. This can help allay fears when there is a noise in a dark corner of the backyard. As soon as the light switches on, it is possible to see exactly what is (or isn’t) out there from the safety and security of indoors.

Mounting Your Motion Sensor Strategically Is Critical

One of the most important things to consider is the positioning of the light.

There are many different types and models of light which are available in the majority of hardware stores. The best thing to do is to play around with the positioning of the light fitting and the beam for the best effect.

If the idea is to light the walkway to the property then it could well be a case of trial and error before the beam is pointing in the most efficient direction.

If the lights are aimed predominantly for security purposes and to deter intruders, it is more important to light up dark corners of the yard close to windows where they could hide and break into the property under cover of darkness.

The majority of these lights should be mounted between six to ten feet above the ground in order to give maximum impact and range of light when they are activated.

This enables them to be positioned so that it senses movement across the motion sensor zone instead of directly towards it.

Types of Motion Sensors

There are many different types of lights available so take your time to find the best outdoor motion sensor light for your property. Some lights are supplied with a motion sensor that can be placed a few feet away from the actual light fitting which gives much more scope when it comes to positioning and effectiveness.

It is relatively quick and simple to install this type of safety device around a property, but anyone who is unsure of their ability to deal with simple electrical tasks should always rely on a professional to do the job properly. Each brand of light will come with a set of fitting instructions which are applicable to that particular fitting. It is very important to read these instructions carefully before starting any work.

Fitting motion sensor lights to the exterior of any property really is a cheap, easy, and effective method of adding security and comfort.

Microwave

The microwave motion-sensing technology uses microwave pulses to measure the reflections of moving objects. Once they have measured the reflections, the sensors will be able to tell whether or not the objects are moving. These kinds of sensors are very sensitive and can cover a larger target range.

However, due to their ability to see through non-metallic objects, sometimes microwave sensors can sense moving objects outside the targeted area. They also use a lot of energy and are easily prone to electrical interference.

The electronic guard dog is one type of motion detector that uses this technology. This guard dog has no teeth and is not really visible. But place it in front of your house and any tress passer will be scared away by the angry barks.

Passive Infrared

These sensors work by detecting the infrared energy (body heat) of the surrounding environment. All warm-blooded creatures emit this kind of radiation. Once the system is armed, the motion sensors are activated by electricity. Then, when a person or animal enters the targeted area, the sensors increase the temperature and create a protective grid.

When the intruder persists and keeps on trespassing various grids, the motion sensors will eventually trip the alarm. This type of sensing technology is very common in home security systems and indoor alarms. They are easily affordable and will last longer.

Ultrasonic

Almost like the microwave motion-sensing technology, ultrasonic sensors use ultrasonic waves to measure the reflections of moving objects. They are also very sensitive and can either be passive or active. Whereas passive ones are keen for specific sounds like glass breaking, active detectors emit very high and unsettling sound waves to scare away intruders.

Dual Technology

This technology is teamwork of both the ultrasonic and passive infrared technologies. Dual-tech motion sensors are often accurate, and that is why they are always preferred by big business owners and learning institutions. For the alarm to be tripped, both sensors have to sense intrusion.

Although each of the two combining technologies operates in different areas of the spectrum, they require just one mechanism to remain on. However, this dual trigger can fail to detect real alarms.

Photoelectric

This motion-sensing technology relies on a focused beam of energy traveling between a sensor and an emitter unit. Therefore, when something moves between this unit of light, it interrupts the beam and triggers the motion detectors. More expensive sensors will use invisible infrared energy for this technology.

One downside of photoelectric sensors is that they are prone to false alarms.