One of the problems homeowners face with motion sensors is that a motion detector can easily trigger something other than just motion, such as shadows.
Sometimes, these sensors alert you when there is nothing there and can make you nervous or anxious.
Shadows can trigger a Motion Sensor and bring it to life.
Motion Sensors (How to wire) not only detect motion but what that motion is.
Shadows cast by a moving object can trigger a motion detector just as easily as lights because.
Wind can also cause an object to cast shadows or patterns in the way of a motion detector that quickly detects the temperature change change can cause the sensor (Best indoor security camera with temperature sensor) to trigger.
Motion sensors that use image comparison can also be triggered by shadows and lights when a sudden change in light intensity occurs quickly.
Irregular patterns, such as sunlight from moving tree leaves, can trigger motion detectors, just as enough dust particles caught in a sunbeam can be perceived as motion by motion detectors.
In most cases, slower changes in light, such as the sun moving across the sky, are not sufficient to trigger sensors in most cases.
This is why the location where a motion detector is placed is so important, as it can be triggered by something that does not count as motion at all, such as shadows, light, wind, etc.
Sometimes these false trigger events are caused by Infrared Rays or the reflection of infrared. It’s not specifically the shadows, but IR reflections.
It can be reflecting off various objects in the field of view, which can cause you to try to cover too large an area.
The maximum coverage area for the motion sensor is about 20ft (also see “Why Does my Motion Sensor Light Stay on?).
You can mitigate this by either placing your motion detection camera far away from trees or reducing the coverage area to a specific position.
How to stop motion sensor triggers due to shadows
To successfully prevent your motion sensor from detecting shadows, there are simple tricks to use.
If you have a security system that includes a motion sensor light with a camera, it may help to adjust the lighting a bit to reduce a false alarm due to shadow detection.
Removing any objects that reflect light or create patterns in the path of your motion sensor camera with light is one way to do this, such as removing a tree whose leaves are causing problems, making sure you don’t have a clothing line spreading across the sensor’s view, etc.
Another way to adjust the light is to have it brighter indoors during the day, so there is less contrast between indoor and outdoor light sources.
Additionally, you could put up thicker blinds or curtains that block the light pattern so that the shadows are not as pronounced.
This way, false alarms could be reduced, and you could be more relaxed.
The wind itself can’t directly activate a motion detector, but it can cause other objects to move. These moving objects will trigger the motion sensor. So if you are concerned about wind movement, you should consider where to place your sensor.
However, if you live in a windy environment, having a sensor outdoors means you are exposed to potential false alarms.
Another way to prevent your motion sensor from sensing shadows and setting off alarms is to reduce its sensitivity. If the sensitivity is so low, the only problem is that it may not detect a person walking to the door or another object.
Finally, a shadow can also trigger your motion detector if you don’t block out all the triggering factors like light, wind, dust, etc.
If you want to avoid accidentally triggering your motion detector due to shadows, learn how to prevent them when installing your motion sensor installation.
Where should I place my motion detector sensors and lights?
The placement of the sensors for your motion detector lights requires a bit of careful consideration. Whether you place lights inside or outside your home, you want them to turn on at the right time.
That means the sensors need to see what you want them to see when you want them to see it. Strategic placement will help your motion detector lights work for you.
The best height to place a motion detector light sensor is 6-10 feet above the ground.
This gives your sensor a wider view of the activity within its field of view without setting its vision too high.
A sensor placed too close to the ground will only pick up the movement of people or the feet of animals, and a sensor placed too high could potentially miss a lot of normal, everyday movement.