Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Motion detector problem

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View Full Version : Motion detector problem


Strawman623
09-11-05, 05:38 AM
Anyone have a suggestion for what to do about moths that seem to set off my outdoor motion detector light?

"Bugged in the Colorado high country"


MrRonFL
09-11-05, 10:08 AM
Short of a bug zapper well away from your motion sensor unit, there's not much you can do about it. A two gram bug looks pretty big on infrared from direct contact range. Most lights like this have a pretty limited sensitivity range adjustment, the difference between high and low isn't that wide.

chiefobrien
09-11-05, 08:48 PM
Whoah! Please respond as I am in dire straits.....

Last night, our motion alarm went off at 5 am. First time since we got the system 1 year ago. I went in the room and found no signs of forced entry, nothing broken. Went back to bed, set on alarm. 30 minutes later it went off again. I swore at ADT, turn off the system altogether, and put a motion detector (self-contained PIR/siren unit for hotel use) on top of the stairs. 30 minutes later--AGAIN!

My wife is convinced somebody was hiding out downstairs. I guarantee her that I saw nobody. Tonight, she is hardly sleeping for fear of a prowler, and I am hardly sleeping for fear of a false alarm.

Since we turn off all our lights at night, and since we do get moths and bugs in our house occasionally, could a moth have been attracted to the IR light and set off not only the ADT system twice, but our portable PIR/siren unit? Is this common?