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  1. Home
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  3. What's the best PIR sensor?

What's the best PIR sensor?

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  • NeverDieN NeverDie

    Just an idea, but maybe just hacking a solar powered PIR would relieve concerns about the need to get an ultra low power PIR.

    Here's an example of one on ebay:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/2xSUPER-LED-SOLAR-POWER-RECHARGEABLE-PIR-MOTION-SENSOR-SECURITY-LIGHT-DOOR-WALLS-/252053834350?hash=item3aaf944a6e

    The LED function wouldn't be necessary and could instead be a trigger to a mysensor node. Also, the PIR should already be some form of low current, if it is to work as intended, though probably not ultra low current.

    So, at least for an outdoor motion sensor, it might turn out to be a very easy modification requiring little effort.

    Finding a tear down on somebody's blog would certainly help inform the purchase....

    DwaltD Offline
    DwaltD Offline
    Dwalt
    wrote on last edited by Dwalt
    #8

    @NeverDie said:

    So, at least for an outdoor motion sensor, it might turn out to be a very easy modification requiring little effort.

    Finding a tear down on somebody's blog would certainly help inform the purchase....

    Here is a review of a similar solar light.

    (http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-LED-Solar-Powered-PIR-Motion-Sensor-Light-Outdoor-Garden-Security-Wall-Light-/251959451412?hash=item3aa9f41f14).

    A lot of space inside for arduino, radio and additional sensors. Plus it is made of plastic which is better for radio. So you have a weatherproof housing with solar panel, battery, charging circuit and PIR already built in.

    Veralite UI5 :: IBoard Ethernet GW :: MyS 1.5

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    • NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDie
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      Interestingly, this guy pours cold water on panasonic's claim to 1ua current: http://too-many-projects.blogspot.com/2015/08/adventures-in-low-power-pir-sensors.html
      He also identifies the AM322 as having an average current of about 29uA. However, I can't be sure that's accurate because of the way he measures it using an Extech DMM. I suspect a more careful measurement would show it to be higher, at which point it would become a wash with the more commonly available options that reputedly consume around 50uA.

      I looked on Digikey for the panasonic PIR, but it seems that they're sold out on the type they claim consumes 1ua. Digikey does have plentyof the panasonic types that consume 170ua though. Digikey's price for the 1uA is around $16 (if they had it). If the number isn't bogus, I think it' may be worth the price. Solar is an alternative, but it's not without issues that could be sidestepped by a 1uA device.

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      • NeverDieN Offline
        NeverDieN Offline
        NeverDie
        Hero Member
        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
        #10

        Visonic sells the 2000C/PC PIR sensor, which consumes 4uA at 9v but costs around $65 plus shipping. It's a fully built sensor though and so hookup would be very easy. Likewise the Opotex EX-35R claims to consume 3.5uA while in standby (http://www.securitywarehouse.co.uk/brochure/EX_35 series.pdf) It can be had for about $40 plus shipping. Or there's the VX-402R, which I've previously owned (the plastic yellowed markedly from sun UV) for >$100 and it claims to consume <10uA: https://www.google.com/search?q=vx-402r&newwindow=1&biw=1280&bih=554&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0CHsQ_AUoAWoVChMIjLKC567WxwIVwpMNCh2jagOS#imgrc=V9ZE8BKtwmzC5M%3A
        Here's a youtube on how to connect the VX-402R wirelessly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30G5iMZ6sxQ

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        • NeverDieN Offline
          NeverDieN Offline
          NeverDie
          Hero Member
          wrote on last edited by NeverDie
          #11

          Here's another one to add to the list: IRS-B340ST02

          Used here: http://advanceddevices.com/sites/default/files/documents/AN311_MOTION_SENSOR_BASED_ON_STM300.pdf

          In addition, Honeywell claims up to a 7 year battery life (from just one CR123 3v Lithium battery) for its PIR: http://library.ademconet.com/MWT/fs2/5800PIR-RES/5800PIR-Series-Data-sheet.PDF
          Not bad.

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          • pyrodetectorP Offline
            pyrodetectorP Offline
            pyrodetector
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            Hello.
            It is not a question which PIR sensor is the best. The question is that who will sell it to you? There are a number of manufacturers which produce high-end pyroelectric detectors, but they don't sell them to private persons. Good quality lithium tantalate pyroelectric detector which you can use in instrumentation, costs approximately from 150 to 500 USD, and even higher. I know one supplier who sells their products worldwide. That is

            http://silverlight.ch/order_detectors.php

            Choose the last detector Model 446M2-3 and you will be happy. This is a "BMW" pyroelectric detector. If you have a bag of money, you, probably, can order "BMW" detectors from these people

            http://www.scitec.uk.com/infrared_detectors/irsensors_ordering.php?Submit1=Buy+Now

            In general, lithium tantalate pyroelectric detectors are not sold to private persons. Mouser, Farnell, and other distributors do not sell such things. They can sell only cheap detectors based on ceramics that are unable to be used in instrumentation.

            If you have questions about pyroelectric detectors, I may try to help you. Contact me at

            https://sites.google.com/site/pyrodetector/

            My research relates to mathematical modelling of pyroelectric detectors. I develop simulators for "BMW" detectors.
            I hope, this helps.
            Kind regards.

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            • alexsh1A Offline
              alexsh1A Offline
              alexsh1
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              By far the best PIR is Panasonic EKMB1201111 - 2uA
              The problem is the price

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              • gohanG Offline
                gohanG Offline
                gohan
                Mod
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                the good question would be "what is the best pir sensor with an affordable price" that can be used for DIY :)

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                • pyrodetectorP Offline
                  pyrodetectorP Offline
                  pyrodetector
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  "what is the best pir sensor with an affordable price" that can be used for DIY
                  If you want to do a thing by yourself, with a PIR sensor being cheap, you had better choose a PIR sensor from this manufacturer
                  http://kube.ch/pyroelectric/index.php
                  Read how they test their PIR sensors under humid environmental conditions
                  http://kube.ch/downloads/pdf/kube_sensors_stability.pdf
                  If a sensor is extremely cheap and is not sealed properly, moisture when comes in, just short-circuit the high-megohm pyroelectric sensitive element. No need to explain further...
                  You can buy a high-quality ceramic PIR sensor from KUBE for less than 10 euro. Lower price (10 euro for a bag full of PIR sensors) will give the low quality. You will be upset from the low quality longer than happy from the low price.

                  alexsh1A 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • pyrodetectorP pyrodetector

                    "what is the best pir sensor with an affordable price" that can be used for DIY
                    If you want to do a thing by yourself, with a PIR sensor being cheap, you had better choose a PIR sensor from this manufacturer
                    http://kube.ch/pyroelectric/index.php
                    Read how they test their PIR sensors under humid environmental conditions
                    http://kube.ch/downloads/pdf/kube_sensors_stability.pdf
                    If a sensor is extremely cheap and is not sealed properly, moisture when comes in, just short-circuit the high-megohm pyroelectric sensitive element. No need to explain further...
                    You can buy a high-quality ceramic PIR sensor from KUBE for less than 10 euro. Lower price (10 euro for a bag full of PIR sensors) will give the low quality. You will be upset from the low quality longer than happy from the low price.

                    alexsh1A Offline
                    alexsh1A Offline
                    alexsh1
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    @pyrodetector it is €50 for a demonstrator
                    Wow! I'll stick to Panasonic :-)

                    gohanG pyrodetectorP 2 Replies Last reply
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                    • alexsh1A alexsh1

                      @pyrodetector it is €50 for a demonstrator
                      Wow! I'll stick to Panasonic :-)

                      gohanG Offline
                      gohanG Offline
                      gohan
                      Mod
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      @alexsh1 Panasonic is around 20€ just for sensor, then you will have to build the pcb with all components, right?

                      alexsh1A 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • gohanG gohan

                        @alexsh1 Panasonic is around 20€ just for sensor, then you will have to build the pcb with all components, right?

                        alexsh1A Offline
                        alexsh1A Offline
                        alexsh1
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        @gohan sure, I got mine for $19 plus components and the case. And if you consider a good quality 3D printed case l, it is alone can be €15-20.

                        However, my PIR is nowhere near €50 given that all other components are cheap. I am only using it indoors. All I'm trying to say is that €50 is a level of z-wave devices. Aeon Multisensor is €55 - you get 6-in-1 sensor and not just PIR

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                        • gohanG Offline
                          gohanG Offline
                          gohan
                          Mod
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          Agreed, over 50€ is price range for commercial zwave (or similar) products and you would not even get near the level of compactness with a DIY cheaper solution

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                          • scalzS Offline
                            scalzS Offline
                            scalz
                            Hardware Contributor
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            @gohan
                            depends what you mean by diy ;)
                            if this is using cheap ali modules and stacking them, i agree. Else, soon, let me show how it can be more tiny :) That said rev1 of my multisensors is already tiny.

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                            • gohanG Offline
                              gohanG Offline
                              gohan
                              Mod
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              If you can make a comparable multisensor like the fibaro motion sensor with a 2 years battery life, I'm happy for you :D

                              alexsh1A 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • gohanG gohan

                                If you can make a comparable multisensor like the fibaro motion sensor with a 2 years battery life, I'm happy for you :D

                                alexsh1A Offline
                                alexsh1A Offline
                                alexsh1
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                @gohan yeah, major limitation for me is designing and printing a nice enclosure. I have recently finished a Geiger sensor. Cost of parts is not massive. The most expensive was the Geiger-Muller tube - £15. Printing an enclosure in SLS was £55. Ouch!!!
                                It does look nice, but the cost is just prohibitive

                                gohanG 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • alexsh1A alexsh1

                                  @gohan yeah, major limitation for me is designing and printing a nice enclosure. I have recently finished a Geiger sensor. Cost of parts is not massive. The most expensive was the Geiger-Muller tube - £15. Printing an enclosure in SLS was £55. Ouch!!!
                                  It does look nice, but the cost is just prohibitive

                                  gohanG Offline
                                  gohanG Offline
                                  gohan
                                  Mod
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  @alexsh1 agreed, with today's cost of a rather cheap 3D printer, you could repay it within 15-20 printed boxes :D

                                  alexsh1A 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • gohanG gohan

                                    @alexsh1 agreed, with today's cost of a rather cheap 3D printer, you could repay it within 15-20 printed boxes :D

                                    alexsh1A Offline
                                    alexsh1A Offline
                                    alexsh1
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    @gohan not in SLS. If you have to have a final product, the cost of printer is way too high. Needless to say that it looks like Xerox back in the 1980s :-)

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                                    • gohanG Offline
                                      gohanG Offline
                                      gohan
                                      Mod
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      Over here we are mostly talking about DIY stuff, and many times don't even have a box, so an ABS 3D printed box is close enough for a final product :D

                                      alexsh1A 1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • gohanG gohan

                                        Over here we are mostly talking about DIY stuff, and many times don't even have a box, so an ABS 3D printed box is close enough for a final product :D

                                        alexsh1A Offline
                                        alexsh1A Offline
                                        alexsh1
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #26

                                        @gohan perhaps it is me, but I'm perfectionist. If I have a node, it has to be perfect. And as a final product, that's the way it should be. When designing a prototype, ABS/PLA is fine, but it does not look like a finished product. Sorry

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                                        • alexsh1A alexsh1

                                          @pyrodetector it is €50 for a demonstrator
                                          Wow! I'll stick to Panasonic :-)

                                          pyrodetectorP Offline
                                          pyrodetectorP Offline
                                          pyrodetector
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

                                          @alexsh1 Why do you need a 50 euro demonstrator? A PIR sensor has 3 outputs: +, output, common. There is a 47K resistor between output and common. The circuit of an alarm sensor is very simple. Next, you can either make an alarm sensor using a circuit for example taken from here

                                          http://unhas.ac.id/tahir/BAHAN-KULIAH/ELIN/NEW/AlarmSensorandSecurityCircuitCookbook.pdf

                                          page 230 (you can use any ceramic PIR sensor instead of Model 5192 on lithium tantalate described by the author), or connect it directly to an A/D converter, and "play digits".

                                          You can order good quality dual ceramic PIR sensors at kube.ch or
                                          http://www.excelitas.com/Pages/Product/Pyroelectric-Detectors-and-Sensors.aspx
                                          Remember that no name manufacturers give no name quality.

                                          Want to know more about how PIR sensors work? Feel free to ask me.
                                          https://sites.google.com/site/pyrodetector/
                                          If I am skilled (if your question relates to a PIR sensor itself), I will help. Otherwise, I may try to help you, at least, by saying what I think about your problem. Good luck:)

                                          alexsh1A 1 Reply Last reply
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