@NeverDie said in What's the best PIR sensor?:

@pyrodetector "TL;DR" = "too long; didn't read." Nothing personal. Just a common internet acronym. It means, in effect, "What's the bottom line?"

Dear @NeverDie Thanks a lot! I am not an experienced user on the internet forums and you help me be getting better.
In order to say which sensor is the best, one has to determine the criteria. I research the dynamic behavior of pyroelectric detectors. One common rule is true for all pyroelectric detectors: the higher the AC responsivity, the higher the noise, the higher the current consumption, the shorter the transient response. And vice versa. If you want to gain more knowledge on pyroelectric detectors, you can build an experimental setup/bench similar to mine for testing your pyroelectric detectors. I wish anyone had such a bench and we could share the results with one another. Probably, closer to spring, I will test the sensor you mentioned above and publish its transient response here.

HC-SR505 Mini Infrared PIR Motion Sensor Precise Infrared Detector Module

$1.21

4041 available

Dear MaxG.
Thank you for your interest.
«I am missing units of measure in the graphs» - You are right. I didn't put the units of measurement in the graphs. I described the graphs in the beginning of every paragraph.
«Why is there a significant dip at 50?» - every sensor has its own transient response. Some pyroelectric detectors are faster, some not. Serial opposed dual pyroelectric detectors have transient responses longer than parallel. I found value 50s to be approximately good for all of the samples. Also, this value is comparable with the scale of percentage, so 100s, or 100%, is the length of the full period, and 50s, or 50%, if that of one of the two transient responses, heating or cooling respectively.

«Maybe overlaying the sensors in one graph per category would allow for a quick comparison of the response.» - every graph includes four lines. If I overlay all of them one another, I'm afraid, we will receive chaos. I think It would be a good idea to overlay the approximations only. What are you thinking?
«A summary/conclusion would also be helpful to the reader.» - You are right twice. But I didn“t do it for the next reasons.

1. This method is too young, the first attempt. I don't have enough knowledge, skills or practical experience do write conclusion. When a half of the year have passed by, I will, probably, be able to write good, professional conclusions.
2. As the author, I am also interested in the opinion/conclusions of the other people. This is why I have posted it here.
   If you have more questions, please, feel free to ask. If you know the other people interesting in pyroelectric measurements, invite them to this discussion. This topic is brand new. I am looking for more feedbacks and opinions. I'll be glad to receive positive, but also accept critics. The truth is born in discussions.
   Kind regards in return.
   P.S. you can even think about carrying out the same measurements all by yourself. If you find a way how to test motion sensors to avoid false alarms, you will be able to earn something.

Hi, there!

I have measured and approximated the transient responses of 11 analog dual-element pyroelectric detectors both expensive lithium tantalate and cheap lead zirconate titanate used in motion sensors under the same conditions. I published the results in the brochure.
In principle, it is possible to collect the database of the pyroelectric detectors and discuss which of which is better or worse for this or that application. I am the originator/inventor of this method of testing that I call "The Time Domain Method". It differs from the classic "Frequency Domain Method" used for the decades. Before publishing, I have not yet seen any academic work that would explain this topic in details. Moreover, I didn't meet any paper that would relate to testing pyroelectric detectors in the time domain. This seems to be the world's first achievement in this area. What are you thinking about it?

@NeverDie said in What's the best PIR sensor?:

@pyrodetector "TL;DR" = "too long; didn't read." Nothing personal. Just a common internet acronym. It means, in effect, "What's the bottom line?"

Dear @NeverDie Thanks a lot! I am not an experienced user on the internet forums and you help me be getting better.
In order to say which sensor is the best, one has to determine the criteria. I research the dynamic behavior of pyroelectric detectors. One common rule is true for all pyroelectric detectors: the higher the AC responsivity, the higher the noise, the higher the current consumption, the shorter the transient response. And vice versa. If you want to gain more knowledge on pyroelectric detectors, you can build an experimental setup/bench similar to mine for testing your pyroelectric detectors. I wish anyone had such a bench and we could share the results with one another. Probably, closer to spring, I will test the sensor you mentioned above and publish its transient response here.

HC-SR505 Mini Infrared PIR Motion Sensor Precise Infrared Detector Module

$1.21

4041 available

@NeverDie said in What's the best PIR sensor?:

@pyrodetector said in What's the best PIR sensor?:

I have published the brochure in which I tested the eleven pyroelectric detectors from different manufacturers, pyroelectric materials, and electrical connections - both parallel and serial. I tested them under the same conditions. I hope this helps. Feel free to ask the questions:)

For the TL;DR, which one did you like the best?

Dear NeverDie!
What is "TL;DR", please?
Every sensor is good for its application. Among a set of sensors the best two sensors or more are those having similar characteristics.

Dear MaxG.
Thank you for your interest.
«I am missing units of measure in the graphs» - You are right. I didn't put the units of measurement in the graphs. I described the graphs in the beginning of every paragraph.
«Why is there a significant dip at 50?» - every sensor has its own transient response. Some pyroelectric detectors are faster, some not. Serial opposed dual pyroelectric detectors have transient responses longer than parallel. I found value 50s to be approximately good for all of the samples. Also, this value is comparable with the scale of percentage, so 100s, or 100%, is the length of the full period, and 50s, or 50%, if that of one of the two transient responses, heating or cooling respectively.

«Maybe overlaying the sensors in one graph per category would allow for a quick comparison of the response.» - every graph includes four lines. If I overlay all of them one another, I'm afraid, we will receive chaos. I think It would be a good idea to overlay the approximations only. What are you thinking?
«A summary/conclusion would also be helpful to the reader.» - You are right twice. But I didn“t do it for the next reasons.

1. This method is too young, the first attempt. I don't have enough knowledge, skills or practical experience do write conclusion. When a half of the year have passed by, I will, probably, be able to write good, professional conclusions.
2. As the author, I am also interested in the opinion/conclusions of the other people. This is why I have posted it here.
   If you have more questions, please, feel free to ask. If you know the other people interesting in pyroelectric measurements, invite them to this discussion. This topic is brand new. I am looking for more feedbacks and opinions. I'll be glad to receive positive, but also accept critics. The truth is born in discussions.
   Kind regards in return.
   P.S. you can even think about carrying out the same measurements all by yourself. If you find a way how to test motion sensors to avoid false alarms, you will be able to earn something.

I have published the brochure in which I tested the eleven pyroelectric detectors from different manufacturers, pyroelectric materials, and electrical connections - both parallel and serial. I tested them under the same conditions. I hope this helps. Feel free to ask the questions:)

Hi, there!

I have measured and approximated the transient responses of 11 analog dual-element pyroelectric detectors both expensive lithium tantalate and cheap lead zirconate titanate used in motion sensors under the same conditions. I published the results in the brochure.
In principle, it is possible to collect the database of the pyroelectric detectors and discuss which of which is better or worse for this or that application. I am the originator/inventor of this method of testing that I call "The Time Domain Method". It differs from the classic "Frequency Domain Method" used for the decades. Before publishing, I have not yet seen any academic work that would explain this topic in details. Moreover, I didn't meet any paper that would relate to testing pyroelectric detectors in the time domain. This seems to be the world's first achievement in this area. What are you thinking about it?

@alexsh1 Happy to been helpful:) But, remember if you want to apply a PIR sensor in instrumentation, you have to use lithium tantalate pyroelectric detector rather than simple ceramic one. Ask me before.

@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:)

@TheoL kube.ch produce high-quality ceramic PIR sensors. They cost less than 10 euro. They work well (I develop and sell simulators for PIR sensors from $1 to ... . I know principle of operating) Just, use good sensors and forget of problems. Cheap sensors give cheap quality. If you want a lithium tantalate single crystal PIR sensor for instrumentation, go to silverlight.ch Be ready to pay $150, but you will get a "porshe" PIR. I have samples from these manufacturers. LT sensors for instruments are magic! There are a number of other manufacturers, but most of them don't sell their products to private persons (reasons are obvious)

"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.

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.