Motion sensors are a fantastic safety feature of any home, adding an additional layer of security and protection for your family and belongings. If you think about your home security in layers, motion sensors act as a critical piece of the stack. By creating “zones” inside and outside of your home, they provide a warning before an intruder enters your home (best case scenario), or after they’ve entered (worst case scenario).
Expanding from our previous post, “Best Budget-Friendly Tools for Home Security,” we take a deeper dive into motion sensors to provide you more information on how exactly they add a stronger level of safety to your residence by type.
Types of Motion Sensors
There are basically two types of technology when it comes to motion sensors for home security: Infrared and Ultrasonic. Both of these technologies have their advantages, based on your home security needs:
- Active Infrared Sensors
- Active infrared sensors emit a constant electrical signal which uses an infrared light that connects to the detector. When the infrared beam is interrupted, the alarm sounds.
- Passive Infrared Sensors
- Passive infrared sensors are activated when a heat source (like the human body) passes by it and the sensor detects movement. Once this happens, the alarm sounds. This type of infrared sensor is most common in home security systems.
- Active Ultrasonic Sensors
- Active ultrasonic sensors use a high-frequency sound wave that people can’t hear. They act somewhat like a boomerang in that they send out the sound wave in a determined area and it bounces back. When an intruder breaks the sound wave, it sounds the alarm.
- Passive Ultrasonic Sensors
- Unlike the active ultrasonic sensor, the passive ultrasonic sensor waits for an event to occur, such as the sound of breaking glass. Once a sound wave of activity is detected, the sensor is triggered and sounds the alarm.
Indoor and Outdoor Motion Sensors for Enhanced Home Security
Adding motion sensors to your home security system creates a layer of protection that most potential intruders don’t want to mess with. They know the chances are, if you have an outdoor motion sensor on your property, you most likely have an indoor motion sensor installed as well.
Time is of the essence for intruders, and motion sensors make their lives much more complicated.
At Alexius Denver’s Locksmith, we care about your home security and the safety of your family. If you have questions about motion sensors, or any other aspects of your home security, call us today at 303-974-0215.
