Motion sensor for turning on the light - device, operating principle, connection diagrams

It is unwise to turn on lighting in some rooms or outdoors for the entire dark period. To ensure that the light turns on only when needed, a motion sensor is installed in the lamp’s power circuit. In the “normal” state, it breaks the power circuit. When a moving object appears in its coverage area, the contacts close and the lighting turns on. After the object disappears from the coverage area, the light turns off. This operating algorithm has proven itself excellent in street lighting, in lighting utility rooms, corridors, basements, entrances and stairs. In general, in those places where people appear only periodically. So, for savings and convenience, it is better to install a motion sensor to turn on the light.

Where used, types

Products come in several types - ceiling, wall and for hidden installation. They are also conventionally divided into several types according to the principle of operation (we will discuss this in more detail below).

When choosing, consider the installation location. Sensors are divided into household and street lighting.

In the latter case, materials are used that protect the device from negative natural influences. It can be connected on the stairs or on the street. Household devices are designed for installation inside the house.

Depending on the circumstances, sensors that monitor movement can be connected to a spotlight, lamps, or even an Arduino smart home.

The main device manufacturers are ERA, Evan, TDM, LLT, Orbis, Duwi, Camelion, Brennenstuhl, Elektrostandard, FERON, REV, REXANT, Rubetek and others.

Characteristics

When purchasing a motion sensor, it is important to consider a number of parameters, which determine the features, connection location, and conditions for use.

Main characteristics when choosing:

1. WEIGHT. Modern light sensors weigh from 25 to 240 g.
2. Maximum load power. When choosing a product, you need to look at the permissible load. Thus, one sensor can switch devices with power from 60 to 2300 W. Please note that when using more powerful devices, it may be necessary to replace the wiring or install a machine with a higher rated current.
3. VOLTAGE. The operating voltage varies in a wide range from 1.5 to 220 Volts. Conventionally, motion sensors are divided into several groups - 1.5 V, from 2.2 to 3.6 V, 220 V, 5 or 9 V.
4. MAXIMUM VIEWING ANGLE. Here the range is from 30 to 360 degrees. In the latter case, the device operates along the entire perimeter of the room.
5. RANGE. The minimum and maximum distance parameters are 8 and 120 m. Here you need to take into account the object on which lighting is provided. You should not choose sensors with an excessively high parameter, because they can react to the movement of strangers.
6. RECOMMENDED INSTALLATION HEIGHT. Here the permissible parameter ranges from 1.2 to 16 m.
7. PRESENCE OF LED INDICATOR. Some sensors are equipped with an LED that starts blinking when a signal is present. Other LED display options are also possible.

These are the main characteristics that you need to consider when purchasing. We will discuss the selection criteria in more detail below.

TOP best manufacturers in the domestic lighting market

This market segment has been firmly conquered by Chinese manufacturers, among which Feron and Mighty Light stand out. They were one of the first to present their products, which are distinguished by a powerful luminous flux.

High-quality lamps with motion sensors are offered by German manufacturers Steinel and Euroelectric. The first offers LED lamps with a motion sensor based on a sensor that perceives infrared radiation. The second specializes in outdoor options that operate in a wide temperature range. One of the best models for wall mounting is ST-69-2.

We recommend reading: how lighting of stair steps with a motion sensor can be implemented.

The Polish company Hardt supplies lamps with motion sensors protected from moisture and dust for the needs of housing and communal services; the Led-Hardt model would be an excellent choice.

Moscow and the regions of Russia are in the field of activity of numerous dealer centers and online stores, where fast delivery of any types of lamps with motion sensors will be ensured.

Scheme and principle of operation

There is a large selection of sensors on the market that react to movement and allow you to configure the switching on of lighting on different objects. When purchasing such devices, it is necessary to take into account the presence of several types.

Infrared

The products sense the heat emitted by the human body. The main element is a sensor with a Fresnel lens installed on it, which reacts to the approach of heat and bridges the contact group.

Operating principle:

• the radiation is focused into a narrow beam of light and directed to the sensor;
• the sensor detects the signal, receives it and gives a command to operate.

Such devices are conventionally divided into passive and active. In the first case, the response occurs to a change in temperature conditions, and in the second, the operation occurs in the event of a signal interruption.

How does it work

Most devices use infrared radiation technology, because human thermal energy is in this range. An important element of the motion indicator is an optical system that reacts to the presence and change of thermal radiation in the infrared range and sends an electrical signal. The auxiliary devices then turn the lights on and off.

Criterias of choice

When purchasing a presence sensor to turn on the light, it is important to consider a number of criteria regarding installation and operation features.

Let's highlight the basic recommendations:

1. DECIDE THE PLACE FOR INSTALLATION. For outdoor installation, it is advisable to choose devices with protection from IP 55 and higher (preferably from 65). If the product is mounted under a canopy and protected from water, the IP degree is suitable. If the motion sensor is planned to be installed inside, for example, to turn on lighting in a house, apartment or garage, there are no special requirements for the degree of protection.
2. CONSIDER POSSIBLE OBSTACLES (WALLS). The most commonly used sensors are sound or infrared sensors. Microwave products are more suitable for security purposes.
3. DECIDE YOUR VIEWING ANGLE. If the entrance to the room where the lighting is being adjusted is possible from several points, it is advisable to choose a sensor with a 360-degree angle and mounted on the ceiling. If there is only one passage, 180 degrees is enough.
4. DECIDE ON POWER. Before purchasing a device, consider the consumption of the devices that will be connected to it. Sum up the resulting values ​​and add 10-20% on top for reserve.
5. CONSIDER YOUR ACTION RADIUS. For a small room, a minimum parameter of 6-10 meters is sufficient. To work over a large area, it is better to choose sensors with a large radius.
6. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF ANIMALS. If there are pets in the apartment or in the yard of the house that can affect the sensor, it is better to take devices with special protection.
7. PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRESENCE OF A PHOTO RELAY. This is a big plus, because in this case the product turns on only in the absence of light.

We will pay special attention to the choice of lighting devices:

1. When installing the sensor outdoors, use LED spotlights, which can easily withstand temperature changes and place less stress on the wiring.
2. In open areas, it is better to use lamps that operate on the luminescent principle.
3. When organizing driveway lighting, you can use all types of lamps, but in order to save money, it is better to choose the LED option.

Knowing the features of choosing a motion sensor and lighting elements, it is easier to make the right purchase and not make a mistake with the choice.

Lamp design features

The sensor interacts with any of the types of lamps on the market - incandescent, LED, and others. LED lamps with motion detectors are in greatest demand on the market.

In addition to the fact that they themselves provide energy savings, their compactness and ease of installation provide an advantage in competition with other lighting options.

Based on the method of using lamps, the following categories are distinguished:

• stationary, the installation of which requires the presence of a power supply network;
• portable, which operate on autonomous sources (batteries, solar and conventional batteries) and are not tied to an electrical outlet.

There are two options for connecting the sensor to the light source: remote and built-in. In a remote design, the detector and lamp are made in the form of separate elements, between which there is a wired connection. In another embodiment, the light bulb and the motion sensor are mounted in one housing.

Light bulbs with a sensitive motion sensor for the home and a similar street lamp differ in the degree of protection from external factors. Weather conditions in the form of rain, snow and other natural precipitation, temperature changes impose certain requirements on the design of a street lamp in terms of the degree of protection from dust and moisture ingress.

How to connect for lighting: on the stairs, in the apartment, on the street

There are five different connection schemes for lighting control. Let's look at the features of each option and common mistakes.

Circuits without a switch

To begin with, let's highlight circuit solutions that do not involve the use of a switch.

Two-wire connection

This is the simplest option, which involves the use of several elements - a 220 V circuit breaker, a sensor, a junction box and a lighting source). The principle of assembling the circuit is the same as when installing a lamp.

First, power is supplied to the indicator, and through it is directed to the lamp. It is better to assemble the chain in an individual circuit, rather than in a general lighting chain.

A simplified diagram is shown below.

Using this method, you can connect motion sensors to turn on the lights on the stairs, in an apartment or other object.

The action algorithm looks like this:

1. Place a cable with three cores and a 1.5 square wire into the junction box and label the wires (indicate the phase, ground and neutral wires).
2. Stretch two wires to the installation site of the control product, which gives the command to turn on the lighting.

3. Place the device at a height of 120-200 cm from the floor. When installing, make sure that it does not interfere with the opening of doors or other mechanisms. It is not recommended to install near heating elements.

4. Also place the cable that goes to the light source in the box.
5. Connect all the wires using special terminal blocks - phase, neutral and ground.

6. Connect the wires to the sensor. Place the phase on the terminal with L, and the second wire (from the lamp) on the load symbol.

7. Finish the installation by installing the box and setting it up. Set the automatic mode, operating time interval and sensitivity level.

Adjustment (setting)

After installation, the motion sensor must be configured to turn on the light. There are small rotary controls on the body to adjust almost all parameters. They can be turned by inserting your fingernail into the slot, but it is better to use a small screwdriver. Let us describe the adjustment of a DD-type motion sensor with a built-in light sensor, since they are most often installed in private homes to automate street lighting.

Tilt angle

For those sensors that are mounted on walls, you first need to set the angle of inclination. They are mounted on rotating brackets, with the help of which their position changes. It must be selected so that the controlled area is the largest. It is impossible to give exact recommendations, since it depends on the vertical viewing angle of the model and on the height at which you hung it.

Adjusting the motion sensor begins with selecting the angle of inclination

The optimal installation height for the motion sensor is about 2.4 meters. In this case, even those models that can cover only 15-20° vertically control sufficient space. Adjusting the incline is a very rough name for what you'll be doing. You will gradually change the angle of inclination, check how the sensor works in this position from different possible entry points. It's not difficult, but it's tedious.

Sensitivity

On the body this adjustment is labeled SEN (from English sensitive - sensitivity). The position can be changed from minimum (min/low) to maximum (max/hight).

Basically, the settings look like this

This is one of the most difficult settings, since it determines whether the sensor will work on small animals (cats and dogs). If the dog is large, it will not be possible to avoid false alarms. With medium and small animals this is quite possible. The setup procedure is as follows: set it to minimum, check how it works for you and for inhabitants of smaller stature. If necessary, increase the sensitivity little by little.

Delay time

Different models have different shutdown delay ranges - from 3 seconds to 15 minutes. You need to insert it the same way - by turning the adjusting wheel. It is usually signed Time (translated from English as “time”).

Glow time or delay time - choose what you like best

Everything is relatively easy here - knowing the minimum and maximum of your model, you can approximately choose a position. After turning on the flashlight, freeze and note the time after which it will turn off. Next, change the position of the regulator in the desired direction.

Light level

This adjustment relates to the photo relay, which, as we agreed, is built into our motion sensor to turn on the light. If there is no built-in photo relay, it simply will not exist. This adjustment is labeled LUX, the extreme positions are labeled min and max.

They can be located on the front or back side of the case

When connecting, set the regulator to the maximum position. And in the evening, at the level of illumination when you think the light should already turn on, turn the regulator slowly to the min position until the lamp/lantern turns on.

Now we can assume that the motion relay is configured.

How to avoid false positives

To avoid false switching on of lighting in the circuit solutions discussed above, follow these tips:

1. Do not place sensors near trees or heating devices.
2. Always break only the phase.
3. Make sure that light rays, for example from an incandescent lamp, do not penetrate to the sensor.
4. Attach the product depending on the type (wall, ceiling).
5. Do not install the device near air conditioners or windows where there is air movement.
6. Make sure that the glass of the infrared product is clean and undamaged.

Following the above tips allows you to quickly and without errors connect a device to control lighting on the stairs, in an apartment or on the street.

How to connect to a spotlight

Another issue that requires consideration is how to properly connect a motion sensor to a floodlight.

To do this, you can use one of the following schemes:

1. WITH THREE CONTACTS. In this case, the phase is supplied from the shield to terminal L. From output A, the wire goes to the input L of the spotlight. Voltage is supplied when the motion sensor is triggered. Contacts N are combined and directed to the shield. The ground is sent directly to the spotlight and connected to the PE to remove possible voltage from the metal housing.

2. USING A SINGLE KEY SWITCH. In the solution discussed above, the use of a switch is not provided. But this can be fixed. As a rule, the switch is mounted in a phase break (before the product that controls the movement). In this case, when the switch is turned off, the voltage is removed from the entire circuit. The second option for connecting the switch is parallel to the phase and the output of the motion sensor. With this solution, you can turn on the lighting without being tied to other devices. When the switch is turned off, the entire circuit operates as usual.
3. USING A TWO-KEY SWITCH. In this case, a certain symbiosis of the two circuit solutions discussed above is introduced. One contact of the switch breaks the phase, and the second comes in parallel. When both buttons are disconnected, the voltage is completely removed from the circuit. When the first key is turned off, the sensor operates in normal mode and turns on the spotlight when movement occurs. If only the second key is activated, voltage is immediately applied to the lamp.
4. TWO SENSORS. The same principle applies here as discussed above. Two movement-controlling organs are arranged in parallel, after which they are connected to the power circuit and the spotlight.
5. CONNECTING THE LAMP TO A LOWER VOLTAGE. If it is necessary to turn on the spotlight at a lower voltage (12, 24 or 36), a power supply is installed in front of the input, reducing 220 V to the required level. In this case, three wires (with ground) are supplied to the power supply input; only power is sent to the sensor.
6. FOR A SEPARATE PHOTO RELAY. When installing old motion controllers without a photo relay, the latter must be connected separately. In this case, the wire goes from the output of the sensor to the relay, and after that to the input of the spotlight. The zeros are combined and the ground goes towards the light source.

Above are the basic diagrams that allow you to connect a spotlight with or without a switch. Here everyone makes a decision taking into account the current tasks and characteristics of the room.

Advantages and disadvantages

Light switching devices with sensor provide the following advantages:

1. Economical energy consumption. All devices have automatic controllers, thanks to which the lights turn off when there are no people in the room.
2. Convenient operation. The main advantage of remote control is that there is no need to directly press the switch button. This is very convenient in a dark or too large room.
3. Functionality. Modern modifications operate wirelessly. If necessary, the devices are connected to electrical household appliances (computer, TV, etc.).

Such devices are not without their disadvantages:

1. High prices. You have to pay extra for comfort, convenience and functionality.
2. Labor-intensive installation. Although the device can be installed by a non-specialist, you need to have certain skills and knowledge in the field of electrical engineering.

How to connect to Arduino

Of no less interest is connecting a motion sensor to Arduino to organize a smart home.

To solve the problem you need to prepare:

• Arduino board;
• PIR motion control device;
• solderless breadboard;
• 220 Ohm resistance and LED;
• wires of the male-male and male-male types.

The name of the contact connections may differ from one manufacturer to another, so before performing work it is necessary to study the features of the module.

One pin is connected to GND, the next to VCC (5 V), and the remaining one to OUT (transmits a digital signal from the PIR sensor).

PIR sensors are almost identical in design. They have the necessary sensitivity at a distance of up to six meters, and visibility is 110*70 degrees. The output appears 0 or 1 depending on whether the fact of movement is detected.

Video description

The video shows how to connect a motion sensor:

Connection diagram with switch

It should be noted right away that the motion sensor and the switch in the circuit are connected in parallel to each other. Therefore, in addition to the fact that all wires, namely ground and zero, are connected in exactly the same way as in the previous case, the connection of phase conductors is carried out like this:

• the wire from the machine is connected to the incoming core of the sensor;
• the same wire from the machine is connected to the switch;
• the output wire from the motion device is connected to the lamp;
• A wire is laid from it to the switch.

This circuit will allow you to turn on the lighting using a switch, regardless of the time of day, and also regardless of whether the motion sensor is working or is broken.

Connection diagram of a sensor with a switch Source elektromontagy.ru

Can I do it myself?

Despite the low price of sensors, many people try to make the devices themselves and save money. The advantages of such a solution are the ability to thoroughly understand the principle of operation, reduce maintenance costs and “tailor” the device to specific application conditions.

In addition, with proper assembly, you can reduce costs and even upgrade the system.

But there are also disadvantages. Before you start work, you need to purchase equipment, draw a diagram, decide on dimensions and other points. This requires experience and knowledge. However, there is no guarantee that the finished scheme will work.

If you decide to assemble the motion sensor yourself, prepare the following items:

• circuit assembly housing;
• set of elements;
• soldering iron and wires of different sections;
• fastening;
• screwdriver;
• other materials - electrical tape, pliers, cambric.

To turn on the lighting, a sensor with a photocell built into it will be used. A photo relay will act as a switch.

To collect the diagram you will need:

• capacitor (C1);
• operational amplifier DA1;
• phototransistor (VT1);
• resistance R1 to load the collector and create an operating point;
• resistor R2 to implement feedback.

When assembled correctly, the circuit works like this. After light enters VT1, the element is triggered and the phototransistor opens, followed by charging C1. When the voltage is removed from VT1, the capacitor discharges and the voltage decreases.

The light source for the photocell can be a simple laser or an infrared LED.

The assembly proceeds according to the following algorithm:

1. Assemble the power supply, adjust it and monitor the current output.
2. Connect a resistor to the negative of the power source.
3. Connect the diode using the cathode.
4. Connect a tuning resistor to the anode.
5. Connect the transistor emitter to the negative wire of the power supply.
6. Connect the resistor to the base circuit.

After assembly, all that remains is to test the correct operation of the product when light hits it. Possible errors must be eliminated immediately upon detection.

Video description

The video shows a connection diagram for a motion sensor installed instead of a switch:

Other connection schemes

There are many situations when you need to correctly approach the connection of motion sensors. For example, if you need to install this device in a long corridor with turns. It is clear that connecting a cable to each sensor requires large financial costs and a large amount of work. Therefore, a parallel installation scheme for two motion devices is proposed. That is, one common supply line is laid along the corridor. And motion sensors crash into it parallel to each other.

In this case, a person passing along the corridor first falls into the coverage area of ​​one sensor, which turns on the first light bulb along the way. Then it leaves this zone, ending up in another neighboring one. And so on along the entire length of the corridor. That is, along the path of movement, the light bulbs light up and go out.

Another option is when it is necessary to turn on powerful lighting. After all, a standard device is designed for a maximum load of 1 kW. Or today the sensor is connected to ventilation systems or door opening systems. In this case, it is necessary to add magnetic starters or contactors to the circuit. The load is connected through the starter contacts, but the sensor terminals are connected to the coil through the phase circuit.

Diagram of parallel connection of two motion sensors Source i0.wp.com

Possible problems

Other reasons may also lead to false alarms and incorrect operation of the sensor, which we mentioned above:

1. Installing a wall sensor on the ceiling. If such an error was made, the device will not work correctly because the viewing angles are different.
2. Random activation of the sensor after it has been turned off. This often happens with IR products when there is a light source next to the device, the beam from which directly hits the sensitive element. Therefore, it is important to place it away from lighting fixtures.
3. The influence of drafts, wind and glare. The sensor cannot be mounted on air conditioners, above windows, or in corridors where there is a strong draft. Above places where water accumulates and where direct sunlight falls. Reflected glare hitting the sensitive element of the sensor will lead to its frequent operation.

Why are motion sensors required to turn on the lights?

Lighting sensors, of course, provide additional comfort, but “at the same time” their installation helps solve many other problems. For example, thanks to automatic lighting control, energy consumption in the house is reduced by 30–60%. In addition, by reducing the operating time of lighting fixtures, their service life is significantly increased: light bulbs are much less likely to burn out. Sensors are also convenient because the light will turn off on its own if you forget to do this when leaving for work or even going on vacation for a long time.