I just finished installing 6-12 feet apart solar motion sensor outdoor lights. Somehow the fourth one ( only one located less than 2 feet away from my security cam) decided not to work. I replaced and it happened again….. and “the broken one “ worked as soon as I put it away. Tried to find an explanation online and ended up here. Anyway to bypass the interaction or whatever is going on? Don’t want to realign all the lights or leave any gap. Any thoughts?
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Motion Sensor lights affected by Security Cam
- Thread starter RoMir
- Start date
smackey05
Well-known member
Do your security cams have night vision on them? It could be the bright IR light which isn’t visible to the eye is causing the light to think it’s daytime.
rlitman
Well-known member
Look at your security cam's picture at night, and you'll see the spotlight beam from it's IR emitter. Move the camera or light, so the beam isn't shining on your motion sensor.That totally makes sense but how can I block it so I don’t have to move them?
Alternatively, put something in place to block that beam.
Motion sensors need to see both heat and motion at the same time to trigger. Seeing only one of them wont trigger it. Trees moving in the wind wont trigger your sensor. A small fire wont trigger your sensor. A tree on fire will.
Most likely your sensor can see some small motions, but no heat. Your IR light is providing the necessary heat.
My 2c.
CD
Most likely your sensor can see some small motions, but no heat. Your IR light is providing the necessary heat.
My 2c.
CD
rlitman
Well-known member
No, it's positively not that. A PIR sensor needs to "see" heat moving across its field of view. A near IR emitter's wavelength is nowhere near the sensitivity range of the PIR sensor to have any effect, and in any case, that light isn't moving.Motion sensors need to see both heat and motion at the same time to trigger. Seeing only one of them wont trigger it. Trees moving in the wind wont trigger your sensor. A small fire wont trigger your sensor. A tree on fire will.
Most likely your sensor can see some small motions, but no heat. Your IR light is providing the necessary heat.
My 2c.
CD
However, motion sensors also have CdS photocells (daylight sensors) to prevent them from turning on while the sun is up, and the near IR camera emitter will easily make the photocell think it's daytime. So will a flashlight.
I used to have a motion sensor where the bulbs were too close to the wall and the reflected light would trigger the daylight sensor, causing the unit to flash. Aiming the bulbs a little away from the wall and adding a touch of aluminum tape to shield the sensor from the incident angle stopped that issue.
nh_yota
Well-known member
I've had an outdoor camera with IR mounted a few feet away from a motion-sensing floodlight without any issues for two years. Granted my outdoor floodlights are RAB models from the electrical supply house not cheapies.
rlitman
Well-known member
The beam from the camera IR emitter is usually pretty narrow. Unless the camera is looking straight at the floodlight you shouldn't have a problem.I've had an outdoor camera with IR mounted a few feet away from a motion-sensing floodlight without any issues for two years. Granted my outdoor floodlights are RAB models from the electrical supply house not cheapies.