Is Your Cove Motion Detection Too Sensitive? How to Fix It
A motion sensor is a vital part of your Cove security system, but when it's too sensitive, it can become a major annoyance. Constant false alarms are not only frustrating, but they can also lead to complacency, causing you to ignore a real security event.
If you're being bombarded with alerts from minor movements, pets, or seemingly nothing at all, it's time to fine-tune your system. This guide will show you how to adjust your Cove motion sensor's sensitivity and optimise its placement to ensure it only alerts you when it should.
### Understanding Why False Alarms Happen
Cove motion sensors primarily use PIR (Passive Infrared) technology. This means they detect rapid changes in heat within their field of view. This is why a person or large animal moving across a room triggers it. However, this technology can also be triggered by other sources of heat and motion, such as:
- Pets: While Cove sensors are pet-friendly, large pets or pets that can climb close to the sensor can still trigger it.
- Heat Sources: Direct sunlight hitting the floor, a blast of hot air from a vent, or a radiator turning on can all cause a false alarm.
- Moving Objects: Curtains or decorations moving due to an air current from a vent can be enough to set off a sensitive sensor.
- Bugs and Pests: An insect crawling directly across the sensor's lens can appear as a large moving object and cause a trigger.
Adjusting Your Sensor for Better Accuracy
The solution to over-sensitivity is usually a combination of adjusting settings and optimising the sensor's physical location.
### 1. Change the Sensitivity Setting
Your Cove system allows you to adjust the sensitivity level of each motion sensor. This should be your first step.
- Access Your Settings: Using your main alarm panel or the Cove app, navigate to the 'Devices' or 'Sensors' menu.
- Select the Sensor: Choose the specific motion sensor that is causing the false alarms.
- Adjust Sensitivity: You will likely see a setting for sensitivity, often with options like 'Low', 'Medium', and 'High'. If you are getting false alarms, lower the setting by one level (e.g., from High to Medium).
- Test the System: After making the change, arm your system and observe. It may take a little trial and error to find the perfect setting for your environment.
### 2. Optimise Sensor Placement
Even with the right sensitivity setting, poor placement can still lead to problems. Review where your sensor is installed.
- Correct Height: The sensor should be mounted on a wall approximately 2.3 metres (7.5 feet) from the floor.
- Avoid Heat Sources: Ensure the sensor is not pointed directly at or near heating vents, radiators, fireplaces, or windows that receive intense, direct sunlight.
- Clear Line of Sight: The sensor should have an unobstructed view of the area it's meant to protect. Don't place it where its view is blocked by tall furniture or hanging plants.
- Pet-Proofing the Location: If you have pets, make sure the sensor is placed where they are less likely to get close to it. Avoid placing it near stairs they use or directly above furniture they are allowed to climb on. The pet-friendly feature works best when the animal remains on the floor.
By carefully adjusting the sensitivity settings and ensuring your motion sensor is placed in an optimal location, you can dramatically reduce the number of false alarms from your Cove security system. This will give you renewed confidence that when you do get an alert, it's one that truly matters.