Is Your Scout Motion Detection Too Sensitive? How to Reduce False Alarms
A motion sensor is a critical component of your Scout security system, designed to alert you to any unauthorised movement within your home. However, a sensor that is overly sensitive can become a major annoyance, bombarding you with false alarms and diminishing your trust in the system. If your alarm is being triggered by pets, shadows, or seemingly nothing at all, it's time to troubleshoot.
Unlike some systems, the Scout motion sensor does not have an adjustable sensitivity setting in the app. Instead, its accuracy is almost entirely dependent on where and how you install it. This guide will show you how to optimise the placement of your sensor to reduce false alarms and ensure it only alerts you when it should.
Understanding How Your Scout Motion Sensor Works
The Scout motion sensor is a Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor. This means it doesn't detect movement itself, but rather rapid changes in heat (infrared energy). When a person (or a pet) walks into its field of view, their body heat creates a sudden temperature differential that triggers the alarm. Understanding this is key to solving sensitivity issues.
Common triggers for false alarms include:
- Pets moving around the house.
- Direct sunlight hitting the sensor.
- Headlights from cars sweeping across a room.
- Air currents from heating or cooling vents.
- Curtains or decorations moving near a vent.
- Insects crawling across the sensor's lens.
Strategic Placement: The Key to Accuracy
Follow these placement guidelines to dramatically reduce unwanted alerts.
1. Position for Pet Immunity
The Scout motion sensor is designed to be pet-friendly for animals up to 40 lbs (18 kg), but only if it's installed correctly.
- Mount it High: Install the sensor on a wall at a height of at least 6.5 feet (2 metres).
- Create a 'Pet Alley': By mounting it high, the sensor's detection cone angles downwards. This creates a space below the sensor where pets can move around without being detected.
- Avoid Furniture and Stairs: Do not point the sensor at stairs or any furniture that your pet likes to climb on. If your cat can jump up onto a sofa directly in the sensor's line of sight, its body heat will trigger the alarm.
2. Avoid Direct Sunlight and Heat Sources
Since the sensor detects heat, you must keep it away from anything that can cause rapid temperature fluctuations.
- Don't Face Windows: Position the sensor so it does not face directly towards a window. A beam of sunlight, a reflection, or the headlights of a passing car can easily cause a false trigger.
- Keep Away from Vents and Radiators: Never install the sensor directly above or opposite a heating vent, air conditioning unit, radiator, or fireplace. A sudden blast of hot or cold air is a primary cause of false alarms.
3. Choose the Right Location for Maximum Coverage
The ideal placement is in the corner of a room, looking down across the main living space.
- Corner Placement: This gives the sensor the widest possible view of the room's entry points. The sensor has a 90-degree field of view and a range of about 25 feet (7.6 metres).
- Face Towards Entrances: Position the sensor so an intruder would have to walk across its field of view, not directly towards it. PIR sensors are much better at detecting cross-motion.
- Consider High-Traffic Areas: Place sensors to cover hallways, landings, or living rooms that an intruder would have to pass through to get to other parts of the house.
4. Keep it Clean and Clear
Finally, ensure there's nothing that can interfere with the sensor itself.
- Check for Obstructions: Make sure no large pieces of furniture, plants, or decorations are blocking the sensor's view.
- Clean the Lens: Occasionally, a spider web or even a large build-up of dust on the sensor's lens can cause issues. Gently wipe it with a soft, dry cloth.
By taking the time to carefully consider the placement of your Scout motion sensor, you can eliminate the frustration of false alarms and build a more reliable and effective home security system.