Without installing a driveway sensor under the driveway - what do people use to detect when someone is in the driveway? Is there an outdoor motion sensor of choice? I will not be doing any security for this sensor - just turning lights on automatically and maybe a TTS annoucement. Any recomendations for an outdoor sensor that can be mounted above my garage - isn't too large, works well,doesn't have too many false alarms?
Driveway Motion Sensor
- Thread starter broconne
- Start date
I haven't done any of these, but I have a couple of ways this might work. They are in no particular order.
1) A PIR detector that mounted above the garage door pointing down the driveway (only if driveway is straight). You can mask non-driveway areas to so trees etc don't interfere.
2) Some sort of RDIF chip/detection system, but that would only work with your cars, not visitors.
3) A camera with the ability to trigger on motion.
4) A beam detector located at the somepoint along the driveway that would be tripped when a car crosses it.
1) A PIR detector that mounted above the garage door pointing down the driveway (only if driveway is straight). You can mask non-driveway areas to so trees etc don't interfere.
2) Some sort of RDIF chip/detection system, but that would only work with your cars, not visitors.
3) A camera with the ability to trigger on motion.
4) A beam detector located at the somepoint along the driveway that would be tripped when a car crosses it.
Regular set of floodlights, but rewired so the light is controlled by a UPB switch, and the motion controls a relay connected to the Elk M1. This allows me to turn on/off the light whenever I want it, plus I am able to its motion sensor, which has good range, for automation purposes. The only issue I have is that when it gets really windy, the motion sensor trips. This isn't the best method, but haven't found anything better yet which detects both cars and people on a 75ft driveway.
Rupp
Senior Member
A user mentioned using this sensor with HomeSeer to do exactly what you describe.
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufact...Item/STI-30150/
I was quoted in the ballpark of $500 or so.. My understanding is it would require a lot of coordination between the LV sub, the builder, and the driveway people.. I am looking to use it more for HA than any sort of security purposes (heh - wrong sub forum I guess), I just am not sure i need the precision of an under-driveway sensor.
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
I often wondered how the Maxbotix ultrasonic sensors would work in applications like this.
Neurorad
Senior Member
$125 was the price I remember - not cheap, but I guess the $500 you were quoted is mostly installation.
You could tunnel with a capped black pipe, and a 3-5 pound sledge. Or you could get fancy and use water.
pete_c
Guru
Long term after I tear my driveway out (shifting from asphalt to to paver blocks & heated driveway) will be utilizing a sensor under the driveway - meanwhile I've been using a combination of "few" sensors that work ok.
If you are still in the middle of construction and still have yet to add a sprinkling system then I would take advantage of the installation of the sprinkling system to add some PVC tubing for external connections. It was kind of a hands on endeavor because of the watering zones (PVC) with these extra tubes. I would not have just requested these without watching them being installed correctly. While I like wireless - wired connections work the best for me.
I have two outdoor IR sensors plus three cameras - its a combo of the two and using XaP messenging from the three Zoneminder cameras that's providing the alerts. It works pretty decent.
In my previous home I was experimenting with a Geophone which was ultra sensative but worked.
I also used an "electric eye" set up in the previous house which went across the driveway that worked well and is a relatively inexpensive method. The "old" driveway though was only 15 feet wide and it ran along the house to the back of the property where the garage was. Today my driveway is about 35 feet wide and twice or so as long.
Recently I built a small burm at the edge of the driveway. When building this burm I used PVC tubing that I ran to the house. When I set up the low voltage lighting in this burm I also ran a CAT5 cable to the garage. I did the same with my mailbox running about 3 PVC tubes there. The mailbox (brick and cement structure) has 120VAC to it, RG6, 3 CAT5 cables and one pair of 14 gauge wire and one of 12 gauge wire. When initially installing my sprinkler system I had the sprinkler installation company run about 8 or so extra PVC tubes from the house out to the front peripheral areas of my property line. I did the same with the sides and back of the property. With this "infrastructure" in place I could shoot a beam of light between the burm and the mail box discretely.
If you are still in the middle of construction and still have yet to add a sprinkling system then I would take advantage of the installation of the sprinkling system to add some PVC tubing for external connections. It was kind of a hands on endeavor because of the watering zones (PVC) with these extra tubes. I would not have just requested these without watching them being installed correctly. While I like wireless - wired connections work the best for me.
I have two outdoor IR sensors plus three cameras - its a combo of the two and using XaP messenging from the three Zoneminder cameras that's providing the alerts. It works pretty decent.
In my previous home I was experimenting with a Geophone which was ultra sensative but worked.
I also used an "electric eye" set up in the previous house which went across the driveway that worked well and is a relatively inexpensive method. The "old" driveway though was only 15 feet wide and it ran along the house to the back of the property where the garage was. Today my driveway is about 35 feet wide and twice or so as long.
Recently I built a small burm at the edge of the driveway. When building this burm I used PVC tubing that I ran to the house. When I set up the low voltage lighting in this burm I also ran a CAT5 cable to the garage. I did the same with my mailbox running about 3 PVC tubes there. The mailbox (brick and cement structure) has 120VAC to it, RG6, 3 CAT5 cables and one pair of 14 gauge wire and one of 12 gauge wire. When initially installing my sprinkler system I had the sprinkler installation company run about 8 or so extra PVC tubes from the house out to the front peripheral areas of my property line. I did the same with the sides and back of the property. With this "infrastructure" in place I could shoot a beam of light between the burm and the mail box discretely.
