Help me choose Outdoor Motion Sensor

[BaduFamily]

I can trigger traffic lights to change with my steel bike's frame by careful positioning to the embedded street sensor - I don't think my ignition system is helping.

 

[ddennerline]

I have "Watchout DT Extreme" and it's an awesome outdoor sensor. It sometimes will false when there are a bunch of squirrels chasing each other. It never falses based on environmental or tree conditions. I liked the fact that it comes with a wide variety of mounts.
 
For Driveway sensor, I use a Resolution Products RE104 (http://resolutionproducts.com/products/environmental/driveway/). Great product.

 

[pete_c]

I can trigger traffic lights

 
Recall my dad when he was in his 80's would drive / flash his brights at red traffic lights and just proceed thru the intersection.  Dad said the flashing of his brights would change the traffic signals.  I never did see a traffic signal change when he did this.

 

[ano]

Recall my dad when he was in his 80's would drive / flash his brights at red traffic lights and just proceed thru the intersection.  Dad said the flashing of his brights would change the traffic signals.  I never did see a traffic signal change when he did this.

He was partially correct. Many signals back in his day had sensors on them that detected the strobe lights on fire vehicles and would give that direction of traffic the right-of-way. Just flashing headlights would not do it, but I could see how some people would believe that it would. The flash had to have a very fast rise and fall time to register. Systems like that are still in use, but they are a bit more sophisticated today.

 

[Neurorad]

Wow, didn't know that. Fascinating stuff!

 

[RAL]

There are a number of different systems that provide right of way for emergency vehicles.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_signal_preemption

 

[Neurorad]

Good reading, thanks.

 

[LarrylLix]

Many people have trouble with large motorcycles triggering the city provided loops at the traffic lights.
 
Try two MS units with contacts in series. They aren't likely to both false at the same time.