Where should i put motion detectors?

[killervette]

How many and what location should i put motion detectors? Here is my first floor floor plan. Does the 2nd floor need any?? THe image shows no wall between the dining and living room, but there will be a full wall in my house.

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[sic0048]

I haven't installed any yet myself, so take this advice with a grain of salt

If you have access, I think an exterior corner of a room is best. Primarily because it will not be looking directly at windows which can give false readings depending on the detector type and the movement of the sunlight coming in the room. It also makes the sensors harder to see from the outside on the rare chance that someone actually cases your house. Of course that can be the hardest placement in a remodel, but it sounds like you are going to be building.

 

[Mark S.]

How much money you got?

At the very least, I would do 2, maybe 3. For a point of reference, assume the breakfast nook is North.

I would put one in the Northeast corner of the Family room - that should catch anyone coming through a FR window, coming in from the garage/laundry, or coming up from the basement.

I would put another one in the Southwest corner of the Foyer to catch anyone coming down the foyer hall, up/down the stairs, in the front door, or out of the Dining or Living rooms.

As a third, I would consider doing one in the Northeast corner of the Breakfast Nook. If you want to spend a little more, the Northwest corner of the Hall to the garage, and maybe the Northwest of the Garage (but not if you will open garage when armed). These locations will also be useful for automation purposes.

I would do one in the upstairs hall only if it is reasonable that someone can get in or out through a second story window or door.

In my mind, motions serve three purposes - 1) as a backup for door and window contacts, not a substitute; 2) a way to catch somebody who might be hiding in the house and waiting until you leave; and 3) for automation and occupancy purposes.

Mark

 

[IVB]

I went with #3 of Mark S's reasons: Put one in every single damn room, including bathrooms, for automation & occupancy purposes. Plus from a security perspective, you don't want anyone in any room of your house without your knowledge - don't let them get all the way to the location of valuables before tripping the alarm. Put motions on every room of 2nd floor.

Also wire all your windows including 2nd floor ones (around here crooks were using ladders as 99% of folks do not wire anything upstairs). Put glassbreak sensors up in strategeric locations too.

 

[killervette]

Thanks guys! I mainly wanted to know where in the rooms to put them. I know your not suppose to face them toward windows. Mark, very helpful reply. I will be following your recommendation. Plus i will door more than i need for future automation purposes. The GE PI 6000 motions are pretty cheap, so i might do one every room

 

[Mark S.]

Just keep in mind that your placement of the motion sensor depends on your primary use of that motion. Figure that out now.

If the motion is for security purposes, you want to position it for as broad a view as possible. In other words, you want to position it see beyond the room into hallways and other rooms for maximum area coverage.

If the motion sensor is mostly for automation purposes, you want to limit the view to only that particular room. For example, a living room motion should be mounted on the Southeast corner, so you don't pick up traffic in the hallway - otherwise your living room lights will come on every time somebody walks down the hall. You can mask the lense, but that is a PITA.

Mark

 

[rrockoff]

I didn't see mention of 360 motion detectors. I use quite a few of these mounted on the ceiling, mostly in hallways. They work great. The only drawback would be if you have pets that have free access to the house.

Rod