How immune are PIR (alarm) sensors to activation by heaters. does your storage heater set off your alarm?

Question

I am thinking of installing an alarm in a house with night storage heaters, false alarms will frighten the occupant.

any other helpful hints on alarm instalation will be welcome.

any brand reccomendations will also be greatly apreciated, remembering that i am working on a buget.

thank you.

Answer 1

Some PIR's are more sensitive to warm air currents than others. Don't use cheap ones, and don't mount in draughty areas/sunlight or above heat scource. If you must then use a Dualtec type which has a microwave detector and a PIR, BOTH must be triggered to alarm, and air will not trigger the microwave.

Answer 2

Don't install PIR's above the heaters, try to locate them on opposite walls where possible. There are PIR's with lower or adjustable sensitivity, try these too.

Answer 3

there are several types of PIR, motion, heat, or both.

if you have heaters in certain rooms, get motion detectors etc.

companies like ADT, ABACUS etc all have systems suited to your needs.

good luck