Street lights with motion sensor

A street lighting device with a motion sensor is nowadays a very effective and economical tool for the most rational use of electricity both for legal entities and organizations, and for individuals living, for example, in a private house. After all, technologies that allow automating some household processes are now gaining special popularity.

Naturally, the main and most important advantage of such a device is significant energy savings due to the fact that the street lamp works only when a person or other living object is in its area of ​​action. In other cases, after some time, after which nothing happens, such a lamp turns itself off.

Such systems use a variety of sensors, which have a number of their advantages and disadvantages.

• Infrared motion sensors. Among the advantages are their safety, the sensors are triggered only by living large and sufficiently warm objects and a wide range of work across the area. Among the shortcomings, the following are found: natural factors can disrupt the operation of such a sensor, and if the object has protection from infrared radiation, then the sensor will not work.
• Ultrasonic detectors. They can react to any object and do not depend on natural factors. Also relatively cheap. Of the minuses, it should be noted the negative impact on some animals, low range and lack of reaction to the smooth movement of the object.
• Microwave sensors. They have very good sensitivity, which allows them to react to objects behind thin partitions, are compact in size and do not depend on external natural stimuli. The disadvantages include high cost, the possibility of false alarms and the danger of microwave radiation to humans.

Also, the advantages of such street lighting include the following characteristics:

• convenience;
• versatility;
• durability.

After setting up the street lighting system with sensors, it goes into automatic mode. In addition, such a system is suitable for all types of light elements and can work for years. If the lighting system with motion sensors is also wireless, then it has an undeniable advantage, which is independence from a stationary power source.

Among the most common motion sensors used in outdoor lighting devices, the following types can be distinguished: microwave sensors, ultrasonic, infrared and combined.

Microwave detectors are small and highly sensitive... The safest sensors are rightfully infrared. And according to the type of work, they are divided into active and passive, reacting to temperature changes. Also among the sensors there are combined options, which combine the characteristics of different detectors. Such a sensor is the most accurate and at the same time the most expensive.

By the type of sensor, it can be divided into wired, wireless and hidden. Wired sensors are one of the cheapest and are installed in a building during its renovation by security services.Wireless uses radio waves to transmit a signal. And hidden sensors can be wired or not.

By location, the sensors can be divided into ceiling and wall.

A motion sensor is a device that receives external information, converts it into signals and then either triggers and turns on the device or not. It should be said that the principle of operation of such sensors does not present any difficulty. For example, in the case of an infrared detector, it reacts to thermal radiation from large living objects in its area of ​​operation. Then the signal goes through the system of mirrors to the sensor, which switches on the lamp.

Ultrasonic detectors send waves of a certain frequency (usually 20-60 kHz) into space, which, reflecting from objects, return with a different frequency. Depending on the parameters of the reflected wave, the sensor starts to work and turn on the lighting device. The microwave sensor works on the same principle as the one above. The only difference is that such a sensor sends microwaves (1-1000 mm long) into space, and not ultrasound.

It should be noted that all sensors, regardless of the principle and device of their operation, have a certain set of technical characteristics, namely: light sensitivity (2-1000 Lux), detection distance, operating voltage and current frequency, response speed, scattering angle and light power. flow, as well as operating temperature.

These sensors include delay timers for device triggering and operating time regulators. And its sensitivity directly depends on the number of lenses in the sensor: the more, the better.

For street lighting fixtures, you can find several parameters by which they should be classified.

• One of these parameters is assignment. According to it, the lamps are divided into outdoor devices, household appliances and appliances for industrial and work premises.

• By the color of the luminous flux they are divided into lamps with a yellow glow, with a white neutral, and also with a cold white light.

• By their constructive differences lighting devices come in the form of streetlights, motion-detecting floodlights and LEDs.

An example of a wall-mounted street lamp with a motion sensor.

• By the power source used street lighting devices are divided into stationary, autonomous (they use batteries) and non-volatile (solar panels with a rechargeable battery are used). It should be noted that only LED elements work from solar panels, as they consume less electricity.

It must be said that luminaires also differ in the type of light element used in them. It directly depends on what technical characteristics the device will have.

The following types of light elements can be distinguished: classic with an incandescent lamp or with an energy-saving lamp, LED, halogen and gas-discharge lighting sources.

• The most profitable of them in terms of their characteristics should be called LED, consuming a minimum of energy and not emitting thermal radiation. These lamps, despite their significant price, are the best suited for use in conjunction with motion sensors.
• Classic incandescent lamps for use in conjunction with motion sensors are poorly suited, since in such modes of operation with frequent switching on, the lighting element quickly wears out. The only advantage of this old lighting option is its low cost, which, however, does not negate all the significant disadvantages of incandescent lamps.
• Halogen lamps in this list is a cross between LED and classic, since, on the one hand, they consume less electricity than incandescent lamps, but on the other hand, they emit their own heat, unlike LEDs.
• Mercury lamps are a kind of gas discharge. But they use mercury vapors, which is their disadvantage, since such lamps have to be disposed of in a special way.

These also include xenon, metal halide (high cost) and fluorescent lamps. The latter uses a phosphor substance on the inner surface of the lamp.

It should be noted that currently the field of application of such motion sensors is very extensive.

When choosing a luminaire with a motion sensor, you should consider the scope of its application. After all, a number of some of its characteristics directly depend on it..

• Due to their good economic performance, motion sensors have found applications in the following areas: street and office lighting, control of devices in an automated home, security systems and alarms.

• Also, motion sensors for lighting are used in conjunction with wall lamps, street lamps and floodlights.

• It should be noted that lighting with motion sensors has found its application in personal plots as well. It is used as decorative garden lighting or for lighting, for example, swimming pools.

Currently, outdoor lighting in the form of luminaires with motion sensors is increasingly used. Such lighting devices are used in private and country houses, in industrial and working areas and in park areas.

The power of the device, for example, determines the overall dimensions and the way of mounting the luminaire.

And depending on the area of ​​action of the motion sensor you need, the choice of its type depends. Also, when choosing lighting with a motion detector, it is necessary to take into account the power supply factor of the device. It can be wireless from batteries or solar panels, or wired from a regular power supply.

Also, when choosing such a lamp, the factor of appearance and aesthetics is taken into account. Indeed, in your garden, such a lighting device should not attract attention to itself.

For an overview of a solar-powered street lamp with a motion sensor, see the following video.