The EagleEye motion sensor is supposed to have a range of about 20 feet. When it's mounted outside, I can stand about 6 feet in front of it waving my hands and it doesn't detect me. However, when I use it indoors, it does an adequate job of detecting motion up to 25 feet away.

Since these sensors work by detecting a change in temperature, I'm guessing that it works indoors and not outdoors because of the difference in temperature. Unfortunately, if it won't work outside when it's warm, it's not very useful in Florida!

Anyone else using these things? Any suggestions before I return them to X10?

Chris I am not sure what the eagle eye is by X10 is this a motion sensor for lighting or for a home alarm system. IF it is for an alarm? Why would you want to put it out side. Any small house anamil like a Crockidial might trip it off. If it is for lighting thats another story. Next question why is it called a motion sensor when it is activated by heat. living in Flordia I can see you having a problem right now. I would have been a little weary in the first place buying some called a motion sensor that works off of heat. I may have bought a heat sensor that when Automated will turn on lights in a dark room. I can see that happening. But if you want my opionin I would have not stopped or even given X10 a second look. Next are you trying to use it for something it was not intended for? You might just want to box it up and send it back. It could just be defective too ya know.

Good luck

Chris...

You've discovered why eagle eyes are so cheap. They DO rely on a temperature differential to "see" motion. If you are 90+ degrees and so is the outdoors, you'll be invisible to the eagle eye.

I had one looking out my back deck. In the winter it would signal if a bird flew by. On a 90+ degree day there can be a party on the deck and it won't go off.

My suggestion? Keep it, and just use it indoors. I doubt it's worth the money it'll cost to ship back to X10.

Dave

"Motion Detector" is a generic term used in the alarm and lighting business.

It really applies to several forms of motion detection, the most common being Passive Ir. The detector has a Ir receiver set to varying sensitivities. The receiver is divided into several "zones" that are seperated by vertical "dividers". It sees heat that is different than the ambient temperature, but that heat must move from one "zone" to the next in order to activate the detector.

The zones are very narrow near the receiver (the field of view for each zone). As the distance from the receiver increases, so does the field of view for each zone.

The receiver looks for Ir to move across the zones, perpindicular to the receiver. It will more readily pick movement left and right across the field of view of the receiver rather than towards or away from the receiver. As one approaches the receiver the Ir generated can be seen by more than one Zone, and the detector will activate. Detectors should be mounted so that the detection area is across it's field of view, and not towards or away from the detector.

A stationary rise in temperature will generally not activate the detector unless the temp change crosses more than one zone.

I don't know if the Eagle Eye is suggested for outdoor use, but in warm climates the temperature variance needed to activate the unit would need to be pretty small. I would bet that the Eagle Eye variance is set fairly high.

I'd bet you you that for outside lighting you would be better off using an X10 switch for the lights, and use a motion detector light control designed for outdoor use.

Use your X10 to turn on the power to the fixture at night and off during the day.

Larry, I want an outdoor motion sensor for two reasons. First, I want to scare away anyone thinking about breaking in. Second, I want to scare away the deer who keep eating my hibiscus.

How about the X10 Dual floodlight motion detector ($49.99)? Is it any better as an outdoor motion sensor?

Chris,

I have the X10 Dual floodlight. The range isn't very good, and I wish it would not come on when it is so light out, but I use it to turn on an inside porch light when we pull into the garage. It has worked great so far. Even my wife likes it. I have read other post of people having trouble with it. I am about to add a bunch of new switches so I'll see what happends.

Rob M

Thanks for the input Rob. In your estimation, what is the reliable range for the X10 Dual Floodlight?

Chris,

I would say about 10 feet, but I will try and do some testing with it tonight when I get home and give a better answer later.

Rob