If your goal is to improve security at your house, a motion detector system can be your best bet. This type of home security system only turns on when its motion sensor is activated, such as when someone walks past it. It will usually cause an alarm to go off, or a connected video camera to begin recording. Before you choose the best motion detector system for you, consider whether you need it to be wireless, whether it will be placed indoors or outdoors, and if you need it to be pet-immune.
There are various wireless systems available, which is often convenient if you plan to place the motion detector system in an area where you or your family members might trip over the wires in a hardwired system. It is also helpful for when you do not want to find an outlet to plug the sensor into, such as when you place the system outside. A wireless system is convenient, but it does usually cost more than a wired device, and it can also sometimes lose its signal. Therefore, if your system will be located away from most foot traffic, and is unlikely to be tripped over, the wired kind may work best.
Placing a motion detector system outdoors is often a good idea if you want to be alerted to potential intruders. Before you put any piece of technological equipment outside, however, you should make sure it can stand up to your climate. Ensure that it will not be adversely affected by rain, snow, humidity, or extreme heat. You may have to pay extra for this kind of peace of mind, but purchasing a hardy motion detector system is usually cheaper than replacing it altogether soon after you get one. If you are just protecting a room in your home from intruders, you can choose a less robust system, which should save you a little money.
Before you buy a new motion detector system, you should keep in mind whether you have pets. If so, they could set off the sensor every time they walk by, clearly causing many false alarms. It is for this reason that pet-immune systems exist, which use infrared technology to determine whether the object passing by is a human or an animal. This is because animals do not change the temperature that is picked up by the sensors as much as humans do. The sensitivity of this type of motion detector system can be changed depending on how large your pets are, which will keep the motion sensor from sounding an alarm if your large dog or small cat passes by.