Home Security Systems, IR Sensors, and ... Geckos

[zapatero]

Has anyone successfully solved the problem of geckos false-alarming infrared sensors in a home security system?

(I know this sounds like a troll, but it isn't -- it is a real, demonstrable problem.)

I cannot even find any references in Google !

TYVM for any experiences or insights !

[CharlieH]

Dont those PIR have sensitivity/range settings ? Like you can on the lights, dog goes by, nothing, human goes by, on it comes etc.

[kannot]

Not much help but I sealed my home up so well no geckos ever get in.

[zapatero]

Dont those PIR have sensitivity/range settings ? Like you can on the lights, dog goes by, nothing, human goes by, on it comes etc.

My fault -- I should have been more clear. The problem occurs at Range = 0. The sensors false alarm when the critter walks over the lens !

[neverdie]

Dont those PIR have sensitivity/range settings ? Like you can on the lights, dog goes by, nothing, human goes by, on it comes etc.

My fault -- I should have been more clear. The problem occurs at Range = 0. The sensors false alarm when the critter walks over the lens !

There was suppose to be one type of sensor immune to this type of thing but I can't recall any details.

Try this. Spray all PIR's with surface spray. Repeat every 90 days.

[Tywais]

There was suppose to be one type of sensor immune to this type of thing but I can't recall any details.

Those are dual detector systems. One being the PIR and the other a microwave sensor that work together to reduce false alarms.

Possibly a screen cage in front of it to keep the gecko from getting too close to trigger it?

[neverdie]

There was suppose to be one type of sensor immune to this type of thing but I can't recall any details.

Those are dual detector systems. One being the PIR and the other a microwave sensor that work together to reduce false alarms.

Possibly a screen cage in front of it to keep the gecko from getting too close to trigger it?

I can't remember the detail but that sounds familiar and I know you know your stuff. I had numerous, dozens of PUR's in the neverdie mansion and never had a false alarm with whatever they were. It was my pet spiders that use to crawl across them & the didn't go off, I saw that with my own eyes.

[Tywais]

There was suppose to be one type of sensor immune to this type of thing but I can't recall any details.

Those are dual detector systems. One being the PIR and the other a microwave sensor that work together to reduce false alarms.

Possibly a screen cage in front of it to keep the gecko from getting too close to trigger it?

I can't remember the detail but that sounds familiar and I know you know your stuff. I had numerous, dozens of PUR's in the neverdie mansion and never had a false alarm with whatever they were. It was my pet spiders that use to crawl across them & the didn't go off, I saw that with my own eyes.

PIRs work by time rate of change of temperature, aka dT/dt. If the mass is too small to emit sufficient temperature or the rate they move across the sensor too slow it my not pick it up.

[neverdie]

There was suppose to be one type of sensor immune to this type of thing but I can't recall any details.

Those are dual detector systems. One being the PIR and the other a microwave sensor that work together to reduce false alarms.

Possibly a screen cage in front of it to keep the gecko from getting too close to trigger it?

I can't remember the detail but that sounds familiar and I know you know your stuff. I had numerous, dozens of PUR's in the neverdie mansion and never had a false alarm with whatever they were. It was my pet spiders that use to crawl across them & the didn't go off, I saw that with my own eyes.

PIRs work by time rate of change of temperature, aka dT/dt. If the mass is too small to emit sufficient temperature or the rate they move across the sensor too slow it my not pick it up.

What you said.

I knew you would do something like that.

Problem is, here in LOS, not trying to bitch about the place and I guess it's like everywhere, but it's can be difficult to find installers that know what they are doing AND that use the good equipment.

It's the second rate gear that will let you down.

The gear used by my people needed to be reliable, life and death type stuff.

Alarms that continually and falsely go off are useless, worse than useless.

Alarms that arnt monitored and maintained are useless. End of story.

[zapatero]

As the OP, it appears that citing my own limited experience might be useful to anyone suffering the same problem, (geckos false-alarming IR-based security systems.)

Geckos are territorial little critters, and a favorite hangout is behind corner-mounted motion-detector sensors, because there is usually nothing else nearby to hide behind. I've observed them defending these territories vigorously. The problem occurs when they run across the lens of the sensor. Though unusual, I have experienced as many as four false alarms in one night from the same sensor. On average, I was having 6-10 false alarms per week. Now I have maybe one per month. I can live with that.

My solution was common mothballs, (naphthalene), dropped down behind each sensor. I have been doing this successfully for well over a year now.

The testosterone-soaked gecko's first response was defiance. I saw no change in false alarm frequency at all, maybe it was even worse. Then, after a week or so the frequency began to decline. They were actually learning, and training themselves to avoid the stink. And the new young learn even quicker. The amusing result of all this is that I can now tell when a new gecko has made it into the house, because they head straight for that appealing, unoccupied new territory -- and then set off the alarm.

So the reader may well wonder why I started this thread in the first place if my results have been so satisfactory(?) The answer is simply that it is a bit of a nuisance to have to go retrieve and set up the ladder at each sensor, every 6-7 weeks, to deposit a mothball behind each sensor. I was just hoping that someone might have discovered a longer-lasting more maintenance-free solution.

I will still gladly entertain any suggestions. Thank you,

~~zapatero

[petewan]

As the OP, it appears that citing my own limited experience might be useful to anyone suffering the same problem, (geckos false-alarming IR-based security systems.)

Geckos are territorial little critters, and a favorite hangout is behind corner-mounted motion-detector sensors, because there is usually nothing else nearby to hide behind. I've observed them defending these territories vigorously. The problem occurs when they run across the lens of the sensor. Though unusual, I have experienced as many as four false alarms in one night from the same sensor. On average, I was having 6-10 false alarms per week. Now I have maybe one per month. I can live with that.

My solution was common mothballs, (naphthalene), dropped down behind each sensor. I have been doing this successfully for well over a year now.

The testosterone-soaked gecko's first response was defiance. I saw no change in false alarm frequency at all, maybe it was even worse. Then, after a week or so the frequency began to decline. They were actually learning, and training themselves to avoid the stink. And the new young learn even quicker. The amusing result of all this is that I can now tell when a new gecko has made it into the house, because they head straight for that appealing, unoccupied new territory -- and then set off the alarm.

So the reader may well wonder why I started this thread in the first place if my results have been so satisfactory(?) The answer is simply that it is a bit of a nuisance to have to go retrieve and set up the ladder at each sensor, every 6-7 weeks, to deposit a mothball behind each sensor. I was just hoping that someone might have discovered a longer-lasting more maintenance-free solution.

I will still gladly entertain any suggestions. Thank you,

~~zapatero

How about buying some of those big rubber spotted Gecko,s put one behind each sensor just a thought, At least they dont crapp on the walls.