Motion Detectors: Infra-Red vs ??

[(PeteCresswell)]

I'm starting to dabble in home automation.

For starters, something called mControl running on a Windows Home
Server box and a few Insteon modules:

- A motion sensor: http://tinyurl.com/apkun8

- An AC On/Off switch: http://tinyurl.com/cmuymj

- A USB adapter to let said modules communicate
with the server: http://tinyurl.com/lykqjt

The Question:
Is infra-red the best solution? Primary application would be
detecting deer and smaller animals in order to trigger
something-or-other (haven't figured out that part yet... in order
to reduce deer damage.

 

[G. Morgan]

Is infra-red the best solution? Primary application would be
detecting deer and smaller animals in order to trigger
something-or-other (haven't figured out that part yet... in order
to reduce deer damage.

Sure, IR will work if you have the right sensor (or combination of sensors). I
don't know anything about the Insteon sensor. Is it even waterproof?

Personally I would use a dedicated panel to handle the automation, that way
relay outputs can be customized to any level your imagination will allow. You
could use industry standard parts and not have your hands tied to a particular
manufacturer. The ELK-M1G is highly touted here from those that tried them. I
have not.

How about using the motion to trip a sprinkler? That should scare the deer.
Around my area people do the exact opposite -- they trigger feeders and
cameras with the motion detector.

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per G. Morgan:

How about using the motion to trip a sprinkler? That should scare the deer.
Around my area people do the exact opposite -- they trigger feeders and
cameras with the motion detector.

That was my initial plan. One of those jobbies that shoots a
stream and ratchets around a radius.

Posted something on misc.rural and, from the replies, it sounds
like deer quickly acclimate to almost anything that is thrown at
them: noise, lights, water.... There's an initial period when
they're frightened by anything unfamiliar, but it soon becomes
familiar.

One guy said this sprinklers actually *attracted* dogs and birds.

So I really don't know what the other half of this little venture
is going to be..... if anything.

But the detection/trigger part is good enough for now bc I also
want selected floodlights to come on when somebody's walking
around in the driveway or yard.