What are microwave sensors?

Adding motion detecting sensors to your home, commercial or industrial lights is a great way to make your lighting more efficient.

Motion sensor lights conveniently turn on the moment someone enters the room, meaning they don’t need to waste time searching for the light switch. And since they turn off automatically, these lights help to save energy and extend bulb lifespan. They also help deter burglars and vandals, giving you confidence and peace of mind that your space remains safe.

One of the most popular types of motion sensor lighting is microwave sensor lights. Join us as we explore how microwave sensors work, why they’re so beneficial and how you can use them to light your home or business premises.

What is a microwave sensor?

In lighting applications, microwave sensors are a type of motion detector that switches a light on when the sensor detects movements. These sensors can react within less than 1/5 of a second. And more advanced models can even detect whether a person is moving towards or away from the sensor, or moving randomly.

Microwave sensor lights are particularly useful in large areas such as warehouses. But they can be used domestically and commercially as well, both inside and outside your building.

The average lifetime of a microwave sensor is around 50,000 hours, or close to six years of use.

How does a microwave sensor work?

Microwave sensors constantly emit safe, low-power microwave signals across a full 360o range. They measure the time it takes for the signals to return to the microwave sensor, which is known as the echo time.

While the echo time remains constant, the microwave sensor light stays switched off. But when a person or object moves into the detection zone, they disrupt the microwave beam.

This movement changes the echo time. In response, the sensor triggers the light to turn on.

Many microwave sensor lights also include daylight sensors, which detect changes in light levels. Depending on the level of ambient light, these can be set either not to trigger or to remain dim. This helps you save even more energy and further extends the lifespan of your luminaires.

What are the benefits of microwave sensors?

• Highly adaptable: Microwave sensor lights are suitable for use in almost any environment. That includes packed indoor spaces, locations with highly variable temperatures and broad outdoor spaces.

• Signal penetration: Since these lights can penetrate walls and other solid objects, they’re an excellent choice for illuminating wider homes and business spaces. This makes them a popular choice for anyone looking to light or protect large properties.

• Constant detection: There’s nothing more irritating than having to wave your arms every few minutes to turn automatic lights back on. But microwave sensors can be set to constantly search for even slight movements, meaning they stay on for the entire time you’re using the space.

• Improved security: Motion detecting lights are a basic aspect of home or business security. Since they turn on as soon as they observe movement through the detection zone, they’re a powerful deterrent for thieves, vandals or anyone else who wants to go unnoticed. This lets you keep your property safe even in the middle of the night.

• Highly accurate: Compared to certain other types of motion sensors, microwave sensors produce fewer false alarms without reducing detection accuracy.

• Save energy and money: Microwave sensor lights only turn on when they detect movement, and turn off automatically a set time after that movement stops. That means there’s no risk of leaving the lights on and wasting electricity, helping you lower your energy bills.

• Convenient: Searching for a light switch whenever you enter a room is bothersome, particularly if you often welcome visitors who are unfamiliar with your property. Microwave sensors turn the lights on automatically, meaning anyone can use and navigate your space with ease.

What are the best applications for microwave sensors?

It’s possible to use microwave sensor lights in a wide range of applications, including at home. But they’re best suited for use in commercial spaces.

Microwave sensors don’t require a clear line of sight. That makes them an excellent fit for oddly shaped rooms or spaces filled to the brim with stock and equipment. As such, they’re commonly found in warehouses and other busy work premises.

Similarly, microwave sensor lights don’t rely on heat signatures to detect motion. They’re a convenient automatic lighting option for all temperatures, weathers and seasons, even when installed outside.

What’s the difference between microwave sensors and PIR sensors?

As the two most popular types of motion-detector lighting, people often wonder about the differences between microwave sensors and passive infrared (PIR) sensors. While we won’t provide an in-depth explanation of PIR sensors here, these are some of the main differences.

Microwave sensors detect motion across a 360o angle using microwave signals. Since they don’t rely on heat to function, they offer consistent detection in all temperatures. Microwave sensor lights can also sense movement through solid objects, including walls. This is useful in large or packed spaces, but can be a problem in smaller indoor environments.

PIR sensors, on the other hand, detect changes in temperature within a narrower 90o angle. They can’t detect heat through walls, so are well suited for indoor use. But ambient temperature affects their sensitivity greatly, particularly when used outside. They tend to be under sensitive in hot weather and oversensitive when it’s cold.

Depending on your application, you can get the greatest benefits from automatic lighting by using a mix of microwave and PIR sensor lights.

Can you fit a microwave sensor to an existing light?

There are many lighting options available that come with sensors already installed. In our range, we offer high quality surface mounted microwave sensor lights and recessed microwave sensor lights from KSR Lighting.

However, it’s also possible to fit sensors to your existing lights. You can do so using a variety of microwave sensor kits and accessories.

Can you add a microwave sensor to any light?

It’s likely that you’ll be able to add a microwave sensor to any of your existing lights. But not every sensor is suitable for every light.

Manufacturers typically create sensor kits and accessories for specific lighting products.

As an example, our Navara LBX Microwave Sensor Kit is designed to work specifically with KSR98220, KSR98221 and KSR98822 lights.

And our Plug and Play On/Off Microwave Pack is compatible with the X3 Navara LED batten range.

If you plan to add motion sensors to your existing lights, check for a compatible motion sensor kit online.

It’s also possible to adapt your light switch with a motion sensor, such as with the KSR8400 Microwave Sensor for Integral Products. The sensor’s DIP switch programming lets you personalise the fitting to suit your application, and you can set it up easily even without a handset programmer. The product features a 360o detection angle with wall-mounted detection between 1-15 metres, and carries a 5-year warranty for your peace of mind.

How to adjust microwave sensor lighting

Automatic microwave sensor lights are both convenient and energy saving. But to enjoy the greatest benefits of upgrading your lights, it’s important to calibrate your sensors correctly.

Most microwave sensor lights have three adjustable settings, which you can change using a small flathead screwdriver:

• Lux: In lights with a daylight sensor, this setting determines the minimal ambient brightness at which your sensor will trigger the light to turn on. Move the dial towards the picture of the sun to have the light come on when it’s bright outside. Or move it towards the moon so it only activates when it’s dark. It’s best to adjust this setting at the time of day you want the light to come on, as this makes it easier to test.
• Time: This option controls how long you want the light to stay on for once it’s triggered. Move the dial towards the plus symbol to keep the light on for longer. Or move it closer to the minus symbol to shorten the lighting duration.
• Sensitivity: This setting is identified by ‘SEN’. It determines how big the object must be and at what distance before the light comes on. As with time, sensitivity is controlled by adjusting the dial towards a plus or minus symbol.

Once you’ve chosen your preferred settings, walk past the sensor to see whether your light turns on. Continue to adjust your microwave sensor lighting until it comes on at the right brightness and distance for an adequate length of time. 

Get quality microwave sensor lights and kits from ES Lighting

Whether you plan to install new surface-mounted or recessed microwave sensor lights, or use kits and accessories to upgrade your existing ones, you’ll find the products you need in our microwave sensor range.

Each product carries a 3-5 year warranty to give you total confidence. And we offer fast dispatch and delivery throughout mainland UK and even the Scottish Highlands and Isles to help you complete your lighting project quickly.Explore our range of microwave sensors now to enjoy all the convenient, money-saving benefits of automatic lighting.