What Is the Coverage Area of a Honeywell 360° Motion Sensor?

The coverage area of a Honeywell 360° Motion Sensor depends on the model of the motion sensor and high it is mounted. As a general rule, increasing the mounting height will increase the coverage area diameter. But you cannot mount it too high, or it will be unable to detect movement below.

Unlike standard motion sensors that look outward, 360° motion sensors looks downward. They are usually mounted on the ceiling so that they can detect motion below. That is why 360° motion sensors are often referred to as ceiling mount motion sensors. Just like a typical passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor, most 360° motion sensors work by looking for changes in infrared (IR) energy. When a person or large object comes within the sensor's field of view, the sensor will recognize the change in IR energy and alert the security system.

As a ceiling-mount motion sensor is raised, the diameter of its detection area becomes increased. For best performance, a ceiling-mount motion sensor will be mounted from 8 to 12 feet high. Of course, this will depend on the height of the ceiling. Mounting the motion sensor too high will prevent the detection signal from reaching the area below. This could cause it to miss out on movement that occurs below.

Alarm Grid sells two Honeywell 360° Motion Sensors on its website. These are both hardwired motion sensors that connect with the panel directly. The first is the Honeywell IS280CM. This motion sensor uses 50 unique fields of view that combine into a 360° coverage area. It has a recommended mounting height of 8 to 12 feet high. Its coverage area is 45 feet in diameter when mounted at 10 feet high. This increases to 50 in diameter when mounted at 12 feet high. The sensor also offers low profile housing, microprocessor-based signal processing, a sealed optics chamber, a cover tamper, and a selectable pulse count for adjusting sensitivity.

The other Honeywell 360° Motion Sensor sold on our website is the Honeywell 997. This ceiling-mount motion sensor is best-suited for rooms smaller than 30 by 30 feet. It is best used at mounting heights between 8 and 12 feet high. The sensor offers a coverage area of 36 feet in diameter when mounted from 11 feet high. The sensor also offers a twist off cover, an LED light for performing walk tests, a cover tamper and a selectable pulse count for increasing or decreasing device sensitivity.