Re: RCR- Pet Motion Detector Problems

["Jim" <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

Andrew & Adair Wood wrote:
> I hope someone here will be kind enough to assist with my problem.  I am
> not a professional installer, but a FAIRLY knowledgeable end-user.  In
> the living room of my home, I have a G.E. "RCR-Pet" motion detector.
> This is the second unit of this type my installer and I have tried.  The
> first such sensor was installed over a year ago when another technology
> (floor-joist load-cells) proved unsuitable.  The load-cells themselves
> were a replacement for another brand of motion detector which proved
> unsuitable.
>
> The sensor is mounted SLIGHTLY above the maximum recommended height -
> the top of the sensor is at 8ft. 1in. above the floor.  It is mounted on
> an "over-hang" prohibiting lowering it, if the 1-inch overage was
> actually significant.  There is a 10lb cat as well as 2 dogs in the
> room.  The dogs are large (Rhodesian Ridgeback and a Saint
> Bernard/Collie cross) BUT they are crated when the system is armed.  The
> Saint Collie's crate is BEHIND the sensor, under the over-hang, outside
> of the coverage pattern.  The ridgeback's crate is outside of the
> sensor's set range and was, until recently, outside of the coverage
> pattern.  She is also smaller than the 80lb immunity claimed for the unit.
>
> When the first sensor was first installed, it was mounted flush to the
> wall of the over-hang.  It was set to detect only within 9 feet.  I
> noticed a problem: it did not "catch" well for people passing through
> the most likely path of an intruder in the room.  We installed a
> "swivel-bracket" and angled the unit approx. 45 degrees toward the
> ridgeback's crate, which is approximately 12 feet from the unit.  During
> walk-testing, catch was improved noticeably.
>
> A few days ago, the sensor falsed.  Afterward, I noticed it was
> detecting BEYOND the set 9 foot range.  Suspecting the unit was
> defective, my installer and I replaced it.  The new unit is also
> detecting beyond the 9 foot range, as well as detecting BEHIND the unit
> (despite the fact that G.E. advertises no "back-lobe").  The unit is
> still on the "swivel-bracket", but is now oriented straight ahead as the
> first one was.  I have an "RCR-A" in the master-bedroom (no animals in
> there when system is armed) and it's range-detection is flawless.
>
> Have we gotten 2 lemons, or is this model junk?  Thanks in advance for
> any help.
>
> Andrew Wood

Don't know if you're still reading this or not, but my guess is that
you've got some metal objects or some kinds of reflective material in
or around the room. A large mirror or mirrors will do it. Metal blinds
may do it also. Or any of these things in combination with the metal in
the cages, kitchen appliances, metal foil insulation, foil wall paper
and so on. You also didn't say if the unit was facing any windows.

By the way, if the other unit in the bedroom is within the array of
this unit, don't think that because you have the range adustment low on
these units that they can't see and thus affect one another. For
instance .....if the units are 50 foot units and you have them set for
nine feet and within 100 feet of one another ...... one will set off
the other.
Ask me how I know!