Re: RCR- Pet Motion Detector Problems

[Andrew & Adair Wood <andrewandadairwoodNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxx>]

The Ridgeback's crate is metal.  The unit is now facing nearly straight
forward again.  Configuration of the room and contents requires that the
unit at least partially face a sliding glass door.  The door is outside
of the unit's set range.  It was only AFTER facing the unit toward the
crate and away from the door that the problem began.  I'm calling that a
clue and stopping work on what was never broken! :)  Catch is adequate
with current alignment.  If there are further problems, I plan to try
the DG75 first.  Thank you to all who replied.



Jim wrote:
> 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!
>