Count Number of Motion Sensor Activations

[MtView]

I would like to count the number of times an outdoor motion sensor is activated within a certain amount of time and then take action based on that. The motion rule is set up in the Motion Lighting App.

Any ideas if this is possible? I was looking to use the activation of the Motion Lighting App as the trigger in a RM rule, but that seems to be a no go.

[672southmain]

The problem definition is a bit vague. Typically, motion sensors, once activated, continue giving a flurry of motion events until, at some point, the motion events stop. To make this more palatable, motion sensor devices have a “motion cleared delay” or a “motion reset timer” period after motion ceases before they will report motion again.

Now, you could set that delay after motion time to be very short, say, 5 seconds, but then you will get a flurry of motion events while there is activity.

So, do you want to set the delay long (20 sec to a minute or so) and call that a single motion event, or do you want to see that flurry of events and call it 100 events, or what? It can also overwhelm your hub, depending on settings.

That’s the problem with motion - it comes and goes, and can depend on the sensitivity and field of view, but may just be a single “event”.

[lewis.heidrick]

I think you're looking for false motion reduction which is built into the motion zone controller. Then add that zone to whatever rule you want to control.

False Motion Reduction When at least the Minimum Active Threshold number of motion sensors become active within the Activation Window, the zone will activate. This zone will deactivate when all motion sensors become inactive.

[MtView]

I think that would help.

Now I'm just not sure if I want to put more $$ into this. It looks like outdoor zwave/zigbee sensors are few and they are all (both of them) PIR. If there were other sensors out there like the Bosch Tritech or that incorporated pet immunity I would probably do it.

[lewis.heidrick]

You can use a single motion sensor with it. No need for additional investment.

[MtView]

I didn't know this would work with a single motion.

With a single motion set up as a zone with an activation window of 5 seconds, is this saying - if motion A activates and is active for at least 5 seconds then activate the zone?

EDIT: Where does the minimum activation window fit in?

This might be exactly what I needed!

[lewis.heidrick]

It is what you need. May need to play with the settings a bit to get it dialed in. Remember the device settings will play into this as well.