eagle eye

[vantech]

my eagle eye motion sensor will not work when it gets below 30 degrees outside, anybody else have this problem???

[dave w]

Could be a flakey unit, but they really should operate well below freezing. Did you replace the batteries? Try lithiums for very cold weather operation.

[HA Dave]

... they really should operate well below freezing.

Yeah some of our northern (Canadian) users have reported very cold weather useage.

[vantech]

yup put in brand new duracells and also tried another unit, both of them wouldn't work under 30 degrees

[IPS]

I have the same problem even when it is above 32. My attached but unheated garage eagle eye stop working when it gets around 7 degree C. Out door sensor works when sunshines on it and then it does not stop activating chime. Other than that it is pure luck. Units are only ten or so feet from CM15A with a modified antenna.

IPS

[vantech]

@IPS, thats exactly what happens to mine....does anybody have a fix for this??

[dave w]

@IPS, thats exactly what happens to mine....does anybody have a fix for this??

Yes. Take a 7 watt night light and.........

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. A night light or an antenna fixes all X10 problems.

OK I am re-composed.
I have old xxxxeyes that have no problems down in the teens or lower.
How old are yours?

Since we seem to have several users with same problem, my guess is X10 decided to save a penny per unit and removed or down spec'ed a cap or resistor somewhere.
I would call X10. They are made for outdoor use and I assume the engineers at X10understand that the Eagle Eye might get used in temperatures chillier than what they see in Seunghun.

[vantech]

i've only had them for about a month, have no idea the actual build date on them though

[Brian H]

You may find a small round white sticker on its back. It would have the date code on it.

X10 Motion Sensors use an IR sensor to detect a temperature shift in a preset time. I would think both very warm or very cold could effect them.

[J.B.]

It kind of seems hit and miss with these sensors in cold temperatures.
I've used them in weather in the range of -20F with the same batteries for over 2 years without issue.

[vantech]

sticker says 10H33

[Brian H]

New one. As 10 would be 2010; 33 week. Not sure what the H signifies.

Here is the web page with the Eagle Eye specifications.
Says -4F to 122F; -10C to 50C
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/MS14A

[dave w]

vantech,
Brian brought up a good point in this thread which I didn't consider in my "they saved a penny" condemnation (sorry X10).
Any passive infrared motion detector (PIR) relies on a moving differential of temperature to trigger. i.e. the mover must have a different temperature than the ambient air where the motion dectector is aimed.

Meaning: if ambient tempurature is in the high 90's,  a person can do a river dance in front of a motion sensor and might not be "seen". Conversely if cold and the mover is well insulated in Carharts, again the sensor may not see enough of a temperature differential to trigger.

[Brian H]

Detection also depends on the direction of movement. Across the beam is better than walking directly to and from it.

[tom j]

@IPS, thats exactly what happens to mine....does anybody have a fix for this??

Yes. Take a 7 watt night light and.........

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. A night light or an antenna fixes all X10 problems.

OK I am re-composed.
I have old xxxxeyes that have no problems down in the teens or lower.
How old are yours?

Since we seem to have several users with same problem, my guess is X10 decided to save a penny per unit and removed or down spec'ed a cap or resistor somewhere.
I would call X10. They are made for outdoor use and I assume the engineers at X10understand that the Eagle Eye might get used in temperatures chillier than what they see in Seunghun.

Yeah but like you said they are X10 engineers.