SparkFun PIR Breakout Hookup Guide

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Contributors: El Duderino, Englandsaurus
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Troubleshooting

Hopefully by following the steps in this guide you've got your SparkFun PIR Breakout up and running monitoring motion and reporting data to your preferred microcontroller or single-board computer. In case you run into any issues we've outlined a few tips and tricks for testing the PIR here.

Hardware Check

Most common problems with the PIR Breakout revolve around the hardware connections. If your PIR Breakout is not powering on or your microcontroller/SBC cannot detect the output signal from the sensor, double-check your solder joints and your wiring to the microcontroller/SBC. The Hardware Checks section of our Troubleshooting Tips guide can help you diagnose any connection problems.

Detection Area/Field of View

The effective detection area of both the EKMC4607112K and EKMB1107112 is dependent on a variety of factors. The specifications for measurement range are based on a target concept (area of ~700×250mm) of a human body moving across two detection zones at a speed of 1m/s. The PIR senses objects best when moving across two detection zones on the horizontal (X) or vertical (Y) axes. The PIR may struggle to detect objects moving away or toward the PIR (along the Z axis) unless they also move along the other two axes.

Also note that background IR radiation can influence the PIR's ability to detect an object. The PIR can detect objects with a larger temperature difference from the background at a larger range. Refer back to the Hardware Overview section for specific ranges and temperature differences.

Take these detection limitations into consideration when selecting the mounting position of your PIR Breakout. Section 4-7 of the sensors' spec sheets (EKMC4607112K and EKMB1107112) show diagrams for optimal placement and object motion for sensing.

General Troubleshooting

If you need technical assistance and more information on this or another SparkFun product that is not working as you expected, we recommend heading on over to the SparkFun Technical Assistance page for some initial troubleshooting:

If you don't find what you need there, the SparkFun Forums are a great place to find and ask for help. If this is your first visit, you'll need to create a Forum Account to search product forums and post questions.