RCWL-0516 Microwave Radar Occupancy Sensor Module

CAD 2.50

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Availability: In stock (can be backordered) SKU: 26657 Tag:
Quantity 3 - 9 CAD 2.25
Quantity 10 - 24 CAD 2.19
Quantity 25 + CAD 2.13

Description

RCWL-0516 is a Doppler-Radar sensor, specialized in the detection of moving objects. Other than a PIR sensor does this micro wave motion sensor not require an infrared source, like a living object (human or animal).

This module is very sensitive, and works in a detecting range of up to 7m.

The wide supply voltage range of 4-28V DC makes it easy to use for various kinds of detecting needs.

Typical use is the detection of life to activate lighting or alarm.

2 reviews for RCWL-0516 Microwave Radar Occupancy Sensor Module

  1. 5 out of 5

    m.p (verified owner)

    It’s not that often that a module or small board like this surprises me, but this one definitely did. It’s not really radar but it uses radio waves to detect human movement, and it does it quite well. It has the potential to be a (nearly) drop-in replacement for many PIR applications.

    There are five pins but I only used GND, OUT, and VIN. I used an Arduino Leonardo to test it, powering the module (VIN) off the 5V pin on the Arduino and reading the OUT pin of the module. From a circuit and programming standpoint, it works just like a PIR motion detector. The OUT pin is normally low and when it detects motion, it goes high.

    The module is sensitive above and below the plane of the board (it doesn’t seem to be very sensitive edge-on), and it was able to detect a single wave of my arm as far as I could go in the room (about 6m away). I also tested it with it packed in a cardboard box and a plastic box; it still worked out to the same distance in both cases. I also left the room for 40 minutes and during that time it didn’t trigger once.

    It did not do as well detecting the movement of a soccer ball, pillowcase, and small cardboard box. But since this is meant to detect a person, I don’t think that’s a problem.

    Since it works through plastic and cardboard (and I’m assuming many other materials that aren’t conductors), this is potentially a game-changer for many of my projects that use a PIR, as it can be built into a case much more easily and discreetly than a PIR. I have some doubts about how well it will work if it’s outside when it’s raining (I can’t really test that until spring) but for indoor and sheltered/garage projects, I’m pretty excited.

    Long story short: it works, it’s inexpensive, and it’s easy to use.

  2. 5 out of 5

    David Villeneuve (verified owner)

    Terrific as a motion sensor. I have it mounted above a grandfather clock in a hallway with as ESP8266 controller, plus 2 PIR detectors. The microwave sensor seems to be omnidirectional, unlike the PIRs. I added a 2M resistor to reduce the sensitivity a bit. It detects motion through walls – the lights are on before I leave the bathroom or exit the basement. It senses a cat coming down the stairs.


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