This microwave motion sensor is a total game-changer for me - it's way more sensitive and accurate than my old infrared one
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Editor's Summary
I recently replaced my old infrared microwave sensor with this motion sensor, and I'm blown away by the difference. It's way more sensitive and accurate, which means I can cook my food to perfection every time. The motion sensor is super easy to set up and use - just place it in the microwave and you're good to go. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I'm really impressed with the value for money. The build quality is solid, and it's been working flawlessly. I've also noticed that the battery life is longer than I expected, which is a big plus. Overall, I'm really happy with this purchase and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable microwave sensor.", "pros": [ "Super sensitive and accurate motion sensor", "Easy to set up and use", "Good value for money", "Solid build quality", "Long battery life", "Works flawlessly" ], "cons": [ "None so far - I'm really happy with this purchase" ], "faq": [ { "question": "How does the motion sensor work?", "answer": "The motion sensor uses advanced technology to detect movement and adjust the cooking time accordingly. It's really easy to use and requires minimal setup." }, { "question": "Is the motion sensor easy to set up?", "answer": "Yes, the motion sensor is super easy to set up. Just place it in the microwave and you're good to go." }, { "question": "How long does the battery last?", "answer": "The battery life is longer than I expected, which is a big plus. I've been using it for a few weeks now and it still has plenty of juice left." }, { "question": "Is the motion sensor reliable?", "answer": "Yes, the motion sensor has been working flawlessly for me. I've been using it for a few weeks now and it's been a game-changer for my cooking." }, { "question": "Can I return the motion sensor if I'm not satisfied?", "answer": "Yes, the seller offers a return policy in case you're not satisfied with the product. Just contact them and they'll help you with the return process." }, { "question": "Is the motion sensor compatible with my microwave?", "answer": "The motion sensor is compatible with most microwaves, but it's always a good idea to check the specifications before making a purchase." ], "meta_title": "This microwave motion sensor is a total game-changer for me - it's way more sensitive and accurate than my old infrared one", "meta_description": "I recently replaced my old infrared microwave sensor with this motion sensor, and I'm blown away by the difference. It's way more sensitive and accurate, which means I can cook my food to perfection every time.", "og_title": "This microwave motion sensor is a total game-changer for me - it's way more sensitive and accurate than my old infrared one", "og_description": "I recently replaced my old infrared microwave sensor with this motion sensor, and I'm blown away by the difference. It's way more sensitive and accurate, which means I can cook my food to perfection every time.
Specifications
I've been dealing with TDM Electric's infrared motion sensor for a while now, and to be honest, it's been driving me crazy over time with its low sensitivity. So, I decided to give their DDC-02S a shot, which is a microwave motion sensor. Although it looks pretty similar, its principle of operation is actually quite different.
The main reason I chose this model to replace the previous one is pretty straightforward: they have a similar form factor, and the base is almost identical, except for the head with the motion sensor. Since I already had mounting holes in my wall for the previous sensor, I didn't want to deal with a full install, including drilling new holes and so on. So, I just bought a motion sensor with the same base and figured it would be easy to swap it out by just changing the connections and screwing in the new sensor to the same base.
The cost of the sensor was 1340 rubles, which is roughly twice the price of the infrared sensor. It's a more expensive technology, but it's way more sensitive, and I can confirm that.
It comes in a classic orange box from TDM Electric, with a brief overview of its benefits and features on the front in the form of icons.
On the back of the packaging, there are more detailed technical specifications in a formal text format.
The side panel lists possible usage scenarios, including controlling outdoor and indoor lighting, as well as using it for various signaling devices, such as a motion sensor for sending signals and so on. And of course, there's a proud statement about a five-year warranty, which speaks to the manufacturer's confidence in the quality of their product. But, worth noting, for outdoor lighting, you should consider that the sensor has an IP44 water resistance level, which might not be enough for outdoor use unless it's under an awning where there's no risk of direct water exposure.
The package includes the motion sensor, an instruction manual, and a small package with mounting hardware, consisting of two dowels and two screws (washers).
The motion sensor itself looks like this, pretty much identical to the infrared one from the same brand, but with a slightly different sensor. If you look at it, it's more monolithic and white, while the infrared one has a central insert made of semi-transparent plastic.
I was really impressed with the adjustability of the motion sensor's settings on the bottom of the device. With three dials to tweak, it's way more customizable than the infrared sensor, which only has two. I can adjust the brightness in lux, sensitivity, and the time it stays on after detecting movement in the zone – and that time ranges from 10 seconds to 12 minutes.
The base of the motion sensor has the same shape as the infrared one, but what I love is that the adjustability is really wide – it can even be pointed upwards towards the ceiling or downwards towards a wall. This makes it super versatile and easy to set up for different scenarios.
The sensor itself is just snapped into the base and can be rotated around its axis.
On the back of the base, there's a label with the sensor's technical specs and some info from the manufacturer.
Just unscrew the two screws at the front, and the back panel opens up.
There's a silicone grommet for the wires, and the connection is via a standard pass-through terminal block. The wiring diagram is also marked on the back panel. It's all pretty standard stuff – we've got a common ground, a phase coming in to the sensor, and a phase going out to the device (in my case, a light bulb, but it could be anything).
I decided to test the motion sensor before installing it in place, so I built a small test rig on a table and connected the sensor to a simple LED light fixture as a load.
The LED light fixture I used had an 18-watt power rating.
And the test results were really impressive. First, the sensor responds way faster and more accurately to movement in its field of view, especially when it's a direct line of sight. When it comes to peripheral vision, the sensor is also much more effective and can detect moving objects at a decent angle, which is exactly what you'd expect from a microwave sensor. Unfortunately, the infrared sensor's sensitivity was lower. In general, the sensor works great indoors, but as a microwave sensor, it can detect movement not just in front of it, but also through thin objects. For my experiment, I used a thin wooden door, and sure enough, when I approached the door and tried to open it, the sensor would already trigger. This is a game-changer for me, as it's exactly what I need. So, based on this test, I realized that this sensor is perfect for my situation, because my previous sensor was always a bit slow to react and wouldn't trigger every time.
So, I installed the sensor in place of the old one, and the mounting holes lined up perfectly. I even left the old sensor's backplate in place, which had some old markings on it, but that's not a big deal since I was doing this for myself. The new sensor fits perfectly on the same backplate and works flawlessly. And guess what? The experiment I did on the table worked just as well in real life. In my living room, there's a thin wooden door, and when I approach it, the sensor triggers and turns on the light. By the way, the load I used this time was a 36-watt LED light fixture.
I've had some issues with the sensor not detecting me when I'm standing still in a room, like when I'm rummaging through a closet. But after replacing the sensor with a microwave sensor, that problem disappeared completely. In the months I've been using it, I've never had an issue with it turning off when I'm in the room, and it always comes on as soon as I enter. Plus, I've got no blind spots in my space – this sensor can see into all the corners, even in a room with some tight spaces and turns.
Overall, the sensor has left me with a really positive impression, and it's a world of difference from the infrared sensor I was using before. Although the infrared sensor seemed like it would work well for my space, it didn't have the same requirements for turning on before I'd reached the door. But when I'd stand a few feet away from it and it would shut off, I'd have to wave my hand at it to get it to notice me – that was just plain weird. Not with this sensor, though – it works flawlessly. Sure, it's twice as expensive as the infrared sensor, but it's worth every penny, and it's performing exactly as it should. In fact, when you compare microwave sensors, this one is actually one of the more affordable options in its class. I'm really happy with its quality, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking to buy one.
