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You are here: Home / Infrared (IR) / PIR Burglar Alarm Circuit

PIR Burglar Alarm Circuit

Last Updated on March 3, 2020 by Swagatam 10 Comments

The PIR burglar alarm explained here will detect a human intruder within the stipulated range and sound an alarm. Thus, the system could be effectively use for detecting trespassing, theft, intrusion, burglars, or any form of unlawful entry inside a restricted area or zone.

Basic Principle

The operating principle of the proposed burglar alarm circuit can be understood by referring to the following block diagram. The design looks very simple, since most of the complex infrared detection is carried out by the advanced PIR module itself.

The PIR module converts the IR radiation from human body into corresponding electrical signal. These electrical signals are amplified by a single transistor amplifier which also works like a relay driver controller stage.

When a human intrusion from a burglar is detected, the PIR comverts the heat map of the intruders body into tiny electrical pulses.

The transistor receives these pulses and amplifies it sufficiently to drive a relay.

The relay switches ON, and sounds the connected alarm through its contacts.

How the Circuit Works

In the above paragraph we learned about the basic block diagram and the working principle of the burglar alarm using a PIR sensor.

Now let's try to understand the precise details of the circuit configuration.

The design is based on a PIR motion sensor circuit which can be easily built using the following basic set up and applied as a burglar alarm circuit.

PIR motion sensor security burglar alarm circuit

Here we can see, the system can be assembled using just 5 fundamental components, which are: 1) The PIR Module 2) A 1 k resistor, 3) An NPN transistor, 4) A Relay, 5) An Alarm Siren unit.

The PIR has 3 terminals labelled as the Vcc, OUT, and the GND or ground. The Vcc is supplied with a +12V via the 1k resistor, the GND with the 0V from a DC supply which could be from any standard 12 V AC to DC adapter.

Power Supply

Although the PIR is rated to work with a 3.3 V from a 5 V DC supply, for the sake of simplicity a 5 V regulator is avoided. Instead a 1 k limiting resistor is used for dropping the 12 V supply to the required 3.3 V. The 3.3 V is achieved through a 3.3 V regulator which is provided inside the PIR module PCB. Thus, the PIR works safely from a 12 V supply even without external voltage regulator circuitry.

The 1 K resistor also allows the circuit to eliminate the transistor base resistor, which further simplifies the shown PIR burglar alarm circuit concept.

The Relay Driver And Alarm Stage

The base of the relay driver transistor is directly attached with the OUT pin of the PIR for receiving the detected signal from the PIR module.

The transistor acts like a small signal amplifier as well as an effective relay driver stage.

Whenever the PIR detects a human presence which may be from an intrusion from a possible burglar or an attempt of theft, it converts the infrared heat map detection from the human body into corresponding 3.3V electrical pulses.

This DC pulse being higher than the 0.7 V switching bias for the transistor, the transistor instantly switches ON and activates the relay.

The relay contacts move from its initial N/C to N/O position which triggers ON the the connected alarm system.

Using an External Alarm

The burglar alarm system or the siren unit attached with the relay contact can be a homemade alarm circuit, or simply an external ready made siren, depending on the user preference.

Conclusion

The explained simple PIR burglar alarm circuit looks too simple to build yet provides an outstanding protection from all forms of human interventions, or intrusion inside a restricted zone, such as shops, homes, offices, lands, etc. The system could be wired with a wireless transmission also for sending the detected intrusion to another destination such as police station or the owners residence.




Previous: Unijunction Transistor (UJT) – Comprehensive Tutorial
Next: 10 Simple Unijunction Transistor (UJT) Circuits Explained

About Swagatam

I am an electronic engineer (dipIETE ), hobbyist, inventor, schematic/PCB designer, manufacturer. I am also the founder of the website: https://www.homemade-circuits.com/, where I love sharing my innovative circuit ideas and tutorials.
If you have any circuit related query, you may interact through comments, I'll be most happy to help!

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  1. Search Related Posts for Commenting

  2. Patel Vip's says

    Hello, I am selling solar security lights and trying to learn electronics basic, I want to know how do I calculate the size of resistor when I want to convert ( eg: 220V AC to 12V AC.) something like this means if we know input and output voltage how to calculate resistance size. I am sorry if you feel my question is not related to your topic.
    Will be glad to here from you.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      Hi, if you convert 220 V to 12V through a resistor, the resistor will get extremely hot.

      The formula is given below:
      R = (220 V – 12V) / Load current

      wattage of resistor = (220 V – 12V) x Load current

      Reply
  3. John van Heerden says

    Hi Swagatam
    Where can I purchase the Advanced PIR module? As in South Africa we can only buy the standard PIR, and I would like to build your PIR alarm system.
    Thank you in anticipation

    John van Heerden

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      Hi John, In my schematic also I have used a standard PIR module. You can get this standard assembled PIR module (with fresnel lens mounted) from any online store like Amazon.

      Reply
      • John van Heerden says

        Hallo Swagatam
        Thanks very much for your assistance and guidance.
        John van Heerden

        Reply
        • Swagatam says

          You are welcome John!

          Reply
  4. Niyi says

    Keep up the good work sir

    Reply
    • S. M. says

      Hello Linda.
      As Swagatam suggested you can hook this up without too much difficulty. Also, I built an alarm system for a 12′ x 24′ out-building using an Alarm system designed by Charles Platt. I included a timer module using 555 chips that gives me a delay to arm the system and leave the building. I adjust the timing circuit with a resister. The important part I wanted to share was I originally used a small 3″ 8ohm speaker which wouldn’t scare off a cat, so I simply soldered RCA wires to the 8ohm speaker and plugged it into a stereo amp with an outside 120w speaker. This is quite loud, so you may want to think about this. Simply cut one end off and separate the two wires; just don’t cut off the end that plugs into the amp (male end), then simply plug the male end into the amp, connect a speaker (typically mono) and you have a expensive loud speaker. Hope this helps some. Spencer.

      Reply
  5. Linda says

    Hi you are an inventor OK my problem is I have a big farm would like about buildings and animal shelters I need to build a system when the doors open and outdoor siren will go off I have tried smaller projects with magnets the door closing in an open and a closed Can you tell me a simple but operative alarm system not connecting to electric and or connected to electric preferably not electric maybe solar or battery Seems simple enough your wire siren to a close switch when the doors open it goes off where does the power come from I’m sorry I’m a woman and I’m not too technically advanced however I learn fast
    They make the small rinky-dink magnetic door alarms but you can’t hear if you walk 5 feet away I need something that alerts me at my house or in the field that someone is entered stealing or harming my animals whatever can you help or point me in the right direction so appreciative

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      Hi, you can try the following concept:
      https://www.homemade-circuits.com/door-open-close-alarm-circuit/
      replace the 2N2222 with TIP122 transistor, and replace the alarm with a high power CAR siren. The power supply to the circuit can be from a lead acid battery 12V 7 Ah

      Reply


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