The Correct Way to Set Trail Cameras on Deer Trails

In this video we are diving into the correct way to hang your trail cameras on actual deer trails.  A lot of guys will see a deer trail and want to monitor that trail with a trail camera, which can be very effective.  However, you may be doing it wrong.  

Arguably the cornerstone of any trail camera’s detection circuit, the Passive Infrared Sensor recognizes motion/heat by infrared radiation emitted or reflected by objects that will ultimately cause a trigger event….but how?

The sensor itself contains infrared radiation sensing element and is typically housed in a metallic case that is mounted to your camera's printed circuit board. The sensor elements are made of a material sensitive to infrared radiation and are placed behind optical filters or “windows” that allows the sensor to see a specified distance commonly known in the trail camera world as the detection distance. The amount of IR detected through each window by the element, which are balanced equally to one another, is considered to be the relative or ambient IR. When the sensor detects equal amounts of IR, the camera remains inactive. Trigger events occur when the sensor is able to detect a change in the relative IR from one element to another caused by motion and heat, also known as dynamic IR.

PIR sensors themselves are somewhat basic but become much more complicated when adding Fresnel lenses to complete the system. You’ve likely noticed the small black curved piece of plastic on your camera and in the past maybe even referred to it as the PIR sensor. While that is true, technically speaking the black plastic is actually a Fresnel lens array of the PIR system. On the backside of the curved plastic is an elaborate layout of Fresnel lenses. The responsibility of the Fresnel lens is twofold, to condense light providing a larger range of IR to the sensor and dividing the detection area into much broader more intricate zones than two large simple rectangular zones seen by the sensor’s “windows”. This is executed by the multi-facet sections of the plastic cover that have precision placed concentric ring designs known as Fresnel lenses. Each facet and sub-lens create and serve different detection areas while working collectively with the PIR sensor itself. The design and layout of the overall Fresnel lens are very important to the angle and overall zones of your cameras detection ability.

While this is one of the more complicated and technical aspects of your trail camera’s detection circuit, once the overall concept is understood it truly makes a world of difference when thinking about efficient trail camera placement, while also grasping why false triggers occur.

Take Away

PIR sensors operate by detecting a change in infrared radiation
Fresnel lens design completes the detection zones and/or detection areas
PIR sensors work best detecting right angle movements


Discover our Trail Cameras backed by our 5 Year Warranty & Theft Protection:
The Exodus Render - http://bit.ly/exodusrender
The Exodus Lift II - http://bit.ly/2JWbXqz
The Exodus Trek - http://bit.ly/exodustrek

Connect with Exodus Trail Cameras:
TRAIL CAM RADIO PODCAST: https://apple.co/342OoD1
FACEBOOK: Facebook: exodusoutdoo..
TWITTER: Twitter: ExodusTrailCams
INSTAGRAM: Instagram: ExodusTrail..
WEBSITE: http://www.exodusoutdoorgear.com/