V-TAC VT-80301 microwave motion sensor, wall-mounted 180°, 300 W LED / 1200 W, IP65, white, 5-year warranty

The VT-80301 is a microwave motion sensor from V-TAC for wall mounting – it switches lighting on when somebody enters the detection field and switches it off after a set delay.

Microwaves, not infrared

Instead of detecting body heat, the sensor emits a weak 5.8 GHz radio wave and measures its reflection (Doppler radar). That has three practical consequences. First, it works through thin materials: glass, a wooden panel, plastic – so the sensor can be hidden inside a fitting or behind a cover. Second, frost and heat do not trouble it, because it does not depend on the temperature difference that makes PIR sensors unreliable in summer. Third, it catches movement a PIR would miss, such as somebody walking straight at it. The transmitted power is negligible: the manufacturer quotes under 0.2 mW, about five thousand times less than a mobile phone.

Three dials that set everything

The sensor is adjusted with three potentiometers, no app involved:

• On-time – from 10 s (±3 s) to 12 min (±1 min). Any further movement during the countdown restarts the clock, so the light does not go out on somebody halfway down a corridor.
• Sensitivity / range – at the lowest setting detection reaches about 5 m, at the highest up to 15 m. Narrowing the range is the simplest way to stop the sensor reacting to movement outside a window or on the neighbouring drive.
• Daylight threshold – from <3 to 2000 lx. At minimum the light comes on only after dark; on the "sun" position the sensor works around the clock.

How much lighting it will switch

The rated load depends on the type of lamp: up to 1200 W for incandescent and up to 300 W for LED. The lower LED figure is not a mistake – LED drivers draw a very short but high inrush current at switch-on, which stresses the relay contact more than a filament lamp does. In practice 300 W is several dozen LED fittings, so for a corridor or a driveway the limit leaves plenty of headroom. The sensor itself consumes about 0.9 W.

Mounting and operating conditions

The polycarbonate housing is rated IP65 – dust-tight and protected against water jets, so the sensor is equally suitable outdoors: on a garage wall, above a gateway, on a façade. The manufacturer recommends a mounting height of 1.5–3.5 m and an operating range of −20 to +40 °C. The detection angle is 180°, so the sensor watches the half-circle in front of it rather than its whole surroundings. It picks up movement at 0.6–1.5 m/s – ordinary walking pace. Installation should be carried out by an electrician; the supply is 230 V.

Specification

• Manufacturer code: VT-80301 (V-TAC, SKU 23164), EAN 3800170211490
• Type: microwave motion sensor (5.8 GHz radar, ISM band)
• Detection angle: 180°; range 5–15 m (adjustable)
• Rated load: max. 1200 W (incandescent) / 300 W (LED)
• Sensor's own consumption: about 0.9 W
• On-time: 10 s ±3 s to 12 min ±1 min
• Daylight threshold: <3–2000 lx, adjustable
• Detected motion speed: 0.6–1.5 m/s
• Supply: AC 220–240 V, 50/60 Hz
• Ingress protection: IP65; polycarbonate housing, white
• Mounting height: 1.5–3.5 m; operating temperature −20 to +40 °C
• Dimensions: 119.5 × 80 × 51.5 mm; weight 0.22 kg
• Certification: CE, EMC, ROHS; 5-year warranty