Electronics: Proximity Detector

Electronics: Proximity Detector

I’ve found a nice PIR proximity sensor to detect when people walk in front of the Akiniscope, and take their picture. Most PIRs are deliberately made to be seen. This one, although more expensive, is small and discrete, and you can even mount it behind thin material. I’ve been wanting to include this proximity sensor in a project for some time.

The sensor is a Kemet SS-430:

https://www.kemet.com/en/us/sensors/product/SS-430L-N.html

You can buy it as a surface mount component, or, as I have done, on a little board. The connector is small and fiddly. I bought the crimps and connector for it, but found it to fiddly to make up, as I don’t have a crimper that size. Pre-made cables are available, luckily. I bought one from HobbyRC:

https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/jst-sh-5-pin-connector-300mm-wire

It takes a supply of 3.5V – 5.5V. I used 5V. The sense signal is 3V, so nicely compatible with the Raspberry Pi.

It’s nicely working on the bench, but will have to see if there are any drawbacks, when I start using it in the wild.