# Looking for Outdoor PIR Sensor to work with esp8266

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887>\
**Category:** Hardware\
**Created:** [17 July 2023 14:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887 "2023-07-17T14:53:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![richiep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@richiep](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/richiep)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2023 14:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887/1 "2023-07-17T14:53:38Z")

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Hey All,  
I'm looking for an outdoor PIR sensor something like this one.  
[Outdoor PIR Sensor](https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Infrared-Detectors-Security-Activated/dp/B09LQV5RWH/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=14lGS&content-id=amzn1.sym.5f7e0a27-49c0-47d3-80b2-fd9271d863ca%3Aamzn1.symc.e5c80209-769f-4ade-a325-2eaec14b8e0e&pf_rd_p=5f7e0a27-49c0-47d3-80b2-fd9271d863ca&pf_rd_r=2R8MEXEPN36HRF9Q130Z&pd_rd_wg=xcPNu&pd_rd_r=8073d77d-f535-4cf2-9b39-4e6d775a4461&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m&th=1)

But this is rated at 12v and the esp8266 requires a 3.3v signal. Where can I find this kind of hardware?

Thanks  
Rich

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**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2023 15:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887/2 "2023-07-17T15:06:41Z")

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Would an optoisolator [like this](https://www.icstation.com/4bit-optocoupler-isolator-level-voltage-converter-board-signal-p-8036.html) help?

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**Author:** ![richiep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@richiep](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/richiep)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2023 15:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887/3 "2023-07-17T15:09:20Z")

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hmm, would probably work but not my first choice.

Maybe I should consider a sonoff device or something like that.

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2023 15:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887/4 "2023-07-17T15:33:23Z")

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I used this item in my Outdoor PIR Sensor project... Honeywell - IS312B Passive Infrared Motion Sensor.  
It has a "voltage free" contact which means you can arrange a simple switch-circuit to the ESP8266.

[http://resources-area.co.uk/node-red-flows/it\_grew\_and\_grew.pdf](http://resources-area.co.uk/node-red-flows/it_grew_and_grew.pdf)

Also used a DC-to-DC Buck converter MT3608, to convert 3v3 to 12V to power the IR Sensor.  
[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001066566291.html](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001066566291.html)

This is what the PCB looks like I designed for the project.

 ![a_IR_PCB](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/3/a/3aa56986812d335d7fba674b26274f0288fc4d05.png)

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**Author:** ![richiep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@richiep](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/richiep)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2023 15:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887/5 "2023-07-17T15:44:30Z")

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Very cool! Love the documentation!

As for my own project... I just did some research on Sonoff PIR sensors and learned they use Zigbee radios. I played with Zigbee many years ago and never got far with it. But seems to be a standard these days. I like that they can help reduce traffic on your wifi and get longer distance. This sounds like a good path as my project grows in devices and complexity.

I'm back on the Zigbee learning curve. LOL

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**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2023 16:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887/6 "2023-07-17T16:12:44Z")

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I use the sonoff Zigbee motion sensors and they work well, indoors at least. I am going to try one outdoors, but under cover so it does not get rain on it. It will be interesting to see if it survives. It will be above a door, sheltered by the fact that the door is recessed into the wall about 200cm.

I use a Sonoff USB dongle V3 installed on a Pi, with Zigbee2MQTT to get the data into MQTT. The data can then be picked up using standard MQTT nodes in node-red. Don't bother with the zigbee2MQTT nodes.

Don't go for a cheap USB dongle, some are rubbish. If you go for the Sonoff make sure it is V3 (or perhaps there is a later one, I don't know).

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**Author:** ![richiep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@richiep](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/richiep)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2023 16:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887/7 "2023-07-17T16:23:01Z")

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You're reading my mind and answering questions before I ask them! As for the dongle, does it need to be on a machine or can it just be powered by a charging port?

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**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2023 19:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887/8 "2023-07-17T19:27:37Z")

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> [@richiep](#):
>
> As for the dongle, does it need to be on a machine or can it just be powered by a charging port?

It needs to be in a machine. I believe there are alternatives, such as WiFi gateways, but I have no experience with them.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [15 September 2023 19:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looking-for-outdoor-pir-sensor-to-work-with-esp8266/79887/9 "2023-09-15T19:28:06Z")

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