How do motion sensors report Sensor Activity Monitoring statuses?
Sensor Activity Monitoring (SAM) reports recent motion activity for motion sensors and Image Sensors. When motion is detected, the sensor status displays as Activated. If no motion is detected, the status displays as Idle.
Each motion detection updates the sensor status to Activated across the Alarm.com app and Alarm.com customer website. To prevent excessive Activated and Idle entries in the event history, Alarm.com does not display the Idle status until the sensor has been inactive for 30 minutes. When Idle is recorded, the timestamp is backdated to three minutes after the most recent activation.
Example: If a motion sensor is activated at 1:00 PM, its status changes to Activated. If no additional motion is detected for the next 30 minutes, the status changes to Idle at 1:30 PM, with the event history timestamp recorded as 1:03 PM.
Each subsequent activation while the sensor status remains Activated extends the Activated state by another 30 minutes. An Activated status on motion sensors does not prevent the panel from arming successfully. It only indicates that motion was detected within the last 30 minutes.
Additional considerations
- Z-Wave Automation rules based on motion activity do not rely on SAM, and activate locally regardless of the state listed.
- PowerG and Zigbee Automation rules will activate based on SAM statuses.
- Accounts created prior to July 13, 2020, will have a motion delay of 60 minutes instead of 30 minutes. It is not possible to reduce the motion delay for accounts created before July 13, 2020.
Qolsys PowerG sensors
For Qolsys panels, certain outdoor motions are supported as contacts for SAM.
The following devices are supported for use listed as both motions and contacts.
| Part number | Description | Sticker ID |
|---|---|---|
| PGx994 | Outdoor PIR Motion Mirror Detector | 130 |
| PGx902 | Wireless Outdoor Curtain PIR detector | 129 |
The following devices can only be listed as contacts despite being beam detectors.
| Part number | Description | Sticker ID |
|---|---|---|
| PG9200AX | Short Range IR Receiver (Optex) | 111 |
| PG9200AX | Short Range IR Transmitter (Optex) | 112 |
| PG9350SL | Long Range IR Receiver (Optex) | 113 |
| PG9350SL | Long Range IR Transmitter (Optex) | 114 |