Description:

The RCWL-0516 Microwave Radar Sensor module has been designed as an alternative to the common PIR motion sensors widely used in burglar alarms and security lights. Like the PIR Sensor this sensor also detects only movements within its detection range.

But instead of detecting the blackbody radiation from a moving person, this sensor uses a “microwave Doppler radar” technique to detect moving objects. It has a sensitivity range of ~7 meters. When triggered, its TTL-level output (OUT) pin will switch from LOW (0 V) to HIGH (3.3 V) for a finite time (2 to 3 s) before returning to its idle (LOW) state.

Specifications:

Transmission signal processing control chip RCWL-9196
Operating voltage range 3.3V to 5V
Penetrating detection capability, compared with the traditional infrared PIR
Adjustable Block time and distance
Operating Current: 2.8mA (typical); 3mA (max)
Detection Distance: 5-9m (Adjustable)
Transmitting Power: 20mW (typical); 30mW (max)

Features :

Transmission signal processing control chip RCWL-9196
Wide operating voltage range 4.0V to 28.0V
Penetrating detection capability, compared with the traditional infrared feeling PIR
Adjustable Block time and distance
3.3V output power supply

Add-on

As you can see the module, is pretty much stand-alone, so there are some modifications that you can apply directly to the circuit

R-GN: here you can solder a 1 MOhm resistor to reduce the range from 9m to 5m only
C-TM: here you can solder a capacitor to increase the output trigger time, 2s is the default
CDS: here you can add an LDR (Light Dependent Resistor), and the module will be active only when there’s *no enough light* for example in outdoor lighting, you don’t want lighting in the morning or afternoon, but you want to wait until sunset or complete dark.
R-CDS: here you can solder a resistor to control the *enough light, if you want to activate the module from the sunset or you want to wait until complete dark, the resistor value will define when it’s ok to start the automatic lighting for example, the smaller the resistor value, the brighter it has to be to deactivate the trigger.

Applications: