Ring Alarm has become an innovation in home security; you can easily secure your entire home with this system.
It has many different components, each designed for a different entry point.
However, if just one of these components isn’t working, it’ll compromise the security of your home.
If your Ring Alarm motion sensor isn’t working, it might be out of range, out of power, or offline. By moving its location, examining its batteries, or reconnecting it to the network, you can solve your Ring Alarm issue quickly and on your own.
In the rest of this article, we’ll take a closer look at each of these main causes and also see how you can fix them.
We’ll also explain the main ring alarm components to help you understand how the system is interconnected.
1. The Motion Detector Is Out of Range
When functioning properly, your motion detectors keep an eye on unusual movement in your home.
They can monitor at a 90-degree angle through their infrared technology. It uses a passive infrared (PIR) sensor to keep an eye on your home.
However, if your motion detector is out of range, it cannot communicate with the base station.
The base station needs the information in order to trigger the proper alarm.
You’ll need to make sure the signal can reach the base station for the system to function properly.
How To Fix It
If the signal isn’t getting to your base station, you have some options.
You can adjust the placement of your range extender.
To do this, place your range extender between the motion detector you’re struggling with and the base station.
The placement of this range extender should help boost the signal of your motion detector.
When the signal is stronger, the base station will be able to interpret the data more effectively.
You can also move the motion detector itself. If you can place it closer to the base station, you’ll automatically boost the signal.
You may not even need to rearrange the range extender in this case.
If you see the light on your motion detector emit a green flash, you’ve done your job.
That light shows that you’re back online, and your detector is again within range.
2. The Motion Detector Needs Power
Your motion detector has a battery that powers it and allows its infrared technology to keep your home safe.
It’s possible that the motion detector isn’t working because of a problem with the battery connection.
A battery without charge or with a poor connection may cause the motion detector to malfunction.
The battery in your motion detector is designed to last for around three years.
If you’ve had your system for about that long, it might be time for fresh batteries.
If you have only just purchased your system, it’s possible that a battery has slipped out of place.
How To Fix It
If you suspect the battery is the problem:
- Turn to the back panel of your motion detector.
- Remove the panel and both batteries.
- Wait a few seconds and then reinsert the batteries. Make sure they’re properly secured inside.
- Check and see if the motion detector gives you the single green flash. If so, you’ve solved your problem. If not, it’s possible that these batteries no longer have any charge left.
You can tell the batteries are truly dead if there’s no light at all coming from your motion detector.
If your motion detector has no light at all, you’ll want to replace these batteries with fresh ones.
You might also want to know: 5 Fixes for a Ring Chime Not Working After a Power Outage
3. The Motion Detector Isn’t on the Network
It’s possible that your batteries are charged, your motion detector seems within range, but you’re still having an issue.
If this is the case, you’ll want to reconnect your motion detector digitally.
How To Fix It
You’ll want to first remove your problematic motion detector from the network. Once it has been removed, you’ll want to add it back.
If there’s a technical problem in the network, this process can solve it.
For this fix, you’ll need to open your Ring Alarm application. Once your app is open, you can follow these step by step instructions:
- In the app, click “Menu” and then “Devices.”
- Now click “Alarm Base Station” and click on the problematic motion detector.
- In the upper right corner, you’ll see a Gear icon. Click on it and select “Remove.”
- On the motion detector, open the back panel and press the reset pinhole.
- Once the motion detector light turns red, it has been removed from the network.
- Re-add your motion detector back on the network using the app.
Learn more: Will a Ring doorbell work with a mobile hot spot?
Tips for Troubleshooting
Work your way through these 3 common reasons why your motion detector isn’t working first.
If you’re still having trouble after trying our solutions, it might be time to reach out to the professionals.
You can visit the official troubleshooting page for Ring Alarm motion detectors.
On their website, you can find more information about how to fix malfunctioning products.
If you want more personalized support, Ring Alarm has several customer service options:
- You can visit their Support Page for an online chat option.
- You can also find a customer service hotline to call, depending on your country of residence.
Ring Alarm Components
There are several main components of the Ring Alarm system.
Each component must be functioning properly for your home to be safe and secure.
For your motion detector to function, the home base and range extender must also be working properly.
You may suspect another part of your system isn’t functioning properly.
To better assist you in your DIY problem solving, let’s see each of the Ring Alarm components and what they’re designed to do.
The Base Station
The base station is the main center for all of your Ring Alarm components. It processes the information received from the other devices.
It’s the base station that’s responsible for triggering the alarm.
Even if the power goes out or there’s no cell reception, it can still transmit alarms effectively in an emergency.
If there’s a problem with the base station, the information from your motion detector won’t be used to trigger the alarm.
The base station must be fully functional for the complete safety of your home.
Other Components
The contact sensor can be placed on sliding doors or windows. This sensor will notice if the door or window is being opened without your presence.
The motion detectors, as we’ve discussed, are important in detecting unexpected movement in a room.
These are great for monitoring open spaces that an intruder would likely pass through.
Ring Alarm also has a keypad to mount on the wall. You can control your devices from this keypad.
Your range extender should be plugged into an outlet in your home.
It helps your Ring Alarm network communicate more easily with each other over a large distance.
As we learned above, the positioning of your range extender is important for the system’s functionality as a whole.
To understand better how the system works in harmony, you can check out the following YouTube video from the official Ring Alarm channel:
Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling to get your Ring Alarm motion sensor to function properly, consider the common reasons why.
Your motion detector may be out of range, which could be solved with your range extender or a new location for the sensor itself.
You may also need to adjust or change the battery to keep your detector fully powered.
If it seems to be offline, try removing it and adding it back on the network from the app.
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