RCWL-0516 Microwave Radar Sensor

Overview

A microwave (Doppler radar) motion sensor — detects movement through thin non-metal materials, unlike PIR sensors which need direct line-of-sight infrared.

Key Specs

Pinout

VIN, GND, OUT (digital)

Features

• Can detect motion through thin walls, glass, or plastic enclosures
• Wider effective range than typical PIR sensors

Compatible With

Arduino, ESP32, ESP8266, Raspberry Pi

Use Cases

• Motion detection where PIR line-of-sight isn't practical
• Concealed sensor installations (behind panels, enclosures)

FAQ

How is this different from a PIR sensor? It uses microwave radar instead of infrared, so it can sense motion through some non-metal materials and doesn't need direct line-of-sight.