A:Answer To the best of my knowledge as a low voltage electronics technician, the answer is yes, you need to have the "brains" or controller for this add on device. Power and signal transmission comes from the controller. The controller interprets the signal coming from the unit. Keep in mind that is not a true motion detector. It reads disturbances in the field that it generates, both in the vehicle and around the vehicle. By trial and error you will find what settings work best for you. We found, that in order to keep false alarms to a minimum, we had to really dial down on the sensitivity.
If you want a true motion detector ( they don't really detect motion, just rapid changes in temperature in the area that they are looking at, floor heaters have a habit of activating motion detector alarms). Then I would get a 12vdc small motion detector either on-line or from an electronics store. A motion detector really doesn't do much unless it activates a relay or switch that causes something else to happen - like flashing lights, siren or whatever.
