RAB Super Stealth 360 Motion Sensor: My Long-Term Review

The RAB Super Stealth 360 is the wired outdoor motion sensor I keep using where AC power is available. I installed my first one in 2010, and I’ve since installed several around the house, garage, shop, and other outbuildings.

What keeps me using them is the sensor performance. The RAB STL360 can detect motion out to 60 feet in front when installed correctly. It also has a second detection pattern underneath and around the sensor for 360-degree coverage.

They’re expensive compared with ordinary motion lights. For a basic porch or side-door light, you probably don’t need one. For perimeter security, I want good range, reliable triggering, and some control over nuisance alarms. That’s where the RAB has worked especially well for me.

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→ RAB STL360 bronze / STL360W white standalone motion sensor (Amazon)

What Makes the RAB Super Stealth 360 Different?

The motion sensor is the part I care about most. Floodlight heads and LED bulbs are easy enough to replace. A mediocre sensor can leave you with poor range, dead areas, or a light that turns on so often that you stop paying attention to it.

The RAB Super Stealth uses two detectors. The main detector covers a 180-degree pattern in front with a rated reach of up to 60 feet. A second detector looks downward and around the unit to cover the area closer to the building (I love this feature).

RAB also builds in temperature compensation, RF interference protection, sensitivity adjustment, surge protection, and removable lens masks. I’ve found those masks especially useful because they let me block one troublesome part of the detection area without reducing sensitivity everywhere else.

The STL360 also has three scanning red LEDs. Besides showing that the sensor is active, they’re visible enough at night to make it obvious that a security device is watching the area.

How Far Does the RAB Motion Sensor Detect?

RAB rates the Super Stealth STL360 for detection out to 60 feet across its main 180-degree forward pattern.

Mounting matters. RAB recommends roughly a 6 to 10-foot mounting height for maximum range on the standalone STL360. Mounting it considerably higher can reduce the usable distance.

Motion direction matters too. Like most passive infrared motion sensors, it works best when someone moves across the detection pattern rather than directly toward the sensor. Bear that in mind when deciding where to install it.

At long distances, don’t expect a tiny movement to trigger it the same way it would at ten feet. RAB’s instructions point out that more movement is required as distance increases.

This long-distance detection is one of the main reasons I use these around the perimeter of the house. I want the light coming on while someone is still approaching, not after they’re already close to a door or window.

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→ Complete RAB Super Stealth 360 motion light, bronze / white (Amazon)

How the 360-Degree Detection and Lens Masks Work

The “360” in Super Stealth 360 can be misunderstood.

It does not mean the sensor detects 60 feet in every direction. The long-range detector covers 180 degrees in front. The second detector provides the 360-degree downward and close-in coverage around the sensor.

That arrangement is useful on the corner or side of a building. Someone approaching from underneath or near the wall is much less likely to pass through a dead area.

How I Stopped Trees From Triggering Mine

I ran into an interesting problem after installing one of my RAB sensors. A stand of pine trees about 40 feet away would move enough during strong winds to trigger the light.

I didn’t want to reduce the overall sensitivity because the rest of the detection area was working exactly the way I wanted.

The STL360 comes with small lens-mask sections that can be snapped to size and placed over selected portions of the sensor. I blocked only the part of the detection pattern facing those trees.

That solved the problem while allowing me to keep the sensitivity at maximum elsewhere.

The same idea can help with a road, bushes, branches, a dryer vent, or another area that repeatedly causes unwanted triggering. Sometimes masking a narrow zone works better than turning the whole sensor down.

RAB STL360 Settings and Specifications

Here are the important settings and specifications for the current standalone RAB Super Stealth STL360:

LED load note: The 1,000-watt rating applies to incandescent lighting. RAB currently rates the STL360 for up to 300 VA of electronic ballast/LED load, so use the appropriate rating for the type of lights being switched.

RAB also provides a manual override from the wall switch, automatic temperature compensation, and snap-on lens masks for adjusting the detection area.

If you’re looking for the RAB STL360 manual or instructions, here’s a link:

RAB Stealth STL360 Installation Instructions (PDF)

Standalone Sensor or Complete RAB Motion Light?

One thing I like about the RAB system is that you don’t necessarily have to buy the complete light assembly.

If you already have a good outdoor box and floodlight holders, you can buy the STL360 sensor separately. That’s essentially what I did with my first installation back in 2010. I upgraded the motion sensor rather than replacing everything.

The standalone sensor comes mounted to RAB’s universal cover plate. The current models are STL360 in bronze and STL360W in white. (Amazon)

A note about LED floodlights: Years ago there were reports that some LED bulbs could damage older RAB Stealth sensors, apparently because of the electrical characteristics of some LED drivers. I have personally used LED floodlights with my RAB fixtures for many years without a problem. The current STL360 is now specifically rated by RAB for LED loads, and RAB sells the STL360 bundled with its own LED PAR38 lamps.

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Installation Details That Matter

I have a background in electronics and installed my RAB motion lights myself. This is still 120-volt outdoor electrical wiring, so shut the circuit off at the breaker and use an electrician if you’re not comfortable doing this type of work.

Mount the sensor to something solid. A moving pole or other surface can create unwanted activations.

Keep the mounting height reasonable if you want the full detection range. Position the sensor so expected movement crosses the detection zones whenever possible.

Then test the area by walking it. Don’t assume that maximum sensitivity is automatically the best setting. Start where you think you need it and adjust from there.

If one small part of the property creates false triggers, try the supplied lens masks before turning down the whole sensor. That’s exactly what worked with the pine trees in my installation.

RAB also provides a simple hanger on its complete fixtures that supports the assembly while you’re connecting the wiring. It’s a small feature, but anyone who has tried to hold an outdoor light fixture with one hand while wiring it with the other will appreciate it.

Would I Buy the RAB Super Stealth 360 Again?

Yes. For locations where I have AC power and want a serious perimeter motion sensor, it’s still my preference.

I installed my first one in 2010. The RAB motion lights I’ve installed since then have been in service for many years without giving me problems. The long detection range, close-in coverage, lens masks, and overall sensor performance are what keep me using them.

They’re not cheap, and I wouldn’t tell someone they need a RAB Super Stealth for every ordinary outdoor light. Plenty of less expensive motion lights will handle a porch or walkway.

Around the corners of my house, garage, shop, and other areas where I care more about early detection, I would choose the RAB again.

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