My design uses a 230v adapter putting out 12v dc at about 1amp. A 12v pir sensor and a 12v linear solenoid which keeps the door open. When the pir sensor detects movement it activates the linear pull solenoid which releases the door and disconnects the power supply. Will it work? I have tested the supply and pir connected to a multimeter but nothing happens. I have also used a car battery but nothing.
A PIR can't provide enough power to drive a solenoid, you need a driver of some king (Transistor, FET etc.) and a protection diode across the solenoid.
We have built a very simple Motion detector circuit here. We are using a HC-SR501 PIR Sensor, an LED (which will glow whenever there is a motion infront of the sensor) and resistor.