30 September 2020 - Rick Wakeham
Featured in: Product information and OPTEX tech tips, Tech Tip, Intrusion detection
Our battery-powered sensors can work with wireless transmitters from any manufacturer and most transmitters can fit within the housing of the sensors. To be on the safe side it is best to check the dimensions indicated on our product datasheets or instruction manuals.
Some wireless panel manufacturers such as Texecom Ricochet®, Ksenia, SAET and IDS, have developed specific transmitters with deeper integration with our sensors. For other manufacturers, please contact us. In this month’s tech tip, we are focussing on any ‘universal’ wireless transmitters.
Which OPTEX intrusion sensors?
All OPTEX-branded outdoor battery-operated PIRs, Dual- technology and Active Infrared beams as listed on our outdoor intrusion detection sensors page.
Our long-range REDWALL SIP Series are not covered in this tech tip.
One or two-channel wireless transmitter?
The number of channels depends on the type of application. For ‘chime’ notification, in which the detection of a person or vehicle will be indicated through a sound or visual warning but is not used for security applications, one channel transmitter can be used. For security applications, a two-channel transmitter should be used to monitor the tamper.
What to consider before installing a wireless outdoor intrusion system?
1. Wireless survey
Before implementing an external wireless intrusion detection system, it is important to do a wireless survey on-site. In busy environments, with a lot of buildings and metallic objects, the wireless range may be affected. If the signal strength is not sufficient, it is recommended to use a wireless repeater. The survey should be done using a wireless survey kit.
2. Pre-site programming
Before going onto the field, it is best practice to program the wireless transmitter into the wireless receiver. By doing so, installers can check that:
- Both devices, transmitter and receiver work properly
- The alarm and tamper signal is transmitted correctly
If the alarm/ tamper transmission has been previously tested and doesn’t function on the field, installers will know it is linked to the environment and not a faulty device or an issue with the programming.
Connecting the wireless transmitter and sharing power
- For PIRs/ dual tech sensors
Our PIRs and dual-tech can be powered from the transmitters, two wiring looms are provided: one is a two-cable wiring loom and the other, is a four-cable wiring loom. The two-cable wiring loom is for the transmission of the tamper. The four-cable wiring loom is for the power and alarm transmission. The red and black cables have spade connectors, which are placed between the battery and transmitter contacts, to power the device. The white and yellow cables are used for the transmission of alarms.
- For the wireless active infrared beams
It is a different scenario for the active infrared beams, the wireless transmitter would not provide enough power to power both the wireless transmitter and the IR sensors. However, the wireless transmitter can be powered from the wireless beam when using the Battery Common Unit accessory. Please refer to our previous tech tip on how to use the accessory
It is good practice to connect a wireless transmitter to both the transmitting beam and the receiving beams. Having two wireless transmitters allows the ability to monitor the tamper and low battery of both IR Transmitting beam and receiving beams and the environmental disqualification (DQ) of the receiving beam when this feature is available.
Our beams series come with different wiring options, so please refer to the manual for each of them
- AX- series (twin beams): no wiring looms are provided
- SL-TNR series (twin, hybrid beams): two wiring looms are provided for alarm and tamper
- SL-QFR/QNR series (Quad beams): three wiring looms are provided for alarm, tamper and environmental disqualification (DQ)
Make sure the transmitter is secured inside the beam housing using the Velcro provided with the wireless transmitter.
Walk test
The last part of the implementation is to carry out a walk test and check the signal strength at the wireless receiver.
