30 July 2020 - Rick Wakeham
Featured in: Product information and OPTEX tech tips, Tech Tip, Intrusion detection
OPTEX’s wireless infrared beams are very easy to deploy and create a virtual perimeter quickly in places where it is difficult to provide cabling. In a standard configuration, the beam sensors will operate using one set of batteries and the wireless alarm transmitter will operate using a second set of batteries.
There is a way to simplify the installation and share the battery power by implementing the Battery Common use Unit BCU-5. Our tech team explains the benefits of using the BCU- 5 accessory
What is the BCU-5 ?
The Battery Common use Unit is an accessory which allows both the wireless beam sensors and the wireless alarm transmitter to be powered from a single set of batteries (Beam sensors)
Which OPTEX IR beams are compatible with the BCU-5?
- AX-100/200 TFR series – wireless twin infrared beams
- SL-100/200 TNR – wireless and hybrid (partly wired / wireless) twin infrared beams
- SL-QFR and SL-QNR - wireless Quad infrared beams
Benefits
In a standard configuration without using the BCU-5, the transmission of the tamper alarm and the low battery signal for the IR beam will require a two-channel wireless transmitter. When sharing the battery power using the BCU-5, the low battery signal for both the sensor and transmitter will be monitored by the wireless receiver. In this scenario, there is only the requirement for one channel transmitter to send the tamper signal.
Sharing the battery power between the sensor and the wireless transmitter avoids any ambiguity when analysing the “low battery” signal and whether it comes from the IR beam or the wireless transmitter. It simplifies the trouble shooting for installers.
How to install the BCU-5
An installation manual is provided with the BCU-5 unit and available to download from our website.
The key step for the installer is to configure the low battery setting for the wireless transmitter on the board. This should be done by checking the voltage of the transmitter and then the low battery threshold specified by the wireless transmitter manufacturer.
When it is done the installer should use the Test switch to simulate the low battery threshold and verify that the low battery signal is generated.
If you have any questions regarding usage of our Battery Common use Unit and how to install it on OPTEX wireless infrared beams, please contact our tech team.