 Beginner’s Luck
Will Electronics Offers Tips
for New Users
Everyone knows how hard it is to work with a new product for the first time. There can often be a steep learning curve and it can take a while to become familiar with a product.
This is especially true with perimeter security products. With all the new technologies available and the necessity that equipment integrate seamlessly, introducing a new product or component can be quite a challenge.
Fortunately, Southwest Microwave’s perimeter security systems are easy to install and configure. According to Don Peters, Field Service Technician for Will Electronics, it all comes down to following the instructions.
By The Book
“The installation manual is critical,” states Peters, who has been involved with the Southwest Microwave INTREPID™ system for more than a year. “By following this guide, I’m able to install Southwest Microwave systems pretty easily.”
Will Electronics is a security systems integrator that has been in business for more than 50 years. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, the company specializes in the engineering, installation, on-site service and in-house repair of Closed Circuit TV (CCTV), Access Control, Perimeter Security and Video Badging systems.
Will Electronics has been using Southwest Microwave equipment since 1994. Although the INTREPID system is a relatively new addition for them, the installations they have undertaken so far have gone well and their clients have been satisfied. “We have had really good success with Southwest Microwave products,” says Peters. “I would definitely recommend them.”
Proper Power Is Key
Peters has some recommendations for installers who are using Southwest Microwave systems for the first time. When it comes to integrating multiple 300B bi-static microwave links with the INTREPID system, anticipating the correct power requirements is vital.
“One of my installations includes an INTREPID system plus three pairs of links—six heads altogether,” explains Peters. “I’m using a 48-volt, 3 amp power supply to power my INTREPID system. I’ve wired the links into the auxiliary 12-volt output on my INTREPID Processor Module. Electrically everything should be fine, because the microwave links are supposed to draw a total of 120 milliamps and the Power Converter Card (PCC) in my Processor Module is supposed to be able to supply me with 150.”
“The problem I’ve come across,” Peters continues, “is that when you power up the Processor Module initially, it requires additional current and voltage to take it through its start-up. However, since the microwave links are pulling current away from that PCC card at the same time, the PM can’t draw the extra power it needs and will not initialize. Unless I pull off the 12 volt operative that feeds those microwave link units, the PM won’t go through its start-up procedure.”
This was becoming more and more of a problem for Peters as he was using a configuration of three pairs of links with INTREPID in other installations as well. Fortunately, he was able to discover a solution.
“I was using a 48-volt power supply and Southwest Microwave recommended increasing the voltage on that power supply to about 52 volts. They also had me adjust the current limiting potentiometer by rotating it clockwise as far as it could go. These adjustments provided enough power to supply my three microwave links and the PM’s during their start-up procedure,” says Peters. “It worked out really well.”
“There’s a potentiometer inside that allows you to decrease and increase voltage output,” he explains. “It was a 48-volt power supply and I had to increase it to 51 or 52 volts for that problem to go away. That’s the most interesting thing that I’ve found with the system.”
Address Modules In The Shop
Peters offers another installation recommendation involving the INTREPID MicroPoint™ Cable system. INTREPID MicroPoint cable is tie-wrapped to a chain link fence where it detects vibrations and locates the exact point of intrusion to within 10 feet (3m) regardless of cable length. This accuracy enables proprietary digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms to detect attempts to climb or cut the fence and ignores distributed noise from rain, wind or large vehicles. This makes it easy to locate the source of nuisance alarms and eliminate them.
“The installation manual does recommend that you address the Processor Modules in the shop when you install them,” Peters relates. “I would definitely recommend that. That avoids some headaches in the future. If you can address and then mark them before you put them on the fence, it makes it a lot easier so you don’t have to go to each individual one later. It definitely helps out.”
Though Peters is very experienced at installing perimeter security systems, it can be challenging to start working with new products that aren’t familiar. Fortunately, by following the installation manual and the helpful tips provided by Don Peters of Will Electronics, security systems integrators will become expert installers in no time.
Editors Note: In response to integrator feedback, Southwest Microwave has begun to factory-adjust our 48-volt power supplies to 50 volts, which we have found to be satisfactory in addressing the challenge mentioned above.
|
