Dry Contact Sensor - Potential-free contact

AKCP Dry Contact Sensor (DCSxxx) – Professional Monitoring of Volt-Free Contacts

Reliable TCP/IP Monitoring for Business-Critical Facilities

The AKCP Dry Contact Sensor is an advanced solution for the professional monitoring of signal outputs and relay contacts in business-critical facilities and systems. In combination with the proven AKCP sensorProbe and AKCP securityProbe monitoring systems, this intelligent sensor enables comprehensive TCP/IP monitoring of volt-free input or output contacts with the highest reliability.

Technical Specifications and Performance Features

The Dry Contact Sensor features impressive technical characteristics that make it the ideal choice for demanding monitoring tasks. With a measurement range for open or closed contact switches and a contact voltage of 5V pull-up dry contacts, it provides precise measurements. The system performs several readings per second, ensuring real-time monitoring of critical systems.

The electrical output voltage can be set between High (5V) and Low (GND), with the sensor capable of sinking up to 20mA when set to Low. Communication is via an RJ-45 socket with a UTP Cat 5 cable, which supports a maximum cable length of 1000 feet (305m) using tested, low-capacitance, shielded cable or UTP.

Automatic Detection and Easy Installation

A standout feature of the AKCP Dry Contact Sensor is its innovative Auto Sense technology. The volt-free contact sensor, equipped with an RJ45 connector, is simply connected to a free sensor port on the AKCP sensorProbe or AKCP securityProbe alarm server. Thanks to automatic detection, the sensor is immediately recognized by the alarm server, with no complex configuration required.

Power is supplied directly by the base unit, so no additional power source is needed. This plug-and-play functionality makes installation particularly user-friendly and significantly reduces installation effort.

Intelligent Alarm Forwarding and Notification Systems

The Dry Contact Sensor offers versatile options for fault reporting and alarm forwarding. Incoming fault messages from connected systems such as central air conditioning units are automatically forwarded by the sensorProbe alarm server via email alarm or SMS message to the responsible personnel. This proactive notification enables a rapid response to critical situations and minimizes downtime.

Integration into existing network and system monitoring solutions is seamless via SNMP trap. The sensor is equipped with a unique OID (Object Identifier), supporting direct SNMP queries. This makes it ideal for established network management systems such as OpenNMS, Nagios, HP OpenView, IBM Tivoli, and WhatsUp Gold.

Versatile Applications Across Various Industries

The volt-free contact sensor is used wherever reliable network-based remote monitoring of important facilities is required. Typical application areas include monitoring power supply systems, UPS systems (uninterruptible power supplies), emergency diesel generators, telecommunications systems, air conditioning units, heat pumps, ventilation systems, and fire alarm systems.

In building management, the sensor is particularly effective for monitoring critical infrastructure. Installation is simple by connecting the two-wire terminal to the relay contact of the system to be monitored. This flexibility makes the sensor a universal solution for a wide range of monitoring tasks.

Advanced Sensor Interaction and Automation

A particular advantage of the Dry Contact Sensor connected to the AKCP sensorProbe or securityProbe is the possibility of interaction with additional sensors. The system can work with temperature sensors, humidity sensors, water sensors, smoke detectors, and motion detectors to realize complex automation scenarios.

For example, when a smoke detector is triggered, a connected ventilation system can be activated automatically via relay contact. Or the system can switch on an alarm siren with strobe light as soon as a fault message is received via a signaling contact. This intelligent networking enables automatic responses to various environmental conditions and the initiation of preventive measures.

Software Configuration and User-Friendliness

The configuration of the Dry Contact Sensor is performed via the intuitive web interface of the sensorProbe or securityProbe. Here, users can easily define whether they want to monitor the device connected to the volt-free contact as an input or output. The normal input state can be set in the software, providing maximum flexibility for adapting to different application scenarios.

The software supports both alarm and normal states and can be configured accordingly. This makes it possible to monitor and document both faults and the proper operation of systems.

Quality and Reliability

As part of the proven AKCP product family, the Dry Contact Sensor stands for the highest quality and reliability. The robust design and mature technologies ensure trouble-free operation even under demanding conditions. The connection via standard network cables makes the system especially maintenance-friendly and future-proof.

The AKCP Dry Contact Sensor is the ideal solution for companies that require professional, reliable, and expandable monitoring of their critical facilities. The combination of simple installation, intelligent alarm forwarding, and versatile application possibilities makes it an indispensable component of modern monitoring systems. With its proven technology and seamless integration into existing IT infrastructures, it offers a future-proof investment in operational safety.