Didactum Monitoring Systems
Advanced Configuration & Features

The dry contacts area is used to control and configure internal dry contact inputs as well as expansion modules on Didactum monitoring devices. For internal contacts, the behavior type (normal or inverted) and the input type can be defined.

Using Groups

With a large number of dry contacts, it can be useful to create a group and combine multiple contacts within it. A single event (e.g. a notification) is then triggered as soon as any element in the group triggers an alarm.

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Configure input type.
The input type only affects the icon in the interface. Available types: airflow, door, motion, smoke, vibration, water or no special type. For dry contacts on the CAN bus, the alarm hold duration can also be set.

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Dry Contact Overview.
The overall view shows all configured dry contact inputs. The button in the top left corner can be used to start a logic circuit wizard.

Create Logic Circuit for Dry Contacts

1. Click the "+" button in the top left corner of the dry contact area to start the wizard.
2. In the first step, select the desired dry contacts for the logic circuit.
3. After clicking "OK", the creation of a trigger is offered – this step is optional.
4. Finally, edit the logic circuit and confirm with "OK".

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Select contacts.
In the first wizard step, the dry contacts that should be part of the logic circuit are selected.

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Configure trigger.
The trigger is optional. Without a trigger, only already existing elements can be used in the THEN part of the logic circuit.

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Edit logic circuit.
In the last step, the circuit is edited and saved with "OK".

Switching relays and outputs is done via the system tree in the web interface of all Didactum devices. Each relay can be configured individually and switched time-controlled using the pulse function.

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Relay in the system tree.
Go to Main Menu → System Tree, select the desired Relay element and click on it. A dialog window with the properties will open.

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Relay parameters.
In the properties window you can define name, group, hardware port, initial state and the new state including pulse duration.

Relay Parameters at a Glance

Switching Outputs

For devices with controllable outputs (e.g. power strips), the Main Menu → Outputs area is available in the main menu.

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Outputs Panel.
Select the desired outputs and click "Apply". Switched-on outputs are highlighted in green. The pulse function always reverses the state of the relay to the opposite state.

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Result after switching.
Relay-1 (Output-1) and Relay-3 (Output-2) are switched on (green). The other outputs are switched off. Individual control of single outputs is possible via Groups / System Tree → Relays.

With the timer function, you can schedule events in your Didactum monitoring system on a time-controlled basis. A timer works like a schedule and can be activated once, weekly, or monthly. When triggered, the timer switches to the Alarm state; when it expires, it returns to the Normal state.

Create a Timer

To create a timer, press the "+" button in the group or system tree and select "Timer".

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Create Timer in the System Tree.
Clicking the "+" button in the group or system tree opens a selection menu. Choose "Timer" to open the configuration window.

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Set Timer Parameters.
Define name, operating mode and start/end times. After clicking "OK", the timer automatically switches to Alarm mode at the specified start time.

Timer Options at a Glance

One-Time Timer

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One-Time Timer.
Start date and time: exact time at which the timer switches to Alarm mode (Year/Month/Day Hour/Minute/Second). End date: time at which the timer returns to Normal mode.

Weekly Timer

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Weekly Timer.
Specify start time, end time (hour/minute/second each) and the days of the week on which the timer should be active. All 7 days (Sun–Sat) can be activated independently.

Monthly Timer

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Monthly Timer.
Specify start time, end time and the days of the month (1–31) on which the timer should be activated.

Schedule Timer

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Schedule Timer.
In schedule mode, you can individually activate specific hours for each day of the week (marked in red = active hours). This allows different times for weekdays and weekends, for example.

The timer function can be used in many ways – from access control and motion monitoring to automatic restarts. Here are typical application examples for your Didactum system.

Example 1: Weekly Mode – Door Lock Control

Task: Open door lock (Relay Output 1) according to the following schedule: Mon–Fri 10–17, Sat 10–13. Two timers are created for this:

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Timer 1: Mon–Fri.
Weekly timer for Monday to Friday, 10:00–17:00. This timer controls the opening of the door lock on weekdays.

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Timer 2: Saturday.
Weekly timer only for Saturday, 10:00–13:00. The logic circuits for door opening and door closing are then linked to the respective timers.

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Open Door Logic.
When the timer switches to Alarm state (IF), the relay for door opening is switched on (THEN). If the door lock is unlocked with a voltage pulse, the pulse function must be set accordingly.

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Close Door Logic.
When the timer returns to Normal state (IF), the relay is switched off (THEN) to close the door.

Example 2: Schedule Mode – Motion Monitoring

Task: Motion detector (PIR sensor) should only be active at certain times: Mon–Fri at night from 18:00–7:00, Sat+Sun all day. An SMS should be sent in case of motion alarm.

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Schedule Timer for Motion Detector.
Mon–Fri: Hours 18–7 active (night mode). Sat + Sun: All hours active. The timer controls whether a motion alarm triggers a notification.

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Motion Alarm Logic Circuit.
IF motion detector in Alarm state AND timer active → THEN send SMS notification. This prevents false alarms outside the monitoring times.

Example 3: Automatic Restart (Sanitary Reboot)

Useful for remote devices with no direct access: The device is automatically restarted twice a week (e.g. Mon and Thu).

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Restart Timer.
Weekly timer: Start and end time only a few seconds apart, active days: Monday and Thursday. This triggers the restart weekly.

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Restart Logic.
IF timer in Alarm state → THEN system restart. Note: The system is protected by a lock – no restart in the first 15 minutes after startup.

The graph panel enables comparative analysis of sensor value trends. Multiple sensors can be displayed simultaneously in one chart – ideal for comparing voltage, temperature and humidity over the same period on your Didactum device.

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Graph Panel Overview.
The graph panel is used for historical analysis and comparison of sensor values. Temperature, voltage, humidity and other measured values can be displayed simultaneously.

Add Sensors to the Chart

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Step 1: Open Settings.
The gear icon in the top right of the graph panel opens the sensor selection.

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Step 2: Select Sensors.
From the list of available sensors, select those that should be displayed in the chart and confirm with "OK".

Didactum monitoring devices feature 12V-DC outputs for connecting alarm lights, strobes, locks, and other 12V devices. Configuration is done directly in the web interface of your Didactum system.

Step-by-Step Configuration

1. Log in to the web interface.
2. Navigate to the 12V relay: System Tree → Power 12V 0.25A → Select relay
3. In the configuration window, rename the relay, set the initial state, and enter the pulse duration in seconds.

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12V Relay in the System Tree.
Navigate in the system tree to Power 12V 0.25A and select the desired relay (default Power-1 and Power-2).

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12V Relay Parameters.
Assign a name, set the initial state (On/Off at system startup) and enter the pulse duration in seconds for time-controlled actions.

Compatible 12V Devices

The virtual "Math Sensor" allows the calculation of values from any sensor data using mathematical formulas. Example: The volume of a tank with an irregular shape can be calculated using a formula and the value of a level sensor. This function is available on all Didactum monitoring systems.

Create Math Element

Press the "+" button in the group or system tree and select "Math Sensor".

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Create Math Sensor.
Via "+" in the system tree → select "Math Sensor". A configuration window with two tabs (General and Additional) opens.

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General Settings.
Define name, display type (symbol), unit of measurement, minimum and maximum value as well as alarm and warning thresholds.

Fields in the Configuration Window (General)

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Additional Settings.
In the "Additional" tab, the formula expression, query interval and the variables (A–Z) with the corresponding sensors are configured.

Fields in the Additional Tab

Some devices provide a numeric status code via SNMP. A Math Sensor can be used to detect specific status codes and trigger corresponding notifications on your Didactum device.

Procedure

1. Create an SNMP-GET element (analog) to read the device's status code. Set thresholds so that all expected codes are in the normal range.
2. Create a Math Sensor that detects a specific status code. Configure thresholds so that only the value 0 is in the normal state (example: low warning level = −0.5; high warning level = 0.5).
3. Set the variable in the Math Sensor to the SNMP-GET element. In the formula field, subtract the target code: e.g. A-7 for status code 7.
4. Create additional Math Sensors for further status codes and combine them all in one group.
5. Configure an email notification with macros that insert the current value and the element name into the message.

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SNMP-GET Element.
The SNMP-GET Analog element reads the numeric status code. Thresholds are set so that all possible codes are in the normal range – to prevent false alarms.

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Math Sensor for Code 7.
Formula: A-7 (subtracts the target code). Only when the result value is 0 is the sensor in the normal state. Thresholds: Low warning level = −0.5, High warning level = 0.5.

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Assign Variable.
Variable A is assigned to the SNMP-GET element (status code). The formula A-7 results in 0 when the current status code is 7 – the Math Sensor is then in the normal state.

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Group of Math Sensors.
A separate Math Sensor is created for each status code to be monitored. All are combined in one group. When an element reaches the normal state, the notification is triggered.

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Configure Notification.
The email notification uses macros to automatically insert the current status code value and the element name into the message. This way every message contains the exact state.

Example Notification Text

Didactum monitoring devices can integrate USB and IP cameras. The MJPEG stream from USB cameras can be recorded and sent as a video notification by email. IP cameras are only available for live view. The camera panel can be found under Main Menu → Cameras.

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Camera Panel Overview.
The camera panel shows all connected cameras. USB cameras appear automatically after connection. IP cameras can be added manually via the panel. Depending on the model, up to 2 USB cameras are supported.

Camera Types Comparison

A video notification is a short AVI video in MJPEG format that is automatically sent by email when a specific event occurs in the system – for example, in the case of a motion alarm on your Didactum device.

Setup Step by Step

1. Create a new email notification or open an existing one.
2. Create a logic circuit that triggers the video notification: Select the monitoring element and its state as the IF condition (e.g. motion sensor in Alarm state).
3. As the THEN action, select the email notification and activate the corresponding state in the "Send Video" field.

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Create Email Notification.
Enter all required data in the email notification form (recipient, subject, text). The "Send Video" option is activated later in the logic circuit.

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Logic Circuit for Video Sending.
IF the motion sensor switches to Alarm state, THEN trigger email notification AND set field "Send Video" = active. This way a short video is automatically recorded and sent by email with every motion alarm.

Technical Details of the Video Format