Installing a curtain sensor

Curtain sensors provide a thin and narrow detection area along the boundary of a building or premises to raise the alarm if anyone has intruded this boundary.

We offer three different series of curtain sensors:

• The FTN series. A very compact single sided PIR for 2-5m range
• The BX-80 series. A double sided PIR with a maximum range of 12m on each side
• The BXS series. A sleek looking and versatile double sided PIR with a range 12m on each side

Detection principle and pet tolerance

All the sensors are using the principle of dual passive infrared detection, so called “AND logic”, an upper and a lower detection zones need to be activated simultaneously for the alarm to be triggered. This enables a reliable detection stability and small animal tolerance, as medium sized pets will only trigger the lower beam.

Mounting height

The BX-80 and BXS are designed to be mounted on a wall, or pole (using a specific mounting bracket/ plate) and should be between 0.8-1.2m from the ground.

The FTN series is designed to be mounted on a wall, or pole at 0.8-1.2m height but can also be mounted in a window frame. In the latter case, it is recommended to mount the sensor at the mid-height of the frame.

Please ensure the sensor is not tilted to the left or right to maintain the detection beams parallel to the wall. Any tilt might compromise the detection reliability.

Can the curtain sensors be mounted at a higher storey?

The BX-80 and BXS can only be mounted 0.8-1.2m above the ground. If there is no balcony along the detection area, the sensors cannot be used to protect higher storeys.

As the FTN sensor fits within a window frame, it can be used to protect windows on higher storey

Adjusting the detection range

As for any PIR motion sensor it is important to avoid any overspill of the detection area which could be a cause of a nuisance alarm.

For the FTN:

• The FTN detection range can be set at 5 m (factory settings) or 2 m. For a 2 m range, the lens needs to be rotated by 180 degrees.

For the BX-80:

• The detection range for the BX-80 series can be mechanically adjusted on each side to be set at 12 m, 8 m, 5 m or 2 m by sliding the lower lens. It is recommended to validate the newly set detection range by conducting a walk test
• For the BXS series:
• The adjustment of the left or right detection range is made very easy by selecting the setting on the sensor: 12 m, 8.5 m, 6 m, 3.5 m and 2.5 m. A walk test will validate the new settings

Adjusting the lens away from the wall

If there are relatively thin features on the wall that might partially block the detection pattern of the curtain sensor such as shutters for instance, it is recommended to adjust the detection area away from the wall by 3 degrees.

• For the FTN, adjust the main unit to offset its angle away from the wall.
• For the BX-80, manually adjust both the upper and lower lens (make sure both lenses are adjusted)
• For the BXS series, simply flick the ‘to the Wall’ degree button

If there is a large obstacle along the wall such as a gutter, it would be best to either mount the sensor on either side of the gutter or on the pole parallel to the wall. It is important to check it doesn’t leave a blind spot for intruders.