Consider this:
You've fully configured your security camera system. You rest assured knowing your cameras are recording 24/7. Perhaps you've also configured some cameras for Motion Detection or IVS rules.
What happens, however, when you want to start customizing? Perhaps you have contacts on a door to alert if the door opens. Maybe you want to attach a PIR sensor to your system instead of using Motion Detection. Finally, maybe you have an existing alarm relay you'd like to integrate your DVR/NVR into.
It's in this use case that you'd take advantage of the Alarm Input/Output Ports on the back of the recorder. Depending on your needs you could enable outside triggers to enable recording, snapshots, emails, and even other relays to trigger.
Table of Contents
Prerequisites
- An IC Realtime recorder with Alarm I/O contacts on the back
- Phoenix Connectors, depending on the recorder
- A triggering device for Alarm In purposes (if applicable)
- A relay or device for Alarm Out purposes (if applicable)
- Sufficient wiring and cabling
- A screwdriver with a #0 or #00 head
- A multimeter
Here is a diagram of what you may find on the back of an IC Realtime recorder. Different models have different port configurations, as will be apparent in pictures below.
Keep in mind: 1, 2, 3, etc. may instead be IN1, IN2, IN3, etc. A and B are RS485 serial connection ports, and will not be included in this article.
Please refer to your device's documentation for electrical and mechanical specifications. Do not exceed 1A throughput for any contact.
All of our recorders that need them come with Phoenix Connectors of appropriate size. Secure the alarm or relay wires into these before plugging the Phoenix Connector to the recorder.
Some models don't need Phoenix Connectors, and instead have buttons which must be pressed while inserting a wire.
Alarm-In
Everything labeled as IN(+number) or just as a number is an Alarm-In contact. Alarm-In contacts can be configured to be NO (Normally Open) or NC (Normally Closed). This is done in the recorder's menu.
Each Alarm-In must connect in two places: the alarm channel it inhabits (1/2/3) and Ground (⏚). It does not matter which ground the Alarm-In uses. Be sure to ground whatever external power the Alarm-In device needs to the DVR.
For testing purposes you can simply use two wires connected to the In port (1/2/3) and Ground. If the recorder is set to NO for that port, simply crossing the wires will be enough to trigger the Alarm In.
Alarm-Out
Everything labeled as NO(+number), NC(+number), or C(+number) is an Alarm-Out contact. The kind of output is listed by its label, again NO (Normally Open) or NC (Normally Closed). C stands for "Common", and must be paired with its matching NO/NC. A NO contact cannot be changed to a NC contact without an external relay.
Ctrl 12V and +12V both supply 12V 500ma of power to whatever devices or relays are attached. Ctrl 12V acts as the final Alarm-Out option in the recorder; e.g. If your recorder has 7 NO/NCs, then Ctrl 12V would be listed in the recorder as Alarm-Out 8. These must be paired with Ground (⏚).
EXAMPLE:
In the above example:
Alarm In is set to 1 and Ground. Can be configured to either Normally Open or Normally closed, depending on how it is configured.
Alarm Out is set to NO1 and C1. Power goes to NVR, then Load. Load grounds to Power.
In this example, if IN1 is set to NO, you can simply close the loop to trigger the alarm.
After configuration this alarm can trigger the Alarm Out NO circuit to close, causing Load/Bulb/Relay to receive power and activate.
You can use a Female Barrel Connector to Phoenix adapter like the one pictured above for easy power conversion.
Configuration
On the recorder, go to Main Menu > Advanced Settings > Alert Center > Alarm-In Port > Local.
On older interfaces it will be under Main Menu > Setting > Event > Alarm.
Not all of our interfaces will look like the below example, but all of the configuration details will be similar, if not the same.
"Alarm-in Port" is which IN contact you're configuring. You can adjust the "Device Type" to either Normally Open or Normally Closed.
The Schedule defines what day and time the recorder will act on an alarm.
"Alarm-out Port" configures which Alarm Out contacts get triggered. You can also set how many seconds after the event ends that the Alarm Out will remain triggered (labeled as Post-Alarm).
For additional configuration information consult the NVR 4.0 Manual, section 4.8.3 page 175 "Alarm Input". The manual can be found here.
Finally, go to Main Menu > Advanced Settings > Alert Center > Alarm-Out Port
"Auto" means it's looking for Alarm-In to trigger.
"Manual" will set the Alarm-Out to always be triggered.
"Off" will set the Alarm-Out to always NOT trigger.
When an Alarm-Out is triggered, the Status box will have a check mark.
Troubleshooting
A good way to make sure the Alarm In is working as intended is to enable the Buzzer in the "More" section. This way there's an audible cue for when the alarm gets triggered. You can also use a pair of wires leading out from an In port and ground; crossing them will close the loop and confirm the port has been configured correctly before connecting a switch, trigger, or latch.
You can also use a multimeter to confirm the continuity of the dry contacts. As an example, you may want to check and see if the Alarm Out is closing. You can set the Alarm-out Port menu to "Manual" for the port you're using; this will keep the circuit closed. Make sure your leads are connected to the correct ports on the multimeter, then twist the selector until it points either to the Ohm symbol or the Diode symbol.
You can test the resistance by putting the ends of your leads together - there should be hardly any at all.
Finally place the ends of your leads into the Alarm-Out ports you're testing. If the circuit is indeed closed you will again see hardly any resistance on the multimeter.
Congratulations! You've successfully configured a recorder to accept alarms in and trigger alarms out.
You can also configure other alarms to trigger Alarm Out, all of which configurable from their respective menus in the Alert Center menu.
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