The bench test 1: Living the high life

What our experts say …

Size is everything, no matter what kind hearted ladies would have you believe.

We humans have always believed that bigger is better, and our buildings are no exception. Palaces, galleries, castles and museums have always benefited from the fact that in our eyes, vast, expansive, and most importantly, high ceilings have denoted luxury and grandeur. A great deal of the awe-inspiring qualities of churches and cathedrals are due to the sheer height of their ornate ceilings; a human attempt to convey the omniscient power of an awesome creator.

This hasn't changed in modern times – our warehouses and car showrooms, which contain a multitude of valuable items, are covered by ceilings of great altitude. And these high-ceilinged buildings require protection. Which is where Rokonet's Industrial Lunar comes in.

Rokonet Electronics is an Israel-based manufacturing company with an established portfolio of security detection products. It distributes professional security equipment throughout the world and is part of the Risco group of companies – a name that most UK installers will be familiar with.

The Industrial Lunar is a long range ceiling mounted dual technology detector that, in common with Rokonet's improved iWise range, has an enhanced catch in difficult locations, and an improved resistance to 'cloaking' attempts by intruders.

A major feature of the Lunar detector is Rokonet's Anti-Cloak Technology (ACT), using a patented processor designed to ensure intruders cannot fool the detector and pass undetected. The ACT system is criteria-driven, automatically switching from dual-channel PIR/MW mode to single-channel MW mode, should the infrared capability become compromised.

The proprietary technology will cope with an attempt by an intruder to conceal his IR radiation using camouflage techniques, or should the ambient temperature reach that of normal body heat, when the PIR element is unable – even with 'temperature compensation' techniques – to differentiate between the intruder and his background.

ACT identifies these situations by utilising pattern recognition algorithms within the microprocessor of the sensor and automatically switches the detector to trigger alarms based solely on detection from the microwave channel for a predefined window of time.

(The ACT should not be confused with anti-masking technology, designed to give a trouble output if the PIR or MW detection sensors are blocked at source by a physical barrier of some kind.)

This detector has an industry leading maximum ceiling height of up to 8.6m and is expected to be specified for the upper commercial/industrial market where the issue of price is superseded by requirements for a high level of stability to cope with expected environmental problems, such as RF interference, rapid temperature changes or draughty locations.

Because of the obvious difficulties of set up, service adjustment and walk testing a detector at such a great height, Rokonet have thoughtfully designed a remote control programmer to fulfil these functions from ground level.

The device is essentially a battery operated keypad with an LCD display that operates using infrared signals in a line of sight, very much like a television remote controller. The system is easy to understand and use, and is supplied with a technical booklet giving explanations of the various parameters that can be adjusted remotely. We were quoted £69.00 + VAT to supply the remote unit (which can communicate with and adjust any number of Industrial Lunars on any site).

Although not visibly marked with the information, the technical literature quotes a compliance with EN50131-2 Grade 2 requirements, together with the CE mark for European compliance, and comes with a reasonable two year guarantee.

Construction and design

The housing is constructed from conventional flame retardant ABS plastic in a soft white finish, though one glance at the three fresnal lenses and the pyramid-like shape is enough to inform anyone in the know that this is an unconventional, interesting development in movement detection, by utilising three (four including the microwave type) independent sensors to achieve long range 360 degree coverage.

Upon removal of the central cover plate and single housing screw, the main circuit board is exposed to reveal the three single sensor PIR heads at the apex of each of the corners, and a single microwave patch antenna in the middle.

The PCB is easily unclipped from the base plate for fixing and wiring connection purposes, and some local adjustment of detection range and coverage is provided on the PCB, using the usual range potentiometer for the microwave channel, and fresnal lens alignment for adjustment of coverage for each of the three PIR channels. In common with most of Rokonet's other movement detectors, each detector channel has different coloured LED indication for walk testing purposes.

The whole case, including the optical chambers, is sealed against insect and dust intrusion, so the cable entry and wall mounting holes need to be created in the usual 'knock out' positions on the fixing base plate when mounting the device on the ceiling.

Most modern detector designs have become smaller, more curvy and groovy looking in recent years, so the Industrial Lunar is unusual in terms of size and aesthetics, but bearing in mind its intended habitat, this is unlikely to be a problem. The operational mounting height is extremely flexible, between 2.7m up to 8.6m!

It should be noted, however, that decreasing the mounting height to below 3m gives a reduced horizontal coverage from a maximum of 22m diameter down to 15m diameter. It has to be said that an operating range of 15 metres is very good for a ceiling mounting height of 3m.

The wiring connections are via an eleven-way terminal block along to centre of the PCB. The connections are printed on the PCB using conventional terminology, and include a memory terminal to latch on the LED after an alarm condition, plus connections for disabling of LEDs and remote control functions.

A further block of seven dipswitches are mounted on the PCB for configuration of the ACT functions and addressing the device when used as part of Rokonet's own ProSYS data bus system. A six core cable is the minimum requirement to provide for 12v DC supply, one normally closed anti tamper pair and one normally closed alarm output pair. There is plenty of space inside the unit for wiring including an 'ADE' biscuit when using point ID configuration.

Performance

We found the current consumption to be more than the quoted specification, at 35mA, rising slightly when all three tri-coloured LEDs are illuminated. And though the detector is designed to operate at a nominal 12v DC, the voltage range is said by Rokonet to be usable from 9v-16v DC.

The relay output gave a reading of less than 1 ohm for a change over period of around two seconds. The technical literature gives an impressive operational temperature range, from –10 degrees C to +55 degrees C. That should just about cover it for most situations.

Each of the fresnal PIR lenses is segmented into 32 pairs of zones – an impressive 192 individual zones in total – divided into five horizontal layers, including a look down or 'creep' zone immediately beneath the detector.

The horizontal spread of the detection pattern was found to cover the full 360 degrees, though by observing the green LEDs, the microwave technology exceeds the PIR coverage in every way, including length, width and speed of catch. This is in common with all of the Rokonet Dual Technology range.

We mounted the RK Industrial Lunar on a ceiling for the duration of the test, where it performed very well during our series of standard tests. In a further test, the unit reverted to MW-only operation in a confined, heated environment and continued to give good results.

It has to be said the microwave detection is very 'lively' and careful consideration needs to be given to positioning and MW range adjustment. Installers should always bear in mind that microwave energy can readily penetrate low density brickwork, woodwork, plasterboard and glass. That means MW detectors are prone to trigger in situations that a PIR would tolerate, such as running water through pipes, slight movement of surfaces and movement on the outside of the premises.

Instructions & technical support

The accompanying instructions are provided in a small booklet with schematic diagrams for identification of parts and coverage patterns for the PIR detection area. The instructions are methodically laid out and written in native English with installation guidelines in text and pictorial form, including explanations of the ACT technology. A specification is included with all the information required by an installer: current consumption, operating voltage, detection range and temperature requirements.

The telephone number for the Rokonet UK switchboard is provided at the back of the book, which we called during working hours and asked for technical support. We were then instructed to redial a mobile number and got straight through to a very helpful engineer who spoke at length about the Lunar detector and various questions regarding Rokonet's plans for the future.

What the manufacturer says ...

The Industrial Lunar is the most intelligent ceiling mount detector available in the market.

It offers the highest mounting height in the industry at a maximum mounting height of 8.6m , whilst providing a 360 deg by 22m diameter coverage pattern.

The Industrial Lunar also provides three independently adjustable PIR channels for customised coverage, along with three Tri-colour LEDs for easy walk testing indication.

Utilising technology first developed for Rokonet's proven range of iWise Dual Technology detectors, the Industrial Lunar is the only ceiling mount detector with Anti-Cloak Technology (ACT). This detects even during intruder camouflage attempts and in high room temperatures.

In addition to this, the Industrial Lunar has Intelligent Signal Processing that automatically adjusts the alarm threshold and pulse count verification in accordance with actual intruder behaviour and environmental factors, providing the best detection and the best false alarm immunity available in the market.

Once installed, the Industrial Lunar can be adjusted and remotely diagnosed via one of two options: by using the unique bi-directional infrared remote control; or when installed together with Rokonet's ProSYS Integrated Security System, via the LCD keypad or the Upload/Download software. This gives the installer the ability to adjust the microwave settings and turn the Anti Cloak Technology and LEDs on or off without the need to climb a ladder or scaffold tower.

The installer can also remotely diagnose the detector input voltage, PIR channel status, and MW channel status (signal voltage and noise levels).