Connect Photoelectric Beam Sensor to CCTV DVR Alarm Input

Can a photoelectric beam sensor be connected to the alarm input of a CCTV DVR? This is a question that I recently received at CCTV Camera Pros. Below is a transcript.

Here are the questions from the customer.

I read your article on how to connect external alarm devices to the alarm input of a a CCTV DVR. I found the support article very helpful.

Please suggest me can I use photoelectric beam sensor and configure it with DVR which has ALARM-IN options on its back pane?

I normally use these types of sensors on the walls of my customer’s retail and office locations. Whenever the beam is cut, the alarm is triggered.

Can I place this on a wall and when beam is cut, the DVR will pop-up video on the screen of the camera that I associate with the alarm input?

This is my response.

Yes, a photoelectric beam sensor can be used to trigger the alarm input on an iDVR-PRO surveillance DVR.
https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/CCTV-DVR-MAC-Viewer-s/403.htm

You can use the same alarm input setup instructions that you originally referred to.
https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/CCTV-DVR-Alarm-Input-Setup-s/860.htm

On that page, I describe how to integrate a PIR motion sensor and a magnetic window sensor with the alarm inputs of the CCTV DVR. The setup is the same for a photoelectric beam sensor.

The DVR can be configured to take any of these actions based on an external sensor triggering an alarm.

• Alarm Recording – the DVR will begin recording when an alarm is triggered.
• Alarm Buzzer – the DVR sounds an audio beeping sounds.
• Video Pop-up – the video channels(s) that are associated with the alarm appear on the screen.
• OSD Pop-up – a message appears over the video that displays which alarm was triggered.
• Email Alert – an email alert is sent.
• FTP Upload – a snapshot of the event is FTP uploaded to a server.
• PTZ Preset Location – if your system has a pan tilt zoom camera, you can program alarms to trigger PTZ cameras to go to a preset location.

Early next year, we also plan on enabling the ability to receive a push notification on the iPhone and Android apps for iDVR-PRO.

This IP camera with alarm sound and strobe light is also worth a look.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.