Long-Range Beam-Break Sensor System
The Long-Range Beam-Break Sensor System provides remote detection of vehicles, people, livestock and equipment moving across driveways, gates, tracks, access roads and other clear lines of sight. It combines a low-power infrared beam sensor, passive reflector and compatible telemetry node to create a practical wireless monitoring system for remote, outdoor and solar-powered installations.
Long-Range, Low-Power Detection The sensor uses short, high-power infrared pulses rather than operating the emitter continuously. This provides a recommended sensing distance of 1–15 metres while keeping average sensor current below one milliamp, making it particularly suitable for solar and long-life battery installations.
Simple One-Sided Installation The sensor and telemetry node are installed together at one side of the driveway, gate or monitored path. A passive reflector is mounted at the opposite side and requires no power, wiring or communications equipment. The supplied audible alignment tool helps the installer aim the sensor accurately at the reflector before the system is placed into service.
Plug-and-Play Telemetry2U Integration Most systems are supplied with a compatible Dragino CPL03 node already wired, configured and ready to connect to Telemetry2U. The installer mounts the sensor and reflector, plugs the cable into the node, powers the node and completes the final alignment and event test.
Flexible Standalone Integration The beam-break sensor can also be purchased separately for use with another compatible telemetry node, pulse counter, controller or digital input. The sensor provides an open-collector output that pulls to ground when a qualified beam interruption is detected. The receiving equipment must provide a compatible input and a suitable 2.7–5.5 V DC supply.
Designed and Manufactured in Australia The beam-break sensor is designed by Telemetry2U and manufactured and assembled in Australia. It is available exclusively from Telemetry2U as a standalone sensor or as part of a complete wireless monitoring package.
Choose Your Beam-Break Monitoring Package
| Standalone Sensor |
Includes the beam-break sensor, rear connector, pigtail cable, mounting bracket, reflector plate with reflective tape and audible alignment tool. Suitable for customers supplying their own compatible node, pulse counter or controller. |
| Sensor with CPL03 |
Includes the complete sensor package and a compatible Dragino CPL03 node. The sensor cable can be supplied pre-wired to the node for straightforward installation. |
| Pre-Configured Plug-and-Play System |
The CPL03 is wired, configured and provisioned for Telemetry2U before dispatch. Network settings, reporting behaviour, event handling and platform integration are prepared so the system can be installed and tested with minimal setup. |
| Unconfigured Hardware Package |
The sensor and CPL03 can also be supplied without Telemetry2U provisioning for experienced integrators who want to configure the node, network and destination platform themselves. |
| CPL03-LS |
Solar-powered LoRaWAN model for properties, farms, industrial sites and other locations with access to a compatible LoRaWAN network or gateway. |
| CPL03-CS |
Solar-powered LTE-M and NB-IoT model for direct cellular monitoring without requiring a local LoRaWAN gateway. |
| Other Compatible Nodes |
The sensor may be connected to other manufacturers’ devices where they provide a compatible open-collector, dry-contact, digital-input or pulse-counting interface and a suitable sensor power supply. |
What Is Included
| Beam-break sensor |
Low-power infrared emitter and receiver in a sealed ASA-CF enclosure. |
| Reflector plate |
Approximately 10-inch diameter reflector plate with reflective tape installed. |
| Sensor mounting bracket |
Bracket for securing and adjusting the beam sensor during installation. |
| Connector and cable |
Rear sensor connector and cable supplied with a pigtail or pre-wired to the selected CPL03 node. |
| Audible alignment tool |
Plug-in field tool that provides audible feedback while the sensor is aligned with the reflector. |
| Telemetry node |
Included when a CPL03 bundle is selected. Poles, mounting posts and site-specific installation hardware are not included. |
Typical Applications
Wireless Driveway and Access Monitoring
Detect activity before a vehicle or person reaches a house, workshop, yard or restricted area. A driveway beam can provide an early warning and create a timestamped record whenever the monitored path is crossed. Read More
Security, Counting and Operational Monitoring
Use beam interruptions for after-hours alerts, vehicle counts, livestock movement, equipment cycles, conveyor events, loading areas and activity monitoring. A single beam can count crossings but does not determine direction of travel.
How Event Monitoring Works
The beam-break sensor checks the optical path approximately 100 times per second. When the reflected infrared signal is no longer detected, the open-collector output changes state and remains active while the beam continues to be interrupted. The sensor itself does not store counts or send wireless messages; those functions are handled by the connected telemetry node.
Depending on the selected node and configuration, the system can be set up to:
- Send an immediate record when the beam is interrupted.
- Record both beam interruption and beam restoration.
- Count multiple crossings locally and upload periodic totals.
- Send a periodic keep-alive message to confirm that the telemetry node remains online.
- Notify users continuously or only during selected hours and days.
- Display event history, daily totals and communication status in Telemetry2U.
A keep-alive confirms that the connected node is communicating. It does not independently confirm sensor alignment, cable condition or the physical state of the reflector.
Combine the Beam-Break System with Telemetry2U
Telemetry2U turns each detected interruption into useful monitoring information. View the current input state, review historical events, display crossing totals and configure email, SMS or voice alerts for the people who need to respond.
Notifications can operate continuously or only during selected times. This allows a driveway to generate after-hours security alerts while still recording daytime vehicle activity without sending unnecessary notifications.
