Hi,
GOAL: To loop a FIBER cable through the frames of 16 SOLAR panels as an alarm.
- Need a fiber optic transceiver that will be able to send data through the 250' of fiber
- Arduino to continuosly send a randomly selected number and receive the number and validate.
- If the number is validated the Arduino will repeat the process
- If the number is not received or validated (cut Fiber cable)
- The Arduino will activate a relay that will turn on the yard lights and send me a text
- The Arduino will be operating on its own battery power source as backup
I can look at the security cameras and determine if I need to call the police.
Can anyone recommend a fiber optic transceiver that will meet the above requirements.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Elcectronics Nut
Get it working with a simple wire and then decide if you need fiber optic cable. The armor covering on the fiber cable is really hard to cut, so why no just use a regular steel cable and avoid all the electronic stuff.
Paul
Paul_KD7HB:
Get it working with a simple wire and then decide if you need fiber optic cable. The armor covering on the fiber cable is really hard to cut, so why no just use a regular steel cable and avoid all the electronic stuff.
Paul
Example: Neighbors have a cable that can not be cut and came out only to find that their 5000 watt generator was taken, and there was nothing to alert them that it was in the process of being taken.
With the fiber, and the Arduino sending data and verifying data, if the cable is cut, I will know in a few seconds that something is going south. The Arduino will be in a secured box along with the SOLAR electronics, between panels 8 and 9. The fiber will loop between panels 1 through 8 and back then continue past the Arduino and through 9 through 16 and back.
Don
I have decided to go with the fiber security. I will try using one transceiver with the entire 16 panel string, but will more than likely need purchase 2 transceivers and go with 2 fiber circuits. Here are the links to the parts. Should be an interesting project.
Does anyone see any issues with this design?
Don
250MBd 650nm POF Transceiver:
Data Sheet:
2 Fiber Indoor/Outdoor Fiber Optic Cable:
ElectronicsNut:
I have decided to go with the fiber security. I will try using one transceiver with the entire 16 panel string, but will more than likely need purchase 2 transceivers and go with 2 fiber circuits. Here are the links to the parts. Should be an interesting project.
Does anyone see any issues with this design?
Don
250MBd 650nm POF Transceiver:
AFBR-5972EZ
Data Sheet:
2 Fiber Indoor/Outdoor Fiber Optic Cable:
1000ft Black 2 Fiber Outdoor Singlemode Fiber Optic Cable
The issue I see is fundamental: You cannot program the Arduino to receive at the same time it is transmitting.
Paul
Why not, Paul? Serial can receive and transmit simultaneously.
While the linked transmitter is capable of mega baud rates, it should be just fine running at.9600. What I did notice in the product description is that it runs on 3.3V and the actual data is LVDS, which will require another chip to translate to/from TTL levels.
If you could find one without LVDS, that would be netter.
The linked optic fiber looks like overkill too. Aramid is hard (but not impossible) to cut. The wavelength it claims as optimum is quite different from the tranceiver spec. I don't know if that is significant for this project.
ElectronicsNut:
I have decided to go with the fiber security. I will try using one transceiver with the entire 16 panel string, but will more than likely need purchase 2 transceivers and go with 2 fiber circuits. Here are the links to the parts. Should be an interesting project.
Does anyone see any issues with this design?
Don
250MBd 650nm POF Transceiver:
AFBR-5972EZ
Data Sheet:
2 Fiber Indoor/Outdoor Fiber Optic Cable:
1000ft Black 2 Fiber Outdoor Singlemode Fiber Optic Cable
The transceiver you have picked is designed for large diameter fiber and is unlikely to have the mechanical precision needed for the 9 micron fibre you have selected. The wave length is also sub-optimal.
Joining thin fibres will require expensive equipment, unless you plan to replace the whole 250' every time it gets damaged when someone steps on it.
1mm plastic optical fibre is no good for long distances because of the high attenuation.
Suggest you just use cat 5 and RS485. No need for armour, the easier it is to cut the quicker you will get a warning that something is going on.
I think there are advantages to fiber. It is immune to nearby lighting strikes, for example. A 250ft loop of wire will require extra protection devices.
But RS485 sounds good too. It will require a 4-wire full-duplex transceiver but that is not difficult to get. (The transceiver will also have ESD protection built in.) It is also easier to terminate to the individual panels - I am thinking a connector epoxied onto each panel will make it easier for theives to break the security loop.