Intelligent Tower-Lighting Alarm Monitor

 Model ITLM-RL™ 

Protect yourself from FCC fines with this affordable solution from Transtronics. Now is the time to add lighting alarm contacts to your red lit tower.

The ITLM™ pays for itself -- no need to buy a new lighting control system -- the ITLM™ Sensor retrofits into the existing tower's lighting control panel. A simple press-of-the-button calibrates this module to the lamp load on your tower -- saving you time and frustration. The ITLM protects you from FCC light-outage-fines the competition's units fail to detect! It detects 11 different alarm conditions and is the most comprehensive device on the market.

Overview

The ITLM is a tower lighting alarm sensor system that monitors 'Red lighted' towers (towers using incandescent bulbs in red lens housings). It detects 11 different alarm states including predictive failure alarms. The predictive alarms allow you to schedule tower maintenance before the failure actually occurs.

We simplified lighting monitoring by organizing alarms into three levels/contacts:

The system consists of a 'Sensor' and a receiver. The ITLM Sensor retrofits into the existing tower's lighting control panel.. The receiver normally mounts in the tower building and connects to the 'Sensor' via a custom modular shielded cable. The ITLM™ calibrates itself to the beacon and Side lights

Auto calibration Senses shorted bulbs Checks line voltage Checks day/night switch obstruction bulb sets of your tower with a simple push of a button.

Six tough questions when shopping for a tower light monitoring system

1. Does the system check for high current failure? These failures are from gunshot-wounded wires, broken bulb bases, and self-welded filaments. Current sense relays can not detect this failure mode -- yet they do happen and cause FCC finable tower-lamp outages!
2. Will the tower light monitoring system alert you to a failed day/night photocell? A dark tower for whatever reason is a FCC fine.
3. Will the tower light monitoring system alert you to an open tower lighting circuit breaker or utility power failure? Again, a dark tower for whatever reason can bring you a fine.
4. Is there any provision to stop the alarm system from reporting nuisance alarms due to momentary dips in line voltage? These dips are quite common in "end of the line" rural power sites.
5. How long does it take to install? If you have to relocate the 'tower light control box' or loop the line AC wire from the tower to your radio building, the labor costs can be significant.
6. Will the system take a wizard to calibrate? Will you remember the calibration procedure the next time you re-lamp the tower?

See the C266 clamp meter for measuring lamp circuits.

Antenna Alarm Specifications ITLM

Receiver board wiring

Lost you manual? - get it here in pdf format 

1. Installing the 'Sensor' circuit board

First, familiarize yourself with Fig 1A. It shows a typical circuit where the Day/night switch controls L1 (line or hot­side) going to the side (obstruction) lights and the flasher switch. The flasher switch provides the blinking action of the beacon circuit. Neutral provides the return path for the day/night, flasher and lamps.

Now, examine the tower site and identify the lighting control panel; it is usually at the bottom of the tower. First, shut off the power to the tower lights and verify that the power is off. Opening the panel will reveal a feed line from a circuit breaker panel. Identify L1, neutral and ground.

There will also be a conduit or a SO style cable coming down the tower to enter the lighting control panel. This conduit will have three wires for a beacon and side light tower (occasionally there may be a fourth ground wire). One of these three wires is the neutral. The other two wires will be the line-side of the beacon and side-lights.

Now, determine if there is enough room to mount the Sensor circuit board in the lighting control panel. The beacon and side light wires will thread through the appropriate toroid. Make sure there is adequate clearance for wires and access to terminal block screws. To physically mount the Sensor Circuit board in the lighting control panel, first clean the mounting area with the alcohol wipe provided, then remove the backing from the "sticky feet" and press into place.

If there is not enough room, mount the sensor in a weather-proof box.

2. Wiring the Sensor

Note: All wires should be of the proper gauge to comply with the REA electric codes.

As shown in Fig 1B, connect L1 from the circuit breaker panel, with a black wire of the same gauge, to the terminal on the sensor board marked L1.

Next, connect neutral from the circuit breaker panel, with a white wire of the same gauge, to the terminal on the sensor board marked N.

Next, identify the side light wire that comes from the tower and temporarily disconnect it. Thread it through the toroid marked 'Side'. While reconnecting the side wire, add a black wire of the same size, and connect it to the terminal on the 'sensor' board marked 'D/N'.   

Now, momentarily disconnect the beacon wire and thread it through the toroid marked 'beacon' and reconnect.

If possible, the modular cable should exit the lighting control panel from the bottom of the box to avoid any possible moisture entry. Plug the modular cable end with the core grip into the Sensor board. Finally, run the other end of the modular cable to the alarm panel site.  At this point your circuit should look like figure 1B.