DCPA-4000 Dakota Alert Drive Over Driveway Alarm

Unlike PIR (passive-infrared) based driveway alarm sensors, the DCPA-4000 kit by Dakota Alert is a drive over driveway alarm, meaning it has a underground driveway alarm sensor that is buried underground and detects cars or other heavy metallic objects.  This is ideal when you live in a rural area, or want a driveway gate alarm, or any area for that matter, where animals may trigger your sensor.   When a car or truck passes within 10'-12' ft. of the buried probe, the sensor transmits a wireless signal over 5,000 ft. away to the receiver.

This kit features two main components; 1 x DCPT-4000 Magnetometer Probe Transmitter and 1 x DCR-4000 Plug-in Chime Receiver.   The transmitter is a magnetometer driveway probe that you bury in the ground parallel to your driveway or even under the driveway (if the driveway is dirt or gravel).  The probe has 50' of wire connected to a transmitter box that is powered by 4 x CR123a lithium batteries (included for domestic orders, not for international orders).  When a large metallic object passes through the magnetic zone (10'-12') emitted by the probe, it triggers the transmitter to send a signal to the compatible receiver. It does not trigger until a car drives over or near the buried magnetometer probe sensor.

As stated above, the transmitter/sensor is buried underneath the driveway or parallel to it. If you want to use it for a driveway gate alarm it needs to be buried under or directly parallel to the driveway gate. The driveway probe sensor ships with 50' of wire that connects the buried driveway sensor to a small black box. This box is usually mounted on a post or a tree near the driveway. When a metallic object drives over the probe, the black box transmits a radio signal up to 5,000 ft. to the compatible receiver, the DCR-4000 and/or the PR-4000 portable vibrating driveway chime receiver.

The receiver in the kit is the DCR-4000 receiver.  Simply plug the receiver into a standard wall outlet and program it to the transmitter/sensor by picking one of twelve available melodies.  When triggered the receiver will play that tune.  The receiver may be located up to 1 mile from the transmitter, line-of-site.  Environmental factors such as hilly terrain, wooded areas, and building materials will reduce the transmission range, however, with a range of up to 5,000 ft., this setup works in most scenarios.

The receiver has 12 different sounds to choose from with four levels of volume adjustment from mute to approximately 85 dB.  The transmitter and receiver are compatible with all Dakota products in the 4000 series such as the UT-4000 and the DCMA-4000 Driveway Monitoring System.  This means you could add additional receivers throughout your home or office to distribute the sound, as well as add pushbuttons and PIR-based motion sensors to your system.

Features:

• Compatible with Dakota 4000 series of products only (DCMT-4000, DCMA-4000, UT-4000, DCR-4000, and LH-4000).
• Sensor detects metallic objects only--people and wildlife will not trigger the sensor.
• Range is 5,0000 ft. line of site and will vary by environment.
• Transmitter powered by 4 x CR123A Lithium batteries and are included for USA-based shipments, not included for international orders.
• Receiver is powered by included 12V DC plug-in transformer.
• Detection range is 10-12 feet.
• Probe has a 50'ft direct burial wire connected to an outdoor-rated transmitter box.
• Receiver has volume control and will play 12 different melodies.
• Operating temperature is -30F to 120F.
• One-Year manufacturer's warranty.
• Manufactured by Dakota Alert.