NIR

NIR and NIR-50: The NIR and NIR-50 can be used in all non-monitored applications. This is particularly relevant for older gate operators made before 2016. The NIR has a range of 30 feet and has standard NC and NO contacts. The NIR-50 has a range of 50 feet and has a standard NC and NO contacts.

NIR-50-325: The NIR-50-325 has a range of 50 feet and can be used in normally closed or 10k resistive monitored applications with monitored UL-325 gate and overhead door operators. It cannot be used with a normally open (NO) connection to a non-monitored operator because it has a 10k resistor internally connected to the normally open wire.

Wiring Instructions: Wire this photoeye to a non-monitored gate operator by connecting the gray (NO) wire to the Photo Open or Photo Close input on your operator and then connect the white (COM) wire to the Common or GND input on your operator.

Wiring Instructions: There are some monitored operators that this device can be wired to. Follow the below table to identify the correct signal wires for your gate operator. Check with your gate operator manual to make sure you are using the correct monitoring method associated with the diagram below. Updated as of 3/4/2025

* Some FAAC gate operators require only the transmitter to be power cycled. The NIR and NIR-50 do not have the ability to do this and are not compatible with those operators.

** HySecurity gate operators using the SmartCNX Controller require 10k Resistive connection and are not compatible with this photoeye

Device Alignment: Try holding the reflector close to the photoeye, but still at least 6 inches away, and see if the lights on the front come on – indicating proper alignment. If the yellow light is not on solid, move the reflector until it is on solid, indicating optimal reflector position and alignment.

Sensitivity Adjustment: Set sensitivity to maximum by turning it clockwise until it stops. When the device aligns, turn the sensitivity back down as much as possible while the red and yellow lights are still on solid.

This device may be powered on, but the lights will not come on until it is aligned with the reflector.

Device LEDs: Until the photoeye is aligned with the reflector, the front red and yellow lights on the device will remain off. Try aligning the reflector with the photoeye at least 6 inches apart from each other and see if the lights on the front come on.

Aligning Reflector: Hold and align the reflector at least 5 feet away from the photoeye and slowly back up to where the reflector will be mounted. Move the reflector left, right, up, and down to find the detection pattern. Adjust the photoeye aim and mount the reflector as close to the center of the pattern as possible to ensure the strongest signal.

Sensitivity Adjustment: Set sensitivity to maximum by turning sensitivity dial clockwise until it stops. The infrared beam is not a line, it’s a cone. When at the edge of the cone, the red light will come on but the yellow light will stay off until it is near the center where the signal is strongest. Turn the sensitivity back down as much as possible while the red and yellow lights are still on solid.

Check Power: Using a multimeter, check the power source connected to the photoeye across the brown and blue wires. Voltage should read between 12-30 VDC or 24-30 VAC.

There may be a problem with the relay.

1. While the photoeye has power and is aligned with the reflector, indicated by red and yellow lights both on, disconnect the output wires (Black, White, and Gray) from the operator.
2. Set digital multimeter to check for continuity. Connect one meter lead to white (COM) and the other meter lead to gray (NO).
3. The meter should read open (OL, INF) and should not yet beep. Break the IR beam between the photoeye and reflector. Verify the photoeye’s red and yellow lights turn off when breaking the beam and the meter reads less than 10 ohms and now beeps. If the meter is still showing open and does not beep, then the relay is defective.

Unwanted Reflections: Any highly reflective surfaces may reflect the signal back to the photoeye and show an alignment.

High Sensitivity: Try turning the sensitivity down counterclockwise by one or two levels until the photoeye’s red and yellow lights both are off while an obstruction is present.

Protective Hood: EMX has a photoeye hood (NIR-HD) and reflector hood that can be purchased to keep rain off the photoeye and reflector.

Poor alignment: It is possible that the photo eye and reflector are on the edge of being aligned and any interference such as heavy rain, snow or fog could be blocking the beam. A properly aligned photo eye should work well in most weather conditions. Check to see if the reflector is properly aligned with the photoeye, by disconnecting the reflector from its mounting location and move it up, down, left and right to confirm if the original mounting location is in the center of the infrared cone being projected from the sensor. If it is not, adjust the photo eye and retest the alignment and confirm the reflector is mounted in the center of the infrared cone. This ensures the strongest signal.

Reflector Maintenance: Apply a hydrophobic solution to the reflector. Like Rain-X: Plastic or a similar solution.

The photoeye is receiving poor signal back from the reflector.

Adjust Alignment: The reflector may not be at the center of the infrared cone coming from the transmitter. Hold and align the reflector at least 5 feet away from the photoeye and slowly back up to where the reflector will be mounted. Move the reflector left, right, up, and down to find the detection pattern. Mount the reflector as close to the center of the pattern as possible to ensure the strongest signal.

Low Sensitivity: The sensitivity may be too low. Increase the sensitivity by turning the dial clockwise until the red and yellow light both go on solid.