MY first impressions of this system are its size – there’s no fiddling around with minute icons on the new DSC PowerSeries Touchscreen. But while the unit is 128mm high and 195mm wide, thanks to its slim profile there’s no sense of bulk. The touchscreen in nicely rounded, too, and that gives it a compact wall footprint.
When your eye runs from the case to the screen, again the first impression is size. The touchscreen itself has a diameter of 178mm and that’s plenty. Many touchscreens challenge users and installers with small onscreen buttons but that’s not going to happen with this DSC unit. The screen is so large it includes wide open spaces allowing it to show off its ‘metallic’ skin, or any photo you chose to load as the home screen.
In terms of systems supported, the PowerSeries Touchscreen integrates with DSC PowerSeries systems – the 1864 and 1616, which run version 4.5 of the PowerSeries software. Operationally this hardwired touchscreen combines keypad functionality with an intuitive icon-based interface designed to make installation and programming easier.
Showing me the system is Rob Lucas and as he works his way quickly through a range of options, I can see how simple it is to operate. Most all functions are single touch and you dig your way in and out of functions with a few taps on the mighty touchscreen.
When commissioning PowerSeries solutions installers have the ability to do installer-based programming from virtual keypad, as well as through the PowerSeries TouchScreen keypad. Building from the default or optional displays, the installer can quickly configure 5 of the graphical icons from more than 10 options, depending on the user’s needs.
With up to 8 partitions available, the PowerSeries Touchscreen’s keypad offers the benefits of a multi-partition control panel without changing the control panel, and lets each partition’s zones act independently from the rest of the system.
“Programming is very easy,” Lucas tells me. “If I go to keypad mode and then to section numbers, I have all the programming options. You hash your way out. There’s one-touch stay arm and there are options that allow to you to fire a relay turn on sprinklers or open a gate.
“There’s a 500-event buffer that can be viewed on screen and scrolled through using the arrow keys – a useful tool for installer and operator. Partition status tells you which partitions are armed, there’s a detailed keypad configuration so you can adjust the backlight, transition time and photo frame timeouts.”
Users benefit from large clearly recognisable on-screen buttons and intuitive menu-driven screens that facilitate ease of use and programming. For example, to access the FAP keys, users just press the Emergency button on the sidebar. Making quick status checks quicker there are LED lights under the touchscreen that give a quick view LED status including ready, armed, trouble and AC power.
The touchscreen display can be easily customised for the user. If the user doesn’t want to see partitions but wants to turn chimes on and off, they can hide or display the relevant icons. And the home screen can be can be modified later by the installer through password protected setting menus. The home screen can be customised to display installer logos, contact information or family photos.
Fact file:
Features of the DSC PowerSeries Touchscreen include:
* Menu-driven icon-based interface
* 178mm diameter touchscreen
* microSD slot for logos or images
* Hardwired 4-wire connection
* Compatible with PowerSeries V4.5 controllers
* Available in white or silver
* Quick view LED (ready, armed, trouble, AC)
* Time and date display
* Configurable home screen.
Distributor: Q Video Systems
Contact: 61 3 9646 9016
