Bosch Introduces Solution 4000 With 4 Doors Of Access Control.
Bosch Introduces Solution 4000 – Bosch has introduced its new Solution 4000, an evolution of the dependable 2000 and 3000 platforms, with the addition of 4 doors of access control and loads more.
An evolution of the Solution 3000, this new Solution 4000 adds access control, but its functionality goes a lot further than that, weaving in the latest in touchscreen user interfaces, diagnostics, and adding a powerful new layer of expanders, including Radion wireless, as well as CCTV.
Oddly enough, we weren’t expecting to meet a sparkling new alarm and access control panel when we wandered onto the Bosch stand at Security & Integrate in Sydney last week. But once we’d met, it quickly became apparent why the Bosch stand had been so busy during the show. Solution 4000 has a solid feature set with a bunch of high-value professional flourishes.
There’s support for alarm 32 zones wired or wireless, as well as up to 32 outputs – and of particular interest, 4 doors of access control via a Weigand door module. Additional features include support for 64 users, 4 keypads, 3 partitions/areas, 3 input modules, 3 output modules and there’s a 512-event memory. Solution 4000 can use existing keypads and touchscreens, offers automation integrations with Control 4 and Home Assistant and delivers control via the RISC+ app.
While I was poking around on the stand, Jay Vara, Bosch Intrusion Systems’ product manager for EMEA & APR, came over to give me a run through. Vara has been at the heart of the development of Solution 4000 since the start and is thoroughly across the development process, as well as the system’s expanded functionality.
According to Vara, the Bosch team started doing research on Solution 4000 about 2 years ago.
“We kicked off by going to our distributors and installers and asking them what they wanted from a new Bosch panel so we could develop the new system based on their feedback,” Vara explains.
“What everyone wanted was an alarm system with 4 doors of access control, more inputs and outputs and expanded wireless capability. We took those requirements to our development team and they got started.
“In March this year we came out to Australia to do a soft launch of the Solution 4000 – we wanted feedback from distributors and installers on the initial prototype to see what could be improved and to discover if anything was missing,” Vara says.
“There were some things we needed to add – a scheduling function being one – and from March until now the Bosch development team has been working hard to add those extra functions and to prepare the system and all its components for market launch.”
This is nice gear, I comment, as we look over the Solution 4000 controllers.
“We’ve upgraded to new surface mount components on our 4000 controllers so they more compact,” Vara explains. “That’s the new motherboard and this is our new input and output expander.
“This is the Weigand door module with a built-in relay and a Weigand interface, plus it has a door zone which installers can use it for monitoring door state.
“There’s also a new touchscreen with map function. This is a multi-area keypad that runs on an Android operating system. It has a new map feature displaying input zone and door state.
“Obviously the key thing about the Solution 4000 is that there’s 4 doors of access control. Doors are handled by a Weigand door module, so you can use any reader – Bosch or HID, or anything else you choose – doors can also be controlled from the new touchscreen.
“Solution 4000 supports a 37-bit HID card format with or without a site code – including a 35-bit credential and a 26-bit credential. Neat, too, installers can add any site code or any card data – this is not locked down. It means that if you bought a library of cards from a different supplier you could still use them with the Solution 4000, making operation more cost effective.”
According to Vara, the developers have also added camera functionality – not just for Bosch cameras but third-party cameras as well. He points out that this functionality is still being finalised in terms of cameras numbers and key functions – installers can expect more information on that soon.
Central to this surveillance functionality is networking. The keypad has integrated Wi-Fi and once it’s connected to the local LAN it can scan the local network and search for cameras. The keypad also has a PoE port, which allows network connection and PoE power, as well as access to cameras.
“From the previous generation we’ve increased CPU capacity by 50 per cent,” Vara says. “This controller has got double the RAM and double the storage as well. Meanwhile the supervised B520 power supply takes 18-24V AC and delivers 12V DC 2A power, allowing installers to open doors using magnetic locks.
“The Radion wireless receiver for Solution 4000 can support up to 32 devices – PIRs, wireless reed switches, smoke sensors, panic buttons, keyfobs and more. There are also wireless extenders that only require local power and include a battery backup giving 12 hours of backup.”
Vara says that during development of the Solution 4000 the team also made some major improvements to diagnostic functions.
“With the Solution 4000 you can see if zones are open or closed,” he explains. “And if a customer reports a problem with a sensor, the installer can get into the system remotely and see if the circuit is open, or if it has some other issue. They can also check zone status and bypass a zone until a tech can get to site.
“For the system itself, we’ve also added more accessible information to remote diagnotics. Installers said they wanted to be able to find out more easily what version a system is, if power is present, if a battery is ok. Installers can also see and control outputs and can cycle doors – these are all useful pieces of functionality for maintenance teams.”
When it comes to backup power, the Solution 4000 supports a pair of 18Ah batteries giving a total of 36Ah – that’s 80 hours of standby for the control panel, communicator, keypads, sensors, door controllers and expanders.
The system’s wireless extenders located in the field also have battery backup, which means that even on a larger site with a more complex installation, the entire system, including the wireless communications remain fully operational.
“This is our full launch of the Solution 4000 and it’s a very exciting release for the Bosch team and for all our customers – we should be starting to ship by mid to late September,” Vara says. “You can find out more from your local distributors.”
You can learn more about Bosch Solution panels here or read more SEN news here.
“Bosch Introduces Solution 4000 With 4 Doors Of Access Control.”
