Operation and Programming
11
PCS and PCS2 Power Current Sensors
Operation and Programming

PCS Operation

When properly calibrated, the PCS senses current levels from sources that have one or two levels of
power consumption. The STANDBY LED is on when the following occurs:
! The PCS is sensing the lower level of current (as low as 30 mA, or 4W at 120 VAC).
! The STANDBY output is low.
The STANDBY and ON outputs are mutually exclusive. You can adjust the PCS to sense
differences in STANDBY and ON current level as low as 30 mA. The ON LED is on when the PCS
senses the higher operating level of current (up to 15A). If the source is completely off, neither
LED is ON.

PCS2 Operation

When properly calibrated, the PCS2 senses current levels from connected sources that have one or
two levels of power consumption. The PCS2 STANDBY LED is ON when the following occurs:
! STANDBY is lit when the sensed current level is above STANDBY threshold.
! STANDBY remains lit (regardless of its setting) when the ON LED lights.
! STANDBY threshold cannot be set less sensitive than ON threshold.
This requires that the STANDBY circuitry be calibrated for levels between 20 mA and 1 A in order
to differentiate when a connected unit is in a STANDYBY or ON mode.
! ON is lit when current is above the ON threshold.
! The circuit (both the ON and STANDBY) can differentiate between 20 mA and 1 A.
Anything above 1 A is sensed as 1 A, regardless if it is 2 A, 6 A, or 10 A (LED ON =
output switch closed).
! It is not logical for ON to light before STANDBY. As a result, the circuit is designed so
that if ON lights, the STANDBY will light, regardless of its setting.
PCS2 considerations
When connecting a unit/system to the PCS2, be aware that a one or two second PCS2 circuitry
stabilization consideration must be accounted for.
During transitions between states, the PCS2 may take 1 to 2 seconds to stabilize and its initial
output indication may be incorrect. Failure to account for this possible delay may cause the Axcess
or Axcent2 system to repeatedly cycle power on the unit being sensed.

Programming

When properly calibrated, the PCS and PCS2 sense current levels from sources that have one or
two levels of power consumption.
PCS Programming
When programming actions based on the state of the PCS, include the following: