Jaycar LA-5188

Good old Jaycar, they don't like to make it too easy – Like the other reviewer, I bought this to use with the LA-5179 beam sensor. Thanks to the other reviewer who mentioned the datasheet on the "Downloads" section of the LA-5179 listing on the Jaycar website. Jaycar didn't bother putting a copy in the box and you'd be pretty knackered figuring it all out otherwise. Anyway, you have to cut the plug… Read more

off a 12 volt power supply, and wire up the positive terminal to the 1st terminal of the connector and the negative to the second. Or connect it straight to the mains if you're feeling brave. I wasn't.

Jaycar give you a 10 metre, 3.5mm jack cable with two male connectors to connect the beam to the speaker. You cut the male connector off one of the ends of this cable to expose the three wires, red, black and white, two of which you connect to the beam sensor.

Here's where it gets tricky. Normally, the black wire is the sleeve, the red is the ring and the white is the tip AFAIK. The datasheet therefore seemed to me to be saying to connect the red wire to terminal 3 and the black to terminal 5.

I couldnt get any response on the speaker that way, so I pulled it out, and then tried connecting the white wire directly to the black wire, which tripped the speaker. So I wired the white wire to terminal 3 and the black to terminal 5. Everything now works fine.

Having a laser level would be handy in getting the reflector and beam to line up over a 15m distance, I was able to do it using a couple of broken off broom handles midway and lining it up like the sights of a rifle, but it was a hassle.

Works well so far Nov 11, 2017 – Bought from my local authorized Jaycar stockist to use with the Techview LA-5179 Beam sensor. Has door bell and siren modes with volume and siren timer. (Jaycar Catalogue 2016) Works well once you figure out the wiring diagram listed on the web link from the online catalogue. From the wiring schematic I found that in my case segment 1 to 3 of the… Read more

3.5mm jack (1 being the outer most segment from the grip) was unimpeded current which can have dire consequences when the circuit is completed. In my case I found the trigger voltage was between segment 2 and 3 of the 3.5 mm jack. I would approach with care and test the circuits before applying power to the unit. I found that the trigger response was instant. I have given this product a 4 star only at this stage due to the above condition.

Nov 11, 2017 All working OK.