Let's talk about hydrogen hazards in battery rooms. As you know, these can turn into major safety issues if hydrogen accumulates.

We'll review how you can detect hydrogen build-up by bringing the SBS-H2 gas detector and a DPS monitoring system together. Remember, Storage Battery Systems (SBS), the maker of the SBS-H2, doesn't specifically endorse DPS products. I'm simply illustrating how these two pieces of gear can work together, thanks to standard relay outputs.

This type of sensor integration with DPS RTUs and master stations is exactly the kind of work I do every day as a talk to DPS clients. Let's review this hypothetical hydrogen-monitoring scenario now...

Critical Requirement: Monitoring Hydrogen in Battery Rooms

Hydrogen gas might be invisible and odorless, but it can create a very real danger. When mixed with air at just 4.1%, it becomes highly flammable.

One DPS client learned this the hard way when a door at their site was blown several hundred feet by a hydrogen explosion. The site was not equipped with hydrogen sensing. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but this is clearly something we need to detect and prevent.

These incidents are rare but can be devastating if they happen. That's why adding a hydrogen detector to your battery room is such a smart safety move.

By linking the SBS-H2 with DPS Telecom's NetGuardian RTUs and T/Mon monitoring, you build a strong line of defense that protects both people and infrastructure.

SBS-H2: A Hydrogen Detection Solution

The SBS-H2 Hydrogen Gas Detector from Storage Battery Systems is specifically built for confined spaces like battery rooms. Its job is simple: detect hydrogen before it reaches dangerous levels.

How the SBS-H2 Works

• Early Warnings: A 1% hydrogen concentration triggers a yellow LED and activates a relay output. This lets you take early action (like turning on ventilation).
• Critical Alarms: At 2%, the red LED flashes, a strobe and alarm kick in, and a second relay energizes. This is your signal that immediate action is required.
• Control Capabilities: You can use the sensor's relays to power exhaust fans or pass contact-closure signals to an external alarm system.

When hydrogen is detected quickly never gets a chance to accumulate, you cut the risk of a serious explosion. That's where the NetGuardian RTU comes into play.

Step 1: Integrating SBS-H2 with NetGuardian RTUs

The SBS-H2 sends critical alarm signals over standard relay outputs, which makes it easy to tie into a DPS NetGuardian RTU.

• Contact Closure Integration: The SBS-H2's 1% and 2% alarms connect directly to discrete inputs on the NetGuardian (whether you choose the 216, 864A, or another model).
• Real-Time Alerts: Once you wire it up, the NetGuardian RTU forwards alarm info to your central monitoring station (T/Mon or any standard SNMP manager) or sends alerts straight to your phone/email via SNMP, SMS, or email.

The result? You're not merely aware of hydrogen issues. You can trigger a pre-selected automatic response instantly.

Step 2: Building a Safer and Smarter Site

Integrating the SBS-H2 into a DPS monitoring system (generally with NetGuardian RTUs, but also with related devices) extends far beyond only detecting hydrogen.

Environmental Monitoring

Alongside hydrogen detection, NetGuardian RTUs can watch temperature, humidity, and even airflow for a complete snapshot of site conditions.

Power System Management

By adding a DPS Remote Power Switch (like the RPS AB6 G6), you can reboot or turn off critical systems if alarms escalate.

Access Control

DPS's Building Access System (BAS) also integrates with T/Mon (see Step 3), giving you a single interface to track and log who's coming and going.

When you have all your alarms in one place, you spot risks sooner and respond without delay.

Step 3: Comprehensive Monitoring with T/Mon

While the SBS-H2 does a great job at monitoring hydrogen levels, adding T/Mon to the mix gives you full network-wide visibility.

• Unified Interface: Via NetGuardian RTUs, T/Mon gathers hydrogen alarms from the SBS-H2 plus any other sensors you have (temperature, motion, etc.) all in one console.
• Alarm Prioritization: You can flag hydrogen alarms as top priority, making sure they grab your attention fast. Lower-level issues will get logged for later (ex. to be fixed later, or for PDF history reports).
• Historical Data: T/Mon keeps event logs so you can track trends over time and improve your safety protocols.

With T/Mon, you eliminate the guesswork and shuffle of multiple monitoring tools.

Step 4: Leveraging Early-Warning and Escalation Systems

A big advantage of the SBS-H2 is that it provides distinct early warnings and critical alarms at different hydrogen concentration thresholds. When paired with DPS monitoring gear, you can turn these alerts into actionable events with minimal delay.

• 1% Warning Relay: When the SBS-H2 senses a 1% hydrogen concentration, it flips its first-stage relay. You could use this to start a fan, feed an alert through a NetGuardian RTU, or log the event as a potential hazard for further tracking. You can also use Derived Controls to both route the alarm into the NetGuardian and also trigger a relay closure to another device.
• 2% Alarm Relay: At 2%, a second relay triggers a loud alarm and flashing lights. If reported up to T/Mon, this alarm can be flagged as high-priority, ensuring it pops up immediately on an operator's dashboard.
• Custom Escalation: Alarms can be routed based on urgency. For example, early warnings might go to maintenance staff, while critical alarms go straight to your safety team.

This layered notification strategy makes sure the right people respond at the right time, cutting down on delays and reducing the risk of serious incidents.

Step 5: Enhancing Site Visibility and Predictive Maintenance

Linking your SBS-H2 with NetGuardian RTUs and T/Mon doesn't just boost safety - it also opens up opportunities for smarter, more proactive maintenance.

• Trend Analysis: T/Mon keeps a record of every SBS-H2 event, helping you spot recurring 1% alarms that might indicate battery issues or limited ventilation.
• Integrated Monitoring: Combine hydrogen readings with other site data (like temperature, humidity, or battery voltages) for a single, complete view of equipment health. This predictive approach helps you stop problems early - before they escalate.
• Proactive Alerts: NetGuardian's advanced filtering options let you detect and respond to gradual trends, so you can schedule service calls long before they become emergencies.

By weaving hydrogen detection into a cohesive monitoring strategy, you gain the insights you need to optimize site performance and avoid costly downtime.

Step 6: Scaling Your Monitoring System for Future Needs

DPS Telecom's solutions are built to grow with you, ensuring your hydrogen detection and overall monitoring infrastructure can expand as your requirements evolve.

• Adding More Sensors: The SBS-H2 can support up to three sensors per unit for multiple monitoring points at a single site. NetGuardian RTUs have the capacity to handle these inputs - and more - without needing an entirely new setup.
• Expanding Site Coverage: As your network spreads out to more locations, it's easy to add extra NetGuardians and T/Mon units. Whether you're running a handful of sites or a global operation, DPS gear will scale with you.
• Future-Proof Protocols: T/Mon works with a variety of protocols - from legacy toDNP3 to MODBUS to SNMPv3 - so you can blend older devices with new tech in one unified system.

With this flexibility, you can tackle today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities, all while keeping hydrogen safety front and center.

Why Choose DPS for Integration?

• Proven Reliability: DPS gear is built for tough environments and tested to ensure a long service life.
• Customizable Solutions: Whether you're setting up a small site or a huge network, DPS can adapt to your exact requirements.
• Seamless Integration: Though SBS doesn't specifically endorse DPS, the SBS-H2 pairs smoothly with NetGuardian RTUs thanks to its standard outputs.

Take Action: Protect Your Sites Today

Don't wait for an emergency (or an explosion!) to reveal a hidden hydrogen problem. By pairing the SBS-H2 Hydrogen Gas Detector with a DPS monitoring ecosystem, you'll tackle hydrogen threats proactively. You'll also gain broader site visibility while you're at it.

If you're ready to put a digital safety net around your battery rooms, call DPS Telecom at 800-622-3314 or email sales@dpstele.com to talk about your project specs with an engineer.

Together, we'll create a hydrogen-monitoring solution that keeps both your site and your team out of harm's way.