Introduction to the Texecom Micro Shock‑W (GHC-0001) and its key features
Texecom Premier Elite Micro Shock‑W (GHC-0001)is an ultra‑miniature Ricochet® wireless shock and vibration sensor engineered to detect forcible shocks and provide early warning of attempted intrusion through windows, doors and walls. Designed for professional installers and experienced DIYers, the Micro Shock‑W combines a high‑accuracy accelerometer, low‑power electronics and Texecom's Ricochet mesh wireless technology to deliver secure, reliable and discreet perimeter protection.
Key features at a glance:
- Ricochet mesh wireless technology for secure, encrypted and repeatable messaging.
- High‑accuracy accelerometer detection with five selectable sensitivity levels.
- Ultra‑compact form factor (approx. 57 × 27.5 × 8.2 mm) and lightweight (~15 g) for unobtrusive installation.
- LED‑assisted setup and one‑button commissioning for quick installation.
- Low power design using a single CR2450 coin cell with typical battery life around three years.
- Compliant with EN50131 Grade 2 alarm standards.
Detailed description of specifications and benefits
The Micro Shock‑W is engineered around a high‑accuracy accelerometer rather than older piezoelectric elements. This brings several technical and practical advantages: improved sensitivity across multiple substrate types, better discrimination between normal environmental vibration and genuine attack, and more consistent performance over the device lifetime.
Technical highlights and what they mean for you:
- Sensors & performance:The accelerometer provides five selectable sensitivity settings, allowing tuning for glass, frames, doors, concrete and other mounting surfaces. Installers can adapt detection thresholds to reduce false alarms while preserving fast, reliable detection of forced entry attempts.
- Wireless mesh (Ricochet):Ricochet mesh technology enables secure, encrypted and repeatable communications between devices and the Texecom Premier Elite receiver. Mesh repeat functionality improves signal resilience in buildings with complex layouts and reduces single‑point failure risk common to star network topologies.
- Power consumption:A single CR2450 coin cell powers the unit. With a quiescent current of around 14 µA and optimized sleep/active cycles, typical battery life is approximately three years under normal operating conditions — a balance of long service life and compact form factor.
- Standards & compliance:The Micro Shock‑W meets EN50131 standards (EN50131-2-8; EN50131-5-3; EN50131-1), classified as EN50131 Grade 2, Class II. This compliance means it is suitable for many residential and light commercial security applications where regulated alarm performance is required.
- Physical & environmental:At roughly 57 × 27.5 × 8.2 mm and about 15 g, the sensor is unobtrusive and easy to conceal. It operates from –10 °C to +55 °C and tolerates up to 95% relative humidity (non‑condensing), making it suitable for most indoor perimeter locations.
- Radio & regulatory considerations:Frequency variants are available for different regions (868 MHz and 433 MHz family variants). Maximum RF power is low (10 mW) and transmit duty cycle is controlled, complying with regional radio regulations. Installers should confirm the correct RF variant for local regulatory compliance.
- Discreet protection:Small size and weight allow placement in tight or hidden spaces on window frames and door surrounds without affecting aesthetics.
- Flexible sensitivity:Five sensitivity levels let installers tune detection to the specific glass type and mounting substrate, reducing nuisance alarms from normal vibrations like slamming doors or nearby traffic.
- Resilience and security:Ricochet mesh communications provide encrypted transmissions and message repeat capability for improved coverage and resistance to signal loss.
- Low maintenance:Long battery life and simple one‑button commissioning reduce visits for battery replacement and speed up system setup.
Use cases and scenarios where the Micro Shock‑W excels
The Micro Shock‑W is optimised for perimeter protection tasks where discr ete, accurate shock detection is required. Typical environments include:
- Residential windows and doors:Mounted to window frames or door jambs to detect forced entry attempts that begin with impact or levering. The compact footprint is ideal for maintaining a tidy domestic aesthetic.
- Retail shopfronts and display cases:Small sensors can be placed behind displays or on frames to detect smash‑and‑grab attempts, providing early warning before a full breach occurs.
- Heritage and listed properties:In settings where invasive wiring is undesirable, the Micro Shock‑W offers a minimally intrusive wireless option that protects vulnerable glazing without major fabric alterations.
- Supplementary protection for existing systems:As an accessory to Texecom Premier Elite systems, the Micro Shock‑W can complement magnetic contacts and glassbreak detectors to create layered detection — catching both impact attempts and subsequent full entry events.
- Areas with challenging radio environments:The Ricochet mesh protocol increases message repeatability and coverage in buildings with multiple rooms, thick walls or metal obstructions, improving reliability over single‑hop wireless sensors.
Comparisons with similar products on the market
When evaluating the Micro Shock‑W, it helps to consider how it compares with other shock detection options and wireless sensors:
- Accelerometer vs piezo sensors:Traditional piezoelectric shock sensors are simple and inexpensive, but accelerometer‑based devices like the Micro Shock‑W offer higher accuracy and better signal processing. Accelerometers deliver consistent sensitivity across different mounting surfaces and greater ability to discriminate between innocuous vibration and true attack signatures.
- Small form factor vs larger sensors:Many shock sensors are larger to accommodate batteries or additional electronics. The Texecom Micro Shock‑W’s compact size makes it more versatile for discreet mounting, though it sacrifices the extended battery capacity of larger units. For many perimeter uses, the tradeoff is favourable because the CR2450 still yields multi‑year battery life.
- Ricochet mesh vs proprietary point‑to‑hub radios:Mesh architectures like Ricochet increase resilience by allowing devices to route through neighbouring nodes. Point‑to‑hub systems can work well in simple layouts, but mesh generally offers better coverage in complex buildings and reduces single‑path dependency.
- Compared to glassbreak acoustic sensors:Acoustic glassbreak detectors listen for the sound signature of breaking glass and are effective at capturing full break events. Shock sensors provide an earlier detection phase by sensing the impact or stress on the glass or frame before breakage. Many systems use both technologies for layered detection.
Overall, the Micro Shock‑W’s combination of accelerometer accuracy, compact size and mesh wireless makes it a compelling choice where early, discreet detection is a priority.
Customer feedback and installer perspectives
While individual reviews vary by installer and site conditions, common themes from professional installers and informed end users include:
- Ease of installation:Installers frequently highlight the one‑button commissioning and LED‑assisted setup as time savers during field installations. The small footprint often simplifies placement in tight spaces.
- Reliable detection:Installers report good performance when sensitivity is properly tuned to the substrate, noting that the accelerometer provides consistent detection across different window and frame types.
- Battery life:The long battery life from a single CR2450 cell is praised for reducing maintenance visits. Users appreciate the balance between compact size and acceptable service intervals.
- Reduced false alarms:When set up correctly, the selectable sensitivities and signal processing reduce nuisance triggers from normal environmental vibrations, though correct site assessment remains important.
As with any sensitive detection device, careful siting and tuning are critical. Installer experience and adherence to the Texecom installation guidance typically determine success as much as the hardware itself.
Conclusion — why the Micro Shock‑W is a great choice
The Texecom Micro Shock‑W (GHC-0001) is a specialist perimeter protection sensor that blends advanced accelerometer detection, low power consumption and Ricochet mesh networking in an ultra‑compact package. It is particularly well suited to scenarios where discreet appearance, early impact detection and robust wireless communications are required.
For installers and system designers, its flexibility — five sensitivity levels, mesh repeat capability and adherence to EN50131 Grade 2 — makes it an adaptable tool for both residential and light commercial applications. For end users, the benefits are clear: timely detection of forced entry attempts with minimal visual impact and manageable maintenance overheads.
In summary, if you need a small, accurate and resilient wireless shock sensor for windows, doors or other perimeter elements — especially where concealment and reliable wireless coverage matter — the Texecom Micro Shock‑W is a well‑balanced and technically capable option.
