Biral BTD-300 Thunderstorm Detector
The Biral BTD-300 is a standalone thunderstorm detector with an 83 km (45 nm) detection range that identifies all forms of lightning — cloud-to-ground, cloud-to-cloud, and intra-cloud — and warns of the build-up of atmospheric electric charge before the first discharge occurs. The sensor meets EN 50536:2011 Class 1, IEC 62793 Class A, and FAA aerodrome performance requirements, with extremely low false-alarm rates thanks to its quasi-electrostatic operating principle. Riajati Sdn Bhd is an authorised reseller and integrator for Biral lightning detection in Malaysia and ASEAN.
Description
Overview
The BTD-300 Thunderstorm Detector is the workhorse mid-range sensor in Biral’s lightning detection family. It provides real-time detection and ranging of thunderstorm activity within 83 km (45 nm), and — uniquely among detectors in its class — it warns of the risk of overhead lightning before the first flash, by sensing the strong electric fields and electrically charged precipitation that accompany an approaching storm cell.
It is widely deployed at airports, golf courses, sports venues, oil & gas facilities, solar farms, schools and other open-air sites where evacuation lead-time matters.
How it works
The BTD-300 uses a quasi-electrostatic operating principle, measuring changes in the local atmospheric electric field in the 1–47 Hz band. Lightning flashes of all types and polarities are detected, ranged and logged within 2 seconds of initiation. Electric-field disturbances that indicate developing overhead storm activity produce an alert after 5 seconds of monitoring.
Because the sensor operates at low frequency, it is highly immune to radio interference — the main cause of false alarms in traditional standalone detectors. Mains-frequency noise (50/60 Hz and harmonics) is removed by analogue and digital filtering. The result is a sensor that detects more of the right events and far fewer of the wrong ones.
An optional Direction Finder module adds bearing information to range data, detecting electromagnetic emissions in the 3 kHz to 1 MHz band so each strike can be reported with both distance and direction.
Key features
- Detection of all lightning types — cloud-to-ground, cloud-to-cloud and intra-cloud
- 83 km (45 nm) detection range, exceeding US FAA requirements for aerodrome use
- Warns of overhead lightning risk before the first discharge by detecting strong electric fields and charged precipitation
- Highly immune to radio interference — very low false-alarm rate
- EN 50536:2011+A1:2012 Class 1 detector
- IEC 62793 Class A detector
- Ethernet or RS422 serial data output, ASCII-coded for easy integration
- Optional Direction Finder module for bearing-to-strike data
- Optional relay output module for direct switching of sounders, beacons or SCADA inputs
- Virtually maintenance-free
- Supplied with PC-compatible Lightning Works software for visualisation, control and data logging
Installations
The BTD-300 is deployed across Oil & Gas terminals, refineries, port and aviation facilities, solar PV power plants, golf courses, stadiums and educational campuses in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. See our full reference installation list →
Specifying the BTD-300?
Talk to our lightning systems team
Site assessment, supply, installation coordination, commissioning and ongoing support.
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