GRI 4561 Tilt Sensor
The GRI 4561 is a compact tilt sensor designed to detect physical movement or removal of equipment, artwork, museum pieces, and other valuables. The 4561 triggers an alarm when tilted or displaced by approximately 13.3 mm, making it effective for tamper detection on stationary equipment and high-value assets where unauthorized repositioning must be caught immediately.
Key Features
- Miniature Form Factor: Measuring 2.0 inches × 0.75 inches, the 4561 fits discreetly on or near equipment without drawing attention — important when you need covert monitoring of museum displays, server cabinets, or art installations where visible sensors might compromise aesthetics or create liability questions.
- 13.3 mm Sensitivity Threshold: Detects movement beyond minor vibration or settling — distinguishes accidental shifts from deliberate tampering or removal attempts, reducing false alarms in environments with normal foot traffic or HVAC vibration.
- Dual Deployment Scenarios: Works equally on museum pieces and paintings as well as computer equipment, televisions, and other valuables in hotels and institutional settings — same sensor handles both high-security art conservation and equipment anti-theft applications without reconfiguration.
- 60VAC Maximum Switching Voltage: Rated for 60VAC at 25A switching current, allowing the 4561 to integrate directly into conventional alarm panel circuits without additional isolation relays or voltage step-down modules — simplifies wiring on standard commercial security infrastructure.
- Reliable Mechanical Design: Built for consistent, repeatable operation across temperature and humidity ranges typical of indoor commercial environments — no recalibration needed after deployment.
- One-Year Warranty: Covers workmanship, materials, and factory defects — standard industry coverage for security sensors in this class.
Deployment Considerations
Mount the 4561 on the object itself or on an adjacent surface so that any unauthorized movement immediately breaks the switch contact. In high-vibration environments (proximity to loading docks, building HVAC), test threshold sensitivity during commissioning to avoid nuisance alarms. The 13.3 mm threshold is fixed; if you need detection at smaller displacement or require wireless reporting, evaluate alternative sensors in the GRI catalog.
The 4561 integrates with standard hardwired alarm panels supporting normally-open or normally-closed contact closures. Verify your panel's relay input impedance matches the switch rating before final installation.
Integration & Compatibility
Works with any security control panel or alarm relay module that accepts dry contact switch inputs. No special wiring or protocol support required — treat the 4561 as a simple mechanical switch. Pair with adhesive or screw-mount brackets for flexible positioning on curved or flat surfaces.
When to Choose a Different Model
If you need wireless connectivity, remote status reporting, or lower detection thresholds below 13.3 mm, explore alternative sensor designs. If your application involves extreme temperature swings (outdoor unheated storage), verify operating range specifications before commitment.
Why This Matters
The 4561 fills a specific, cost-effective role in tamper detection: simple, reliable, and transparent to your existing alarm infrastructure. It does not require power supplies, network integration, or specialized firmware — reducing complexity and maintenance overhead in security systems where straightforward mechanical sensors outperform over-engineered alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What voltage and current can the GRI 4561 switch?
A: The 4561 is rated for 60VAC maximum at 25A switching current. Use it on standard alarm panel relay circuits; do not exceed these limits.
Q: How sensitive is the 13.3 mm threshold?
A: The sensor detects tilt or displacement of approximately 13.3 mm from its resting position. This threshold is fixed and non-adjustable; it is designed to catch deliberate movement while ignoring minor vibration or settling.
Q: Can the GRI 4561 be used outdoors?
A: The 4561 is intended for indoor use on equipment, artwork, and valuables in climate-controlled spaces such as museums, hotels, and server rooms. Extreme temperature or moisture exposure may affect reliability — verify operating conditions match your deployment environment.
Q: Does the 4561 include mounting hardware?
A: The 4561 ships as a sensor unit. Mounting brackets or adhesive pads are typically sourced separately depending on your installation surface (wood, metal, painted surfaces, etc.).
Q: What is the warranty?
A: The GRI 4561 includes a one-year warranty against workmanship, material, and factory defects. Consult the manufacturer for claim procedures and coverage exclusions.
Q: How do I integrate the 4561 into my existing alarm panel?
A: Wire the 4561 as a simple dry-contact switch to your panel's input terminals (normally-open or normally-closed configuration depending on your panel logic). No special configuration is required — treat it as a standard switch input.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The GRI 4561 is a workhorse sensor for any security system where detecting physical displacement of high-value assets is non-negotiable. Its 13.3 mm sensitivity threshold sits in the sweet spot — sensitive enough to catch deliberate tampering or removal, but insensitive enough to ignore vibration noise and minor settling that plague overly aggressive sensors.
Technical Highlights:
- 60VAC / 25A Rating: Integrates directly into standard alarm panel relay circuits without intermediate isolation. This eliminates a layer of wiring complexity and potential failure points.
- 13.3 mm Fixed Threshold: Non-adjustable detection at 13.3 mm displacement filters out false alarms from HVAC vibration, foot traffic, and minor equipment settling, while remaining responsive to intentional movement.
- Miniature 2.0" × 0.75" Profile: Small enough to hide on museum displays or server cabinets without calling attention to the security infrastructure. Critical for institutions where visible sensors undermine the visitor experience or create liability exposure.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 4561 is a mechanical switch with no adjustability — if your environment needs detection below 13.3 mm or requires remote reporting, you'll need to spec a different product family.
- Mount securely on the asset or adjacent surface. Loose mounting defeats the purpose; confirm adhesive or fasteners can support the expected load and vibration without shifting during installation.
Deploy the 4561 on museum pieces, high-value paintings, server cabinets, or hotel electronics where a simple, cost-effective mechanical alarm is appropriate. Skip it if your application demands wireless connectivity, temperature monitoring, or adaptive sensitivity tuning.
