It’s very rare!

[Kamikaze]

It’s very rare I get beaten by a fault but today’s mini adventure has baffled me. A clients fire alarm system in a commercial property drops the coil supply’s after one minute to all the lighting contactors when some of the fire alarm break glass units are put into fault. Can’t find the interface between them anywhere but it must be connected to the bell circuit. If the system is put into an alarm with the bell circuits disconnected it doesn’t do it. Also, it doesn’t do it of all break glass units, just some of them. And to top it all off, no one knows why it works that way in the first place. Why would anyone want to lose all their lights during a fire alarm anyway?

 

[alarm man]

They all go into fire and all the bells ring regardless of which one I tested. Just the break glass by the front door and rear warehouse roller shutter door won’t trigger the dropping of the lighting contactors. The emergency lights are not affected because there is no interruption to their supply.

that is strange,that would keep me awake all night,so if those 2 mcps trip the panel and all happens as it should would rule out the panel for me,have you allowed a decent time between testing,might be a signal issue,tho the switching off the lights gets me,somethings wrong somewhere that shouldnt happen will cause more panic in a real fire,its not some kind of over ride that should bring all lights on instead of off is it,i could see the reasoning in that.

 

[Kamikaze]

Yeah, plenty of time given for ringing the bells. Everyone in the building can vouch for that…lol
I have given up thinking about it for tonight. It’s fried my tiny little mind.

 

[tazz]

not suprised its a strange one this, think the time delay is down to the smart controller, but other actions are baffling. Good first step as you said disconnect radio links...think thats the only way to start...good luck and keep us all informed,

 

[Simlec]

WEMSoutside sensor

Could be worth giving them a quick bell.

 

[Kamikaze]

Will do! Thanks for the link Sinlec. I was expecting some phone calls from the office about it today but nothing. Can’t wait to see how this turn out!

 

[tazz]

The info from Simlec was good it shows the fire alarm must be diectly wired to one of the many smart 4 controllers There also must be the main programmer fitted some where. Hopefully the link to the fire panel can easly isolated when found.