Signals
Q. The strobe does not flash but horn is working fine.
A. Check the input voltage. If input voltage is pulsing, the strobe will
not work. The strobe needs a steady power source. No Gentex Fire Protection Products will work on a pulsing or coded circuit.
Q. What candela rating is a 15/75?
A. 75cd as measured by UL1638 on-axis and 15cd as measured by
UL1971 where specific candela is required by each viewing angle.
Q. Does Gentex manufacture an addressable signaling appliance?
A. No.
Q. Does Gentex manufacture an explosion proof product?
A. No, contact Commercial Products at 1-800-521-8219
Q. Strobes are flashing slowly, horns are working fine.
A. Power supply is resetting….it takes 2 seconds once power is applied
for the strobes to flash and the power supply is resetting before
the 2 seconds. To troubleshoot: cut loop in half or take all the
units off and start adding one back on at a time until the problem
starts again.
Q. What does the term “Anechoic Chamber” mean?
A. It means a room with walls that completely absorb sound. It is often used to provide standardized measurement conditions for audio devices. A bedroom with a lot of drapes and soft furnishings approaches this condition. The room is often referred to as “dead”.
Q. What does the term “Reverberant Chamber” mean?
A. It means a room with walls that completely reflect sound. It is often used to provide standardized measurement conditions for audio devices. A restroom with hard tiles and surfaces approaches this condition. The room is often referred to as “live”.
Q. Who determines the end of line resistor value?
A. It is determined by the panel manufacturer.
Q. What are the ADA requirements for sleeping area?
A. ADA requires a minimum of 110 candela in a sleeping area when mounted less than 24” from the ceiling (177cd more than 24" from ceiling) and
75 candela in non-sleeping areas.
Q. How do you calculate how many strobes and horn strobes you can use?
A. Example – using a 3 amp circuit (3.00 which Gentex synchronization module is rated for) and unit that draws 87mA: 3/0.087 = 34.48 or
34 units. If a NAC panel is being used, figure the calculations with a 2 amp circuit.
Q. How can the horn and strobe be isolated on a Gentex horn/strobe unit; functioning only the strobe portion of the unit?
A. Wire in through the S+ and S- and place switch 1 and 2 in the OFF position. This will isolate the horn and strobe.
Q. Where are Gentex signaling devices manufactured?
A. Gentex signaling devices are assembled in Zeeland, Michigan USA
Synchronization Modules
Q. How many circuits can you have on the AVS module?
A. Two class B circuits or one class A circuit.
Q. How many modules can you sync together?
A. There is no limitation to how many modules you wire together.
Q. Will the Gentex sync module work with other manufacturer’s
devices?
A. No, our module works only with our devices.
Q. Does the module come with a backbox?
A. Yes.
Q. Can the AVS module sync thru a power supply?
A. No, The module is design to go between the power supply and
signals.
Q. How do you wire master and slave modules together?
A. Go from the master module positive output 1 and negative 1 to the
sync positive and negative on the slave modules (reference drawing 6B on AVS Data Sheet).
Q. How do you silence the horns while the strobes are still flashing
using the module?
A. Go from your NAC circuit on the panel to H+ H- on the module and
remove the jumper. This will be your silencing circuit.
Q. What type of power is to be applied to a synchronization module?
A. A steady DC power is to be applied, without any other protocol (including temporal 3).
Smoke Alarms
Q. How many Gentex smoke alarms can be wired in tandem?
A. Up to 12 smoke alarms without contacts can be interconnected and up to 6 smoke alarms with contacts can be interconnected. Smoke alarms with and without relay contacts may also be interconnected (example: 9 smoke alarms without contacts may be interconnected with up to 3 smoke alarms with contacts).
Q. When using smoke alarms with relay contact, why are 6 in tandem the limit?
A. The 7th alarm may not alarm due to the voltage drop in the tandem line. The contacts pull the voltage.
Q. Does Gentex have a trouble relay for loss of power?
A. No. If power is lost, the relays will not transfer. Relays will only transfer if detector goes into alarm.
Q. What is the difference between integral thermal and isolated thermal?
A. Integral thermal (T) = the detector itself will go into alarm when it reaches determined heat.
On the (TF) models, when thermal is activated it will activate the sounder and the relay
contacts. The integral heat sensor activates the smoke alarm and cannot connect into a
panel or annunciator.
Isolated thermal (H) = two wires directly in back of unit that you connect into a panel or
annunciator and when heat temperature is met it will set the panel or annunciator into alarm.
On the (HF) models, the heat thermal will activate whatever is wired to it. Isolated thermal/sensor is isolated from the smoke alarm, therefore horn
will not sound.
Q. Does Gentex have a supervised relay?
A. No.
Q. What is the voltage on the tandem wire of Gentex smoke alarms?
A. When activated 9.5 volts and no voltage in the standby mode.
Q. If the smoke alarm loses power will the relays and tandem line work on battery back up?
A. Yes
Q. Can a 24VDC horn, horn/strobe, or strobe be connected from the relay contact?
A. Yes, will need to run a 24VDC power supply to the relay contact.
Q. Are the contacts dry contacts?
A. Both contacts are dry contacts and have no voltage.
Q. How often should the 9VDC battery on the Gentex 9120 and 7109 smoke alarm series be replaced?
A. Recommended replacement of the 9VDC battery once a year; or when the unit chirps.
Q. Does Gentex manufacture a trouble contact?
A. No, Gentex does not manufacture a trouble contact.
Q. Can the smoke alarm detect cigarette smoke?
A. No. Contact Voice Products at 1-216-360-0433.
Q. How do you connect a GXS120 strobe to the 7100F/9120F, 710/7109CS?
A. Follow technical bulletin #9.
Q. What is the difference between the 710/7109CS and the 710/7109CSX?
A. The CSX allows you to trip the strobe only from the fire alarm panel.
Q. How do you test the smoke alarms with the heat thermals?
A. Use a hair dryer or a soldering iron.
Q. What is the frequency on the smoke alarms?
A. The piezo is 3100Hz.
Q. What is the smoke alarm housing made of?
A. The round 7000/8000/9000 Series alarms are made of flame resistant PVC. The square 7100 Series are made of flame resistant Noryl. The GN Series are made of flame resistant ABS.
Q. When the smoke alarms are hooked in tandem, how can you tell which one is initiating?
A. The red light will be pulsing on the smoke alarm that initially went into alarm.
Q. What size area does a Gentex smoke alarm cover?
A. 30' X 30' space. Refer to NFPA 72-2007, Section 5.7.3.2.3.1
Q. Where are Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors manufactured?
A. Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors are assembled in Zeeland, Michigan, USA
Q. How should Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors be disposed of?
A. Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors are photoelectric type and do not contain any radioactive materials. The smoke alarms and smoke detectors should be recycled if facilities are available in your area.
Q. When turning the test knob to Test 1, will the contacts change states?
A. Yes.
Q. Are Gentex single/multiple station smoke alarms always non-latching (self-restoring)?
A. Yes. Per UL 217, all single/multiple station smoke alarms are to be non-latching (self-restoring) devices.
Q. Will a lithium battery work on Gentex Series smoke alarms with battery back-up?
A. No. The UL approved battery for Gentex Series smoke alarms with battery back-up is the Duracell MN 1604 battery.
Q. Why is it recommended that Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors be replaced every ten years?
A. Gentex products are in compliance with NFPA codes. Per NFPA 72, 2007 Chapter 11.8.1.4 (5) (b) “Smoke alarms installed in one and two family dwellings shall not remain in service longer than 10 years from the date of manufacture.”
System Detectors
Q. Can you use the Gentex 8000 series as a stand alone unit?
A. 8000 series is not classified as a stand alone unit. The unit will need to hook into a
panel or a power supply. When using the system detectors for releasing services, the unit does not have to hook up to a panel (Ex. Elevator recall
and door holders).
Q. Can the 8240 series be hooked in tandem?
A. 8240 series does not have tandem capabilities, however if the panel has a
reverse polarity feature then all of the smoke detectors will sound. Reference
technical bulletin # 1.
Q. How do the 8000 series latching detectors reset.
A. The only way to reset the latching detectors is to physically drop power to unit.
Q. If hooking up the 8240 series smoke detector into a fire alarm panel and someone removes the head of the detector will it put the panel into trouble?
A. Yes. Anytime the loop is broken it will cause a trouble.
Q. What does reverse/local piezo mean?
A. Piezo will alarm locally, reverse voltage at the control panel to sound all horns on the circuit.
Q. If we need the contact to close upon alarm, which contact wire do we use?
A. You will use a normally open contact, violet and violet/black or the blue and orange wire.
Q. If we need the contact to open upon alarm, which contact wire do we use?
A. You will use a normally closed contact, the orange and yellow wire.
Q. Since the 8000 series smoke alarms do not have the tandem connection, is it okay to mix them with other manufacturers in a series on a panel?
A. Yes because the 8000 series is a 4 wire detector and does not receive its power from an initiating circuit.
Q. Does Gentex have a single pull, double throw contact?
A. Yes, the form C accessory contact.
Q. Are the contacts dry contacts?
A. Both contacts are dry contacts and have no voltage.
Q. What type of end of line resistor is needed on the 8000 series smoke alarms?
A. This information needs to come from the panel manufacturer.
Q. Where are Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors manufactured?
A. Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors are assembled in Zeeland, Michigan, USA
Q. How should Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors be disposed of?
A. Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors are photoelectric type and do not contain any radioactive materials. The smoke alarms and smoke detectors should be recycled if facilities are available in your area.
Q. When turning the test knob to Test 1, will the contacts change states?
A. Yes.
Q. Why is it recommended that Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors be replaced every ten years?
A. Gentex products are in compliance with NFPA codes. Per NFPA 72, 2007 Chapter 11.8.1.4 (5) (b) “Smoke alarms installed in one and two family dwellings shall not remain in service longer than 10 years from the date of manufacture.”
|
