scotsman said:
OK I get it. Thanks! I was going to use the built in output relay on the elk P212S supervised remote power supply, following the manual:
Output "B" Functionality:
The local "Output B" relay is free to be used as a programmable output when the P212S is used in M1 mode. In other words, in the M1 mode this relay does not represent or follow the Low Battery or Battery condition. It can be used by the M1 Rules Programming for nearly any application imaginable. Some examples of its use are:
- For resetting (breaking) power to a latching detector. This can easily be done by series wiring either the POS or NEG power lead powering the detector through the contacts of Output B.
So any way around the trouble condition on the M1 this would create?
Although the P212S manual says that Output B can be used to reset latching detectors, I guess I'd have to say that that doesn't apply to smoke detectors.
Smokes need to be reset in a coordinated manner with the alarm panel. The panel needs to know that the smokes are going to lose power and that the trouble condition that results should be ignored. That's why there is the special "smoke reset" command on the M1.
I can't think of a way to reset the smokes that won't cause a trouble condition that doesn't use SAUX in some manner.
Unfortunately, the M1 doesn't have a rule that would allow you to write something along the lines of
Whenever SAUX turns off,
Then turn on Output xxx (Output B)
A kludgy way to accomplish this would be to connect a relay to SAUX back at the M1, and then connect the relay contacts to a spare zone input on the M1. Then write rules along the lines of
Whenever Zone xxx becomes secure (zone xxx is connected to the SAUX relay)
Then Turn Output yyy On (yyy is Output B)
Whenever Zone xxx becomes not secure
Then Turn Output yyy Off
I'm not sure this would really work, as delays in the processing of the rules might prevent the power interruption to the smokes from overlapping exactly with the interruption in SAUX power.
Another thought is that since you have a Cat5 cable to the back house that connects to the zone expander, you might try using the spare conductors in the cable to carry SAUX out there and drive a 924 relay to cut power to the smokes.