Can smokes go on zone expanders?

[IVB]

I know you guys have followed this thread, thanks for that. I've done another series of tests tonight; i'm missing something blindingly obvious, as I cannot figure out how to get my 4-wire Firewolf smokes to work on an expander. The Elk immediately reports an alarm.

Here's what I did, any guidance or confirmation that a smoke detector can indeed go on an expander zone would be helpdful.

Note: I used the ElkRP status button to tell me what the various voltages were, as it was much faster than using a multimeter. I'm happy to repeat all of these tests using a multimeter if you feel you want confirmation of the readings.

With only keypad & expander hanging directly off Elk, no data bus hub retrofit, or sensors of any sort hooked up:

1) Confirm proper resistance across RS485 bus, ie do I have the right # of terminators. 67ohms, within range specified by spanky
2) Determine smoke detector voltage on normal (7V), alarm mode (0V), just EOL on zone (7V).
3) Put smoke on mainzone 9, "enabled" zone to type 12 (fire supervisory). works fine. Measures 7V on normal, 0V on alarm
4) Put smoke on expander zone 17. Didn't "enable" the zone, elk sees 7V. "enabled" via ElkRP to a type 12 (fire supervisory), elk still sees 7V but immediately reports alarm
5) Put smoke on expander zone 17. but this time I "enabled" via ElkRP to a type 10 (fire alarm), acknowledged alert, reset smoke, still reports alarm.
6) put EOL on expander zone 19, reads 7V. "enabled" zone to a type 12(fire supervisory), elk reports alarm.
7) Added a motion detector to expander zone 21, works fine. Set to 04(burglar interior), 3-EOL Supervised on short.

So at this point, i believe i've confirmed that the expander works fine as a motion on it works, the smoke works fine as it works on the mainboard.

Can I, and how can I, get the smoke working on the expander?

 

[Spanky]

Have you enrolled the input expander?

You should be using definition 10, Fire Alarm. Fire supervisory is for fire gate valves.

If you put a 2200 ohm resistor across the zone terminals, it should not show alarm.

I tested the fire alarm on a zone expander here at my desk and it works OK.

Try moving to zone 32 and see if you get the same results.

You might try re-downloading the software in the input expander, else a problem on the input expander.

 

[IVB]

Have you enrolled the input expander?

You should be using definition 10, Fire Alarm. Fire supervisory is for fire gate valves.

If you put a 2200 ohm resistor across the zone terminals, it should not show alarm.

I tested the fire alarm on a zone expander here at my desk and it works OK.

Try moving to zone 32 and see if you get the same results.

You might try re-downloading the software in the input expander, else a problem on the input expander.

Thank you very much for the very rapid response.

I tried everything you advised except for the software download, i'll try that tonight. It still shows alarm. I also have 2 other expanders, the odds of all 3 being bad are slim, so hopefully one of them will work.

 

[Spanky]

Another thing to try to determine where the problem might be.

Default the EEProm in the M1 control using keypad installer menu 07, G45, 99.

After defaulting the control, reload your settings using ELKRP.

 

[IVB]

Another thing to try to determine where the problem might be.

Default the EEProm in the M1 control using keypad installer menu 07, G45, 99.

After defaulting the control, reload your settings using ELKRP.

Mr. Spanky, super-genius!!!

Thanks SO MUCH! The reset of the EEPROM did the trick. This now works! Well, using an EOL resistor anyway. I'm still having issues using an actual smoke detector, but given that they're both showing the same voltage at the Elk [7.3V], this is likely a user error thing.

Ok, i'm off to get this to work using a real smoke detector. I'm only going to put in a few more minutes tonight, my brain has already absorbed my daily quota of info.

Thanks again.

 

[IVB]

It works using a smoke!! I had to acknowledge the fire alarm on the keypad, then it all resumed normal. Now the status in ElkRP is happy.

And now my brain is really full, maybe i'll go watch The Chronicles of Riddick again. That was nice and mindless.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Spanky]

IVB,
Interesting, good information.

Thanks for the feedback.