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About Loop Explorer and PC Requirements...About Loop Explorer and PC Requirements...
Loop Explorer is a package that allows users to design and create a configuration file for a network of control panels. Much like a browser, Loop Explorer allows users to easily configure any part of the network, using a navigational tree and a detail view. Loop Explorer also allows users to add cause and effect routines to the network, to connect and download to a panel or panels, and to interact with the system using a PC as a virtual panel.
Loop Explorer assumes you have basic Microsoft Windows® 98/2000/XP skills.
Loop Explorer is Not recommended for use with Windows ME or Windows NT 4, although the functionality of the program will not be affected. Loop Explorer should not be used with Windows 95.
PC Requirements -
PC with Pentium II 300 MHz or higher processor; Pentium III recommended
Microsoft Windows 98SE or later operating system; Windows 2000 or XP recommended
100 MB of available disk space
64 MB RAM
PS2 Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device and PS2 keyboard
CD ROM drive
VGA 256 color monitor. SVGA recommended @ 1024 X 768. Hardware acceleration minimized
Serial communication port that can be configured as COM 1 - 8
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The Loop Explorer screen has two main windows, the navigation tree on the left and the detail view on the right. The toolbar at the top allows the user to quickly carry out any action simply by clicking any one of the buttons. The navigation tree on the left allows you to expand and contract levels using the + and - boxes, situated to the left of the listed items. The detail view on the right reveals extra information not given in the tree such as location text, device type and zone. These cannot be changed from the detail view, they must be changed using the edit menus. Selecting the item from the table will expand that level. Or you may expand an item by clicking the expansion box (+) in the site tree. The menus at the top can be opened in the usual fashion. All of the toolbar options are also available in the menus. Toolbar options will be active or inactive according to what is selected in Loop Explorer.
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Navigating Loop Explorer has been simplified as much as possible. Users can design a site quickly, and change it with a minimum of effort. The navigation tree is just like the browser found in MS Windows Explorer. The detail view on the right of the explorer shows the detail of what is selected in the navigation tree, as described in the main screen and menus section above.
Selected items are highlighted in a block of color. The item that the mouse is currently above will change color and be underlined, but not selected. To select the item, click the left mouse button while the mouse is above the underlined item.
Different parts of Loop Explorer can be switched on or off by using the view menu. This includes hiding the toolbar and the status bar, and removing the grid lines from the detail view.
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You may expand or contract any level in the navigation tree by using the positive (+) and negative (-) boxes. To expand one level, click on the positive box next to the level you wish to expand. To contract a level, click on the negative box, which will contract that level and hide the detail. To completely expand or contract all items, select the very top level (the site name in the navigation tree) and use the right click option menu to select either Full Expand or Full Contract. You can also use the Explore menu, and access the expansion options from there. If you wish you can fully expand just one item by selecting that item and expanding it. This allows you to see the details of just one item, such as a panel or a loop.
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The basic FireNET 4127 control panel includes two SLC (Signaling Line Circuit) loops. Each loop is capable of supporting 127 analog addressable points (can be any combination of sensors and modules) for a total of 254 analog points on the basic panel. Two additional SLC loops can be added to the panel increasing the analog point capacity to 508. When analog sounder bases are used, the upper addresses 128 – 254 are allocated to increase loop capacity to 254 analog points. This doubles the analog point capacity of the panel. The combination of analog points derived from sensors, modules, and sounder bases cannot exceed 800 addresses and subaddresses maximum. Each FireNET panel is capable of covering a maximum of 500 zones. Any number of devices can be allocated to any zone ensuring that any system configuration can be easily accommodated. Up to 64 FireNET panels can be connected in a network configuration.
To ensure that the system is installed and programmed with a minimum of trouble, it should be carefully planned before beginning the installation. This involves allocating an address to each device and assigning a descriptive message of up to 40 characters (including spaces) to each address to assist in locating the device when activated. Devices should be grouped into zones in accordance with the appropriate fire detection systems design standard and building plans.
The FireNET control panel offers an extensive list of features and options for the control and monitoring of sensors, inputs, auxiliary equipment and notification appliances. The range of compatible devices includes the ALG-V photoelectric and AIE-EA ionization smoke sensors, the ATG-EA heat sensor, FRCME and DIMM input monitors, the R2M dual relay module, and the SOM supervised output module. Interfaces to conventional detection systems can be accomplished by using the CZM Conventional Zone Module. Analog duct detectors are available, as well as an Analog Sounder Base (ASB). The system can be configured by using Loop Explorer or by using the front panel controls; however, the full power and flexibilty of FireNET is unlocked by using Loop Explorer.
Each loop offers an addressing range from 1 to 127. Some devices, such as the dual input monitor module and supervised output module, have "Sub-addresses" in addition to their main address. Each panel can have up to 800 addresses maximum, including "Sub-addresses". For example, a dual input monitor module may have a main address of 123, input 1 sub-address 123.1 and input 2 sub-address 123.2. (three addresses from 800 available per panel). Each sub-address is treated as an individual address i.e. each can given individual location text and be operated on by different cause and effect tables. Loop Explorer maintains a count of how many devices and sub addresses are used on each panel. For details please see Configure Panel Settings.
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This tool allows you to quickly assign zone and location text to SLC loop devices. To use Quick Config, click on a panel in the navigation tree, and then click on Q Config in the toolbar. Quick Config opens up a table that shows every SLC device on each loop and allows you to edit the zone number and location text for each device shown. You can change which panel Quick Config is viewing by using the Panel Selection Box. You will be prompted to save your changes before the next panel can be edited.
You may sort the devices in each loop by Address, Device Type, Sub Type, Zone and Location Text. To view a loop, select it by clicking on the tab. To sort the devices in a specific order, click the Sort menu and select from the available options.
You may fill multiple zone or location text boxes by clicking the cell containing the desired text you wish to fill other cells with. Hold the Shift key, and press the down arrow key until you reach the end box. Release all of the keys and use the mouse to click on the toolbar option Fill. Other options like Cut, Copy, and Paste, may also be used in Quick Config.
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Zone Manager/Alarm Verification
Zone Manager is a tool used for quickly viewing all panel and loop devices mapped to a zone, and for quickly assigning devices to zones.
You can access Zone Manager by using the toolbar or the Edit menu. The List on the left shows Zones 0 - 500. The highlighted icons represent zones that contain at least one device, where the shaded icons indicate zones that currently have no devices assigned to them. Select a panel, then click on one of the highlighted zone icons to view the contents of the zone. You can select one or more items, then drag and drop them to any zone you wish. This will remove the device icon from the view on the right, as it has been moved to the new zone. You can select multiple items by holding Ctrl on the keyboard and clicking on the items.
The Alarm Verification feature is also enabled from this menu on a per zone basis. To enable Alarm Verification, check the Verify box for that zone.
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This option allows you to upload or download a program configuration to a chosen panel or panels. The programming cable plugs into a COM port on the PC, and the other end connects to the PC connector (J5) on the FireNET panel or network annunciator. Be sure to select the correct COM port in the FireNET Application Options screen(File/Options). The default is COM 1.
Click the Connect icon on the tool bar or click File/P.C. Connect. Loop Explorer will search the panel network for attached panels and network annunciators. Wait until Loop Explorer has searched all 64 possible nodes. You will then see the PC connection window, with a list of all connected panels and annunciators. From here you have several options -
- The Transfer tab allows you to send or receive data from any or all nodes on the network. The panels and annunciators on the network are shown as a list. Depending on the time stamp information (Modified) of both, Loop Explorer will suggest a transfer from PC to panel, or panel to PC. This is can be changed by highlighting a panel or annunciator, and clicking Change on the toolbar above the PC connect detail view. Select a panel by clicking the check box next to the panel name or clicking Tag on the toolbar. Click Synchronize to activate the selected changes. This will upload or download a P.C Config according to the orientation of change, indicated by the arrow in between the Modified heading, and Panel Network.
- Click on Full Compare to compare the data in Loop Explorer to the data in the FireNET panel. If both are the same, you will see an equal (=) sign between P.C. Config and Panel Network. If they are not the same, Loop Explorer will suggest a transfer based on the time stamp information. You can change the transfer direction by clicking Change on the toolbar.
- Click on Synchronize Time to set the connected panel, and all panels and annunciators in the network to the current PC system time.
- The Event Log screen gives you the ability to upload history from a panel and view it on your computer. Select the panel address and click on Fetch to get the log. The PC will display the log from the panel. You may also Save and Print the data.
- Sensors on the loop have an analog value, which relate to the condition of the sensor. This value can be viewed by using the Analog Values window. Choose a panel, then select a loop using the buttons. Click on Fetch to retrieve the values of all sensors on the chosen loop. It is possible to see the health status of an individual device by selecting a device from the list. A color bar will appear at the bottom of the screen that will show the calculated percentage of the sensor's health. As the sensor gets dirty over time, the bar will move from green to yellow, and finally to red, indicating that service is required.
- The Virtual Panel will replicate the display and controls of the selected panel. Choose a panel from the box, then click start to begin. You will be able to use all the buttons in the normal way.
- The Monitor Mode window allows you to monitor the chosen COM port for data, no matter what the data is. This is useful for seeing the ASCII events being sent from the connected panel, and viewing COM port activity.
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To Print Preview click File/Print Preview, or select the icon on the toolbar. Print preview will only preview the panel you select from Loop Explorer, but you may view any other panel in the preview window by selecting it from the list and clicking refresh. To quickly check all boxes, right click and select, Check All, then click Refresh, to view the entire configuration. The information about items like loops and devices will be displayed in a text table. Long names are replaced with key letter flags. You may select all of the text, by highlighting it or by using the Select All function in the right click menu or Toolbar. You can then copy this information onto the computers clipboard memory, and paste it into another application. You can also use the Copy to Notes icon to copy the configuration to the Notes Pane in the main Loop Explorer window. To print the document directly from Loop Explorer, click Print from the right click menu or from the Toolbar, or you can setup a printer from the File menu.
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You may save the project you are working on at any time by clicking the Save icon on the toolbar. This will save all changes you have made since your last save point. If you have never saved the particular project before now, it will prompt you to choose a filename and folder to be saved into. This can be done at any time, using the Save As option.
You may also set up Auto Save which will save the project to whatever time frame is specified. Saving will not be done if the PC connect screen is open. See Com Port/Project Folder/PC Speed/Splash Screen for details on how to enable Auto Save.
The Save option will only become available if you make changes, otherwise it will be inactive. By clicking Save, you will overwrite the current project file, and replace it with the new configuration.
If you try to close a project without saving it, Loop Explorer will ask for confirmation. If you wish to open another project in its place, select close from the file menu, and click Open Network Project. Then select the project you want, as you may only have one project open at a time.
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The FireNET Flash Update utility is used to update the Flash ROM in the FireNET panel. This should only be done if the update is necessary. Hochiki recommends that the panel config be backed up prior to the upgrade. The file format to be downloaded into the panel must be the appropriate .BIN file. The COM port should be the physical port plugged into the PC, usually the same one used to Connect to a panel. Select Flash from the Tools menu and follow the instructions on the window. Be sure to completely test the panel after the upgrade to ensure that everything is functioning normally.
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If you wish to submit a comment to Hochiki about Loop Explorer, select Submit Comment/Bug Report from the Tools menu. This will open your default e-mail program, and create a message addressed to the Hochiki America technical support department. The title of the message will contain the version of Loop Explorer that you are using. Please be as detailed as possible with your message. When it is complete, send the message as you would any other e-mail.
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The C&E Summary will show all of the cause and effect entries in the project, and the total numbers of inputs and outputs. At the bottom of the window it will show you the totals for the project, and how close to the maximum number of entries your project is. It is also possible to add Cause and Effect entries from here, by clicking on the appropriate symbol. This will bring up the usual wizard to assist you with the setup. You may also copy or delete a cause and effect from here.
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Loop Explorer can create Loop Emulator Files for the Hochiki True Loop Emulator design tool. Right click on a panel and select Create Emulator File, or choose Create Loop Emulator File from the File menu. The devices from each loop will be inserted into the file ready for emulation.
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The Items/Notes/Web section at the bottom of the main screen has tabs along the left side that switch the content of the section from Items to Notes to Web view. In the Items view, a list of devices that can be added to the item currently selected in the Navagator pane is displayed. If the network is selected in the navagation pane, panels and annunciators will be available. If a loop is selected, loop devices will be available in the Items pane. You can double-click or drag and drop these items to your project. The Notes view provides a small amount of space to keep notes about the project. Basic word processing formatting tools are available in the toolbar that is displayed above the Notes section. If the formatting tools are not visible, you can display them by selecting Notes Toolbar from the View menu. The Web view allows you to connect to the Hochiki America web site to access application and technical support services.
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When you start Loop Explorer you will be presented with three options - Blank FireNet Network Project, Upload New Config from Panel, and Open Existing Project. If you wish to start a new FireNET project, select Blank FireNet Network Project, and click OK. If you wish to start a new FireNET project based on an installed system, select Upload New Config from Panel and click OK. In both cases you will be prompted to save the project. Select a suitable location, and give the project a meaningful name. This will save the project, and any further changes made to this project will automatically be saved to this file. If you selected Blank FireNet Network Project you will be presented with a blank project. If you selected Upload New Config from Panel, Loop Explorer will search for all panels connected to the PC, and allow you to receive the configuration from one or all of them. (See PC Connect)
To open an existing project, select Open an Existing Project, then select the project you wish to open by highlighting it on the list, or by clicking the Find button and browsing to the file location. Click OK to open the project. The displayed file format is .HSA, which is unique to Loop Explorer, and you will only see .HSA files in the directory you are viewing.
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When starting a new network project you will automatically be asked if you want to add a new panel by using the Panel Wizard. Click yes, and the panel wizard will start, or click No to directly edit the configuration settings of the new panel or annunciator. Adding another new panel to the configuration may be done in several different ways; by using the main menus, the toolbar, or right click menu.
Click on the Site in the navigation pane, then
Click File, New, New panel, or
Click New on the toolbar, or
Right click over the site in the Navigation pane, and click New Panel, or
Use the Items section at the bottom of the main screen.
The panel wizard will help you to add a panel to your network, and will setup many of the default values for you, which can then be later edited using the panel configuration screen.
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New devices can be added to the configuration in several different ways; by using the main menus, the toolbar, or right click menu.
Click on a loop in the navigation pane, then
Click File, New, New Device, or
Click New on the toolbar, or
Right click over the loop in the Navigation pane, and click New Device, or
Use the Items section to add a device. Double click or drag and drop to add the new device.
When using one of the first three choices above, Loop Explorer will open the Configure Device Settings window. In this window you can select a single device by highlighting it. Next select the address using the drop down box, and choose a zone. You can also select the quantity of devices you wish to add - this can speed up your programming. After making your choices click Add to add the device(s) to the loop. Continue by clicking on another device to add it, click Close when finished. You may edit the settings of each particular device after you have added it to the loop (See Configure Loop Devices).
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An Action message is the action related text displayed at the panel when the input is operated, such as Fire or Trouble. For some inputs the message is user definable e.g a Trouble input can indicate "Sprinkler" at the panel but can still carry out all the actions of a trouble. There are nine user-defined Action messages. Each Action message can be up to 15 characters in length.
To edit the Action messages select Action Messages from the Edit menu. You may also click on the toolbar icon for Action. It is also possible to edit the actions messages directly from an input settings screen. To edit an existing message, select it from the list and click edit, the message will appear in the edit box. You will now be able to edit that message. Click save to keep the new message. Now your custom action message will be available when editing the loop input devices.
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Deleting a component of your site is simple. Just select the item you wish to delete and click on delete in the toolbar or right click over the selected item and select Delete. Some items are permanent, and cannot be deleted, such as the complete Site. If one of these are selected, the Delete option on the toolbar and on the right click menu will be disabled. It will be enabled again once you select a removable item, such as a panel. If you try to delete a panel, or a loop when it still has devices attached to it, you will get an error message telling you to delete all of the devices attached to the loop first. Loop items must be deleted one at a time.
You will see a confirmation window when you delete a device. It will list all information that is associated with the device. Click Yes if you still want to delete it or click No to abort the deletion.
Complete Cause and Effect Actions, Disablements or Tests may be deleted by selecting them in the navigation tree, and selecting delete. Individual Cause and Effect entries may be deleted, unless it is the last item in the Cause or Effect table. The complete C&E can always be deleted. If a device is used in a Cause and Effect it can be deleted, unless it is the last item left in the C&E, in which case it cannot be deleted until removed from the C&E.
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There are several ways to edit the settings of a selected device or panel. First select the item you wish to edit then either click on the toolbar option Edit or right click over the item. Other options will be available on the right click menu too. These options will change depending on the item you have selected.
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Configure Panel Settings - Panel Data
To see and edit a panel or annunciator configuration, first select the node you wish to edit on the Navagator pane, then select Edit on the toolbar. You can also right click on the node and select Edit Settings. From the Panel Configuration Settings window you can change any of the options from their current settings. The options are listed below -
Name
The name of the panel/annunciator does not have to be unique and it may contain any characters. It is suggested that panels have meaningful names. If panels are not named they will be given the default name AUTOLEARN.
Address
The node number of a panel/annunciator on a multi-panel network. The address will be incremented every time you add a new node. It is possible to set the panel to any available address by using the drop down menu. The selected address must match the address setting of the network card in the FireNET panel or annunciator. Please see the FireNET Installation and Operation Manual for futher information on addressing the panel and annunciator.
Access Level 3 passcode
Installer-level access to operate all functions of a FireNET panel, including editing the configuration. To prevent unauthorized system programming, change the level 3 passcode from the default. Both the level 2 and level 3 codes can only be changed by using Loop Explorer. The code must be 5 digits in length. Each node can have a unique level 3 access code, or the code can be the same as other nodes.
Access Level 2 passcode
Intermediate access to operate commonly used functions of a FireNET panel, such as silencing an alarm, and reseting the panel. The level 2 access code must be 5 digits in length, and can only be changed using Loop Explorer. Each node can have the same or different level 2 access codes.
Number of Loops
The panel can have 2 or 4 loops. If you increase the number of loops from 2 to 4, you must install a FN-4127-SLC dual loop expander card in the panel. You may not decrease the number of loops unless the loops to be removed have no devices attached to them. This selection does not apply to network annunciators.
General Alarm
There are three options for General Alarm:
Common Alarm - All outputs operate continuously regardless
of which zone they are in.
Zonal Alarm - This allows for input and output mapping based on zone. Only outputs in the same zone as the input which caused the alarm will operate.
2 Stage Alarm - Outputs that are in the same zone as the input which caused the alarm will operate continuously. Outputs in all other zones will pulse 1 second on - 1 second off.
The factory default setting for General Alarm is Common.
Note: Panel outputs mapped to zone 0 (none) will operate as Common Alarm, regardless of the General Alarm setting.
Pattern
This allows you to select the ringing pattern for the on-board notification appliance circuits. Available options are Off, Continuous (Steady), Temporal, and March Code. This setting does not apply to network annunciators.
Graphics System
If a Graphics system is installed check this box. (Reserved Feature)
Panel Text
Panel Text is the idle text that is displayed on the panel when there are no active events displayed on the LCD.
Loop Offset
The loop offset option, when selected, will offset all loop numbers by the total of the previous loop count. This allows for sequential loop numbering on your FireNET project. The changes to the loop numbering will be shown in the navigation pane, and all other places where loop numbers are seen throughout the program. For example, if a network had three four-loop panels at address 1, 2 and 3, panels 2 and 3 can use the Loop Offset feature. These loops will now be numbered 5,6,7,8 for panel 2, and 9,10,11,12 for panel 3. This setting does not apply to network annunciators.
Sub Addresses
This box displays the total number of actual devices installed on a panel, and the number of sub addresses in use by these devices. Each panel will support up to 800 sub addresses.
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Configure Panel Settings - Times
Day/Night Sensitivity Time Settings
While in the Configure Panel Settings screen, you can click on the tab labeled Times to reveal the Set Day/Night Time settings. All the default Day times are set to 8:00 for the start time and 18:00 (6:00pm) for the end time. From 08:00 to 18:00, the panel will use the Day sensitivity setting assigned to each sensor. The Night time is the time between the day stop and start times (18:00 to 08:00). You may change these times for each day in increments of whole minutes. If you make the start and end time the same you will receive an error message. Click on an up or down arrow to change the hours and minutes.
Daily Calibration Time
This is the time each day that the sensors are calibrated. Calibration time can only be set in increments of 30 mins. It is recommended that the calibration be done during a time of reduced activity in the building. The default calibration time is 7:00 AM.
NAC Circuit Time-Out Setting
This setting allows you to select how long the Notification Appliance Circuits (NACs) will remain active after an alarm. The default setting is 0, which disables the feature. Valid settings are from 5 minutes to 60 minutes, in 5 minute increments.
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Configure Panel Settings - Network Interface
Up to 64 panels and/or network annunciators may be connected in a FireNET network installation. How each panel or annunciator processes and displays events can be configured using the Network Interface, found in the Configure Panel Settings screen. All panels and annunciators, except the one you are editing, will be shown in the Network Interface list. To expand the responses to each event type, click on the '+' next to the node you wish to edit. The properties of the node will expand. You may now select the response and type of events that will be processed by and displayed on the current node.
Types of response -
Process
The process option instructs the node receiving a network event to behave exactly as it would if a device on the loop or a panel input had started the event. For example, if a fire event comes from a pull station on another panel, this panel would be expected to operate the sounder outputs and fire relays. Selecting the process option ensures that the panel does this. If the process option were not selected, the panel would not operate the sounder outputs and fire relays.
Display
The display option instructs the node receiving the network event to display the event
exactly as it would be displayed if a device on the loop or a panel input had
started the event.
Log
This gives the option to store the network event in the event log. For example if a panel is designated as a master panel, it may be required that this panel log all events on the network whereas other panels log only their own events.
This gives the option to print the network event. It may be that a master panel is required to print all events and that other panels print only local events.
Buzz
This gives the option to operate the panel buzzer upon a network event.
Types of panel events -
Fire : All Fire events
Emergency : All Emergency events
Supervisory: All Supervisory events
PreAlarm : All PreAlarm events
Security : All Security events
Trouble : All Trouble events
Disablements: All Disablement events.
Auxiliary : All Auxiliary events.
Test : All Test modes occurring.
Status: All Status events, including Reset, Silence and Re-Sound.
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To edit the local panel I/O, select Panel I/O from the navigator pane site tree then right click and select edit. You may also select Edit on the toolbar after highlighting I/O on the navigator pane. Panel I/O will have the same basic options as loop inputs and outputs. Please see Configure Loop Devices and Configure Outputs for more details on these options.
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Configure Devices
You may configure any device and all of its sub addresses using Loop Explorer. There are several ways to edit and configure a chosen device. You may select the device from the Navigator pane, then select Edit from the Toolbar, or you may right-click on the item and select Edit Settings from the menu. When editing a device your options will vary, depending on the device type you are working with. You can also change a device type with Loop Explorer. Simply select the device you wish to change and click Change on the Toolbar, or use the right click menu and select Change Device Type. Changing is quicker than deleting and adding another device because it will keep the universal settings of all devices, such as zone and location text.
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To configure loop devices select an item from the navigator pane site tree, then click Edit on the Toolbar, or use the right-click menu option Edit Settings. Depending on the type of device selected, you will have options to configure the location text and zone assignement, input and output delay, the action message, detector sensitivity settings, silenceable or non-silenceable, latching or non-latching, and the device action. Each action type is described below...
Fire inputs turn on all outputs that are programmed to follow the panel default ring mode. Fire alarms will be annunciated at the panel by the following:
COMMON FIRE LEDS
ZONAL FIRE LED (IF USED)
PULSING BUZZER
SOUNDERS
ALARM CONTACT
FIRE CONTACT
FIRE ROUTING OUTPUT
LCD FIRE MESSAGE, ADDRESS AND LOCATION TEXT OF INPUT
Any panel or loop input configured with an action of Trouble will create the following response when activated:
GENERAL TROUBLE LED
STEADY BUZZER
TROUBLE CONTACT
TROUBLE ROUTING OUTPUT
LCD TROUBLE MESSAGE, ADDRESS AND LOCATION TEXT OF INPUT
Sensors or inputs can generate a Pre-Alarm. This switches any outputs configured to follow a pre alarm action. The FireNET panel will annunciate a Pre-Alarm as follows:
PRE-ALARM LED
STEADY BUZZER
LCD PRE-ALARM MESSAGE, ADDRESS AND LOCATION TEXT OF INPUT
An input configured with an action of Supervisory alarm will create the following response by the panel:
STEADY BUZZER
LCD SUPERVISORY ALARM MESSAGE, ADDRESS AND LOCATION TEXT OF INPUT
The Emergency action allows all outputs and sounders to be operated continuously from an input anywhere on the system with the following response at the panel:
COMMON FIRE LED'S
STEADY BUZZER
PANEL SOUNDER OUTPUTS CONTINUOUS
LCD EMERGENCY MESSAGE, ADDRESS AND LOCATION TEXT OF INPUT
The Auxiliary action allows all outputs and sounders to be operated in a pulsing mode from an input anywhere on the system with the following response at the panel:
PULSING BUZZER
PANEL SOUNDER OUTPUTS PULSING
LCD AUXILIARY MESSAGE, ADDRESS AND LOCATION TEXT OF INPUT
The security action allows all sounder outputs and sounders to be operated in a slow pulsing mode from an input anywhere on the system with the following response at the panel:
STEADY BUZZER
PANEL SOUNDER OUTPUTS PULSING
LCD SECURITY ALERT MESSAGE, ADDRESS AND LOCATION TEXT OF INPUT
When an input configured with an action of Silence is activated, it is as if the Alarm Silence button had been pressed at the panel.
Reset will be displayed on the LCD and recorded in the event log. When a Reset input activates, it is as if the Reset button had been pressed at the panel.
Note: A Reset Action may not be latching. Be sure to program the Extra Options to Non-Latching!
An input assisgned an action of Fire Drill will create a Fire Drill condition when activated.
A transparent input will have no effect at all on the panel. The only result of a transparent input is to control outputs with cause and effect configurations.
Disablement inputs are used to disable a part or parts of the system via a cause and effect configuration (normally for testing purposes). When an input designated as a disablement is operated, the panel will display the following:
GENERAL DISABLEMENT INDICATOR
CONTINUOUS BUZZER FOR 5 SECONDS
LCD DISABLEMENT MESSAGE
Inputs given the test mode attribute activate a special type of cause and effect which enables the system to be tested without activating selected parts of the system (plant shutdown relays for instance). When a test mode input is operated, the panel will respond as follows:
ON TEST LED
SLOW BEEP FROM PANEL BUZZER
LCD ON TEST MESSAGE
Input latch is used to create a latching event on the FireNET panel. If the input latch is set (Latching), the panel will stay in an alarm state until it is reset, even if the monitored point returns to normal. If the input latch is not set (Non-Latching), the panel will return to normal condition if the monitored point return to normal.
Note: A Latched input may not be given an action of reset!
When an input is operated with this attribute checked, any delayed outputs will bypass their delay time and activate immediately.
Input delay helps to prevent false alarms that might be caused by an input being on momentarily. If the input fluctuates constantly the FireNET panel will take the average reading but will not respond until the input is activated for the duration of the delay period. The Input Delay option is only available when using an input Action of Waterflow, General Supervision or General Purpose.
An Action message is the action related text displayed at the panel when the input is operated e.g Fire, Trouble etc. For some input action types the action message can be user defined. There are 9 user-defined messages that can be changed to a 15 character message, and then be assigned to an input device.
Each input can be assigned to any zone, 1 to 500, as required. Do not assign loop devices to zone 0, this is reserved for panel inputs and outputs only (I/O).
Each input can be given location text. As well as being useful in identifying devices in an alarm or trouble condition, the location text can be helpful when compiling cause and effect programs.
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All outputs (NACs, ASBs, SOM and R2M Relay modules, etc.) have a set of default attributes, which can be modified by editing the configuration. Select the output on the Navigator pane menu tree and click on Edit on the Toolbar, or right-click on the item and select Edit Settings from the menu. After making the changes, click OK to accept the settings and exit from the window. Click Cancel to cancel all changes and exit from the window. Available output options are described below -
If General Alarm is selected, the output will activate during a fire alarm condition.
If Emergency is selected, the output will activate during an Emergency condition. This condition is determined by the action assigned to the input device (see Configure Loop Devices).
If Auxiliary is selected, the output will activate during an Auxiliary condition. This condition is determined by the action assigned to the input device (see Configure Loop Devices).
When selected, the output will operate upon any pre-alarm condition.
If Supervisory Alarm is selected, the output will activate during a Supervisory alarm condition. This condition is determined by the action assigned to the input device (see Configure Loop Devices).
The output will operate upon any trouble condition.
The output will activate during any Security event. This is determined by the action assigned to the input device (see Configure Loop Devices).
Silenceable is normally applicable to sounder outputs and ensures that the output switches off when the alarm is acknowledged by the front panel pushbutton or operation of an input that is configured as silence alarm. Silenceable is normally accompanied by the General Alarm and Emergency attributes.
Relay outputs can be delayed from 0 to 5 minutes in half-minute steps by changing the default delay of zero to the desired setting. This feature is only available for on-board relays and R2M relay modules.
If the relay output is Silenceable, the stage two-delay option becomes available. The stage two delay provides an additional delay time before the output operates if the alarm is acknowledged during the stage one delay. This feature is only available for on-board relays and R2M relay modules.
Each output can be assigned to a zone, 1 to 500, as required. Panel outputs which are not assigned to a zone (Zone 0) and are configured to respond to General Alarm will always activate during any fire alarm condition. Do not assign loop devices to zone 0.
Available for the Analog Sounder Base (ASB) and Supervised Output Module (SOM), this option allows you to select the ringing pattern for the device. Choices are Continuous, Temporal and March Code.
Only available for on-board NAC circuits 1 - 4, this option allows you to configure one or more NAC circuits to be a steady output, suitable for strobes. For example, if the panel is configured to provide a Temporal output, the Strobe Output option can reconfigure a NAC circuit output to be Steady instead. By removing the check from the Silenceable box, you can create a non-silenceable strobe output circuit.
Each output can be given location text. As well as being useful in identifying devices in a trouble condition, the location text can be helpful when compiling cause and effects programs.
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Com Port/Project Folder/PC Speed/Splash Screen
You may need to change the default COM port settings to match your PC. On the File menu select Options. You will see the Select Com Port selections. Simply click on the proper port then click OK. To exit without making changes click on the Cancel button.
The default project folder is the initial folder offered for opening and saving Loop Explorer projects. To modify the folder click File, Options, then click the Misc tab. Type in the path, or click Find if you wish to browse for the folder.
It is also possible from this screen to set the PC RAM available to Loop Explorer. At times it may be helpful to use less of the PC RAM paticularly when using an older computer with less RAM. The default is set to medium, 32MB – 128 MB RAM or more, which most PCs have. If the computer is an older model it may have a small amount of RAM available to use, as Windows takes a lot just to load. After changing the amount of RAM Loop Explorer has to use, the program will have to be closed and opened again, in order to free up the memory. If Loop Explorer is set to Low RAM, you may only add up to approximately 12 panels, full of devices. If it is set to Medium, it may hold about 32 panels, and High, will be all 64.
If any problems are experienced using Loop Explorer, such as illegal operations or the system running low on resources, setting the RAM usage to Low may help as well.
The splash screen is the bitmap (.BMP), which is displayed when Loop Explorer is loaded. The default splash screen may not be altered, but you have the option to not display it, or even view a different one on startup of the Loop Explorer application. The custom splash screen can only be a file up to 2Mb in size, so as not to increase the loading time of the application.
The Other tab (File>Options>Other) shows if Loop Explorer loads location text in the Cause and Effect Action wizard. The option is selectable, as it may be a lengthy operation for some computers, especially if it is a slower computer and/or a large FireNET project. Also found on this tab is the Auto Save option. Check the box to enable the feature, then select how often Loop Explorer will automatically save your project. The Auto Save time is adjustable from every 2 minutes to every hour.