Help with Wiring "System Sensor" Smokes

[RobertG]

Hey Guys,

Just days away from first power up of an M1 system that I've had for over year, but slowly installing. I'm
afraid this may be the first post of a few to come.

Anyway, my plan is to use four "System Sensor" branded photoelectric smoke detectors that were left in
placed and used on the existing Brinks system that I took out and promptly put in the trash. I would like
to use two for downstairs and two for upstairs.

My issue is with the wiring. The terminal designations on the back are as follows:
(+) (-) (Z+) (Z-IN) (Z-OUT)

I understand the the (+) and (-) are the termination point for the 12-Volt power supply. The Z+, Z-In and
Z-Out are a bit foreign to me. Obviously, I'm looking for a common and normally open set up contacts here.
A continuity test was inconclusive. Z+ to Z-In gave me about 3.4M Ohms. Z+ to Z-Out was infinite resistance.

The existing wiring appeared to be in a series fashion with one of the zone contact wires looped at the Z+ for
all the smokes in the loop and then appearing to be series with the other contact wire coming into the Z-In
terminal and out of the Z-Out terminal on to the next smoke with the sequence repeated.

Can I use these smokes on my Elk M1 system? I would terminate the last one with a 2200 EOL resistor however
I'm just not sure about these designations. Any help is greatly appreaciated.

Thank you guys.

Robert G.
Plano, TX

 

[Steve]

They are probably fine to use with he M1. Look on the detector and find exactly what model it is, then look at the install sheet for it. The system sensor site is pretty good. Most of the current detectors are listed here.

 

[RobertG]

They are probably fine to use with he M1. Look on the detector and find exactly what model it is, then look at the install sheet for it. The system sensor site is pretty good. Most of the current detectors are listed here.

Thanks Steve. I'll have to check when I get home - these smokes are about 5 years old and it seems the last time I was
on the System Sensor site, these were no longer listed - as such, no docs. The 4-wire detectors that are currently on the site all
appear to use different terminal designations that the units that I have currently. I'll have to try again later.

Rob. . . . . . . . . .

 

[Steve]

If it is an older, discontinued model, try this link. Almost all the SS stuff is on their site, if you still can't find it, try their support dept, they are usually very good.

 

[Sandpiper]

.......my plan is to use four "System Sensor" branded photoelectric smoke detectors that were left in
placed and used on the existing Brinks system ..............
My issue is with the wiring. The terminal designations on the back are as follows:
(+) (-) (Z+) (Z-IN) (Z-OUT)............
Can I use these smokes on my Elk M1 system? .........
Any help is greatly appreaciated............

Yes. I can help. I have installed many of these and have these installed in my own home. They will work fine with the M1, however, you will need to use the instructions that follow to make them work properly. But first, let me explain a couple of things.

If this came from a Brinks system, I'm willing to bet these are System Sensor model 2112ATL. These are specially made to work with the Brinks panel and are are not sold to the general public. As such, these are a little different than the ones you will find for sale to the public. The main difference is that not only are they a smoke detector but also they have a "syncronized siren" that responds to the "3 pulse temporal" fire alarm code, a fancy way of saying "onk....onk...onk...pause....onk...onk...onk...pause...etc".

Other smoke alarms on the market also have a built in sounder, but they respond by reversing the power leads. So you may find others in this forum talking about installing a "reversing relay". The relay is what reverses the power. The model 2112ATL will not work with a reversing relay.

About the Z+ , Z- business.......these are connections for a zone loop...a way of installing more than one sensor on a single zone. The Z+ and Z- are wired internally to the sensor to monitor the power at each individual sensor. If any loses power it cuts the power to the rest so the panel will find out and tell you (fire trouble). This also eliminate the need for an end of line relay. Instead use a end of line resistor of 2K (for the M1).

Now to create the 3 pulse temporal code, the M1 can do that at output 2. You have to set output 2 for voltage...ie you cannot use a second speaker. In this configuration, output 2 will turn on for burglar alarm so your exterior siren will still work, but the fire alarm will work also, because the M1 will then create a temporal code there in case of a fire alarm.

The smoke detector needs to get power from the SAUX terminal so that the reset works properly. But the temporal code is at output 2. To make this work we'll need a relay (12VDC coil). The relay coil is wired across output 2, in parallel with a 2K resistor. this resistor will prevent supervision alarm on output 2.

OK. Enough explanation...now the wiring directions. Now using 4 conductor FPL wire...

at the panel......Red- (SAUX), yellow-(zone+), green-(zone-), black-(relay contact). You will also need a jumper from the other side of the contact and go to common on the panel.

At the first (closest to the panel) smoke detector in series and using the wire from the panel....Red- (+), black- (sync), yellow- (Z+), green (Z-IN). Remember Z-IN is hooked to the wire running towards the panel.

At the first (closest to the panel) smoke detector in series and using the wire from the second in series....Red- (+), black- (sync), yellow- (Z+), green (Z-OUT). Remember Z-OUT is hooked to the wire running away from the panel.

At the last (farthest from the panel) smoke detector in series....Red- (+), black- (sync), yellow- (Z+), green (Z-IN). Now also install your EOL resistor between the Z+ and Z-OUT terminals.

Good luck.....check back if you have more questions.