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13
Expanding the System
– Networking
Expanding the system can be achieved in various ways and requires the use of boards specifically
designed for communications purposes and boards that actually expand the system.
13.1
Networking
When FACP’s are connected to each other they form a “NETWORK“. Individual FACP’s in the
Network are referred to as NODES. The Network as defined by the limitations of the installation can
consist of a number of Nodes, the number of Nodes being dependant on the configuration of each
Node. Typically an entire Network could consist of 60 Slave CPU’s connected to loops and or input /
output devices spread over several nodes. The Network is Peer to Peer with the entire system
configuration being stored at each Node. The system is then programmed so that information can be
made invisible to particular Nodes or visible to all Nodes. Likewise system commands can be global or
restricted to specific parts of the network.
The entire system can be programmed from any Node in the Network and is connected as a data loop
which provides redundancy should there be a single cabling fault.
IMPORTANT
While it is important that proper documentation is kept and maintained for any installation it
becomes even more important as a system develops into the larger types described above.
13.2
Network Interface Card
The Network Interface Card provides the RS485 communication buses via CN18 on the Main
Controller (Loop Comms) to allow the networking of multiple panels in different combinations, e.g. from
Data Gathering Panels (DGP) to Peer to Peer panels. Enabling the bias increases the immunity and
stability of the line.
The Bias SW2 defaults to ON. SW2 is only switched to OFF when direct connecting the network to
external devices such as Optical Fibre Modems.
The Isolate SW3 Allows the network node to be isolated from the network
C
O
M
M
S
0V
3V3
OFF
ON
TX OUT
RX OUT
TX IN
RX IN
PANEL
R X
PANEL
T X
P
O
W
E
R
M
AIN
BO
ARD INTERFACE
+
RESET
+
-
S H D
S H D
-
COMMS IN
COMMS OUT
HEARTBEAT
ACTIVE
MASTER
2
6
/0
7
/2
0
1
0
B
R
D
8
6
N
IC
1
-
SHIELD
LINK
JTAG
ISOLATED
B
IAS
0V
L7 C26
CN4
U6
R
3
5
R
3
4
L9 C37
C39
ZD11
ZD12
ZD1
0
U9
Z
D
N
1
X1
S
W1
R43
R38
R28
R36
R27
R42
R44
R46
R45
R15
R22
R33
R32
R40
R21
R20
R31
Q2
D16
D17
D8
D9
D18
D15
D10
D3
D6
C9
C1
C41
C24
C44
C32
C33
C48
C46
C42
C36
C25
L1
L4
R4
R11
C12
C8
C11
C23
C3
C6
C10
C
1
3
C7
C2
C
2
1
C31
C16
C35
C47
C40
C34
C20
C5
C17
C18
C15
C29
C27
C22
C14
C4
C
N2
CN3
C
N1
CN5
CN6
D13
D14
D1
D2
D12
D4
D7
L3
L5
L6
L2
L8
LK1
Q1
R18
R9
R
1
3
R5
R19
R6
R7
R30
R3
R
1
6
R2
R
1
2
R10
R24
R14
R25
R29
R17
R37
R
2
3
R1
R8
-L
C2
C1
NC1
NC2
NO
2
NO
1
+L
RL1
-L
C2
C1
NC1
NC2
NO
2
NO
1
+L
RL2
SW2
SW3
T1
TB1
TB2
T
H
1
TH4
TH2
TH3
U1
U2
U5
U4
U7
U3
U10
U8
Z
D
7
ZD4
Z
D
3
Z
D
8
ZD2
ZD5
Z
D
6
Z
D
9
ZD1
ZD13
C43
C38
D5
N1236
D11
C28
C45
TH6
TH5
ZDN2
R41
C19
C
3
0
R
2
6
RS485
COMMS
IN
RS485
COMMS
OUT
R39
27VDC
IN / OUT
TO CN18
BRD86MBA
BOARD
Figure 123: Network Interface Card Layout
Summary of Contents for FireFinder PLUS
Page 1: ...FireFinder PLUS ...
Page 4: ...FIRE BRIGADE RESPONSE GUIDE ...
Page 99: ...Page 92 12 17 3 Panel Interfacing ...
Page 127: ......