Gent 4 Channel Interface (input/output) (no enclosure)

The S4-34450 provides four configurable channels on one loop address. It has twelve plug-in terminals: the loop lands on terminals 4 to 1, and the four field channels take terminals 5 to 12 in pairs, channel 1 on 5 and 6, channel 2 on 7 and 8, channel 3 on 9 and 10, and channel 4 on 11 and 12. Each channel is set on its own at commissioning as an input, as an output, or as unused, so the same part can be four inputs, four outputs, or any mixture of the two. Each channel also has a hardware link alongside the software setting, and the links leave the factory in relay output mode, so switch input, zone input, confirmation input and LED output modes all need that channel's link moved.

Set as an output, a channel drives either a relay or an LED. As a relay output it gives one set of contacts on its two terminals, a common and either a normally open or a normally closed contact, rated 1A at 30V ac/dc into a resistive load. That is the point of difference against the one-output S4-34420, which brings out a full single-pole changeover set of NC, COM and NO; on this module a channel gives one state or the other, not both. As an LED output the channel provides 1.5mA at 24V dc for an LED load, set normally on (lit) or normally off, over a run of up to 30 metres.

Set as an input, a channel monitors a clean contact circuit working on either normally open or normally closed contacts, wired with a 10K resistor in series with the contacts plus a 10K end-of-line resistor, on a run of up to 300 metres. The input can be a fire, fault or supervisory (non fire) input, each with an optional acceptance delay so the signal is only taken once it has stayed active for a set period, up to 10 seconds on a fire input and up to 300 seconds on a fault or supervisory input, for example to ride out contact bounce. A channel can also be set as a confirmation output or a confirmation input, and confirmation works across a pair of channels, because the associated channel cannot be the same channel as the confirmation channel. As a confirmation output the module acknowledges to external equipment within one second of the input being accepted, allowing that equipment to monitor the fire alarm system; any input delay set has to be allowed for on top of that. As a confirmation input the fire alarm system monitors the external equipment and raises a timeout fault if the expected change of state is not seen within the confirmation time. A verbose setting adds a supervisory message on each change of input state; the silent setting gives the timeout fault only.

Channel 1, on terminals 5 and 6, is the only channel that can be configured as a zone input, and it takes a zone of conventional detectors and manual call points straight onto the addressable loop. Every manual call point on that zone needs a 470 Ohm resistor or a 3V9 zener diode in series with its normally open contacts. The zone carries a load of up to 2mA quiescent and 9mA in alarm at 24V nominal, with a minimum operating voltage of 18V, over a run of up to 100 metres, and the circuit is terminated with the supplied end-of-line capacitor unit. A configurable reset period of 2 to 5 seconds and an alarm validation delay of 5 to 40 seconds are set at commissioning, the validation delay being the usual way of suppressing spurious signals from a conventional zone. Channels 2, 3 and 4 cannot be zones. Zone input is supported on all compatible Gent addressable panels, Nano included.

Like every module in the S4 low voltage range it is loop powered, includes a loop isolator for device isolation, and uses one of the 207 device addresses available on a loop, responding to regular polls from the control panel with its device type and the status, open, normal or short, of its supervised input circuits. The loop cable screen must be carried through each interface module, and the loop, switch input, zone input and LED output cable screens, where used, must connect to an earth terminal. Within the S4 low voltage trio, modules with one to four switch inputs have a load factor of 1 and modules with one to four relay outputs have a load factor of 2. Each group has a maximum of 200 modules per loop; only eight relay-output modules can be individually sectored. Each LED output adds 5, with a maximum of 100 LED outputs per loop. Zone-input configurations have a load factor of 26 and a maximum of 30 per loop. For Vigilon and 34000 systems, compatible firmware pairs are LPC V3.93 with MCC/MCB V3.94, or LPC V4.35 with MCC/MCB V4.37. Configuration is done with the Commissioning Tool software, version 1.21 or greater. Configure every channel in use.

The module comes with its plug-in terminal blocks, eight 10K resistors and one end-of-line capacitor unit. The white module measures 93 x 90 x 23mm and weighs about 100g without an enclosure. The S4-34490 large plastic box suits the four-channel module, with six knockouts for two loop cables and four channel circuits. The M200E-SMB also fits, although cabling is tight when all four channels are used. The S4-34492 small metal box has 20mm and 25mm knockouts, and the S4-34496 houses six interfaces together. S4-34491 DIN rail brackets come in packs of five for mounting inside other equipment. The module assembly has IP31 protection in the S4-34490 plastic box. The S4 low voltage trio operates from -10°C to +60°C, with storage from -30°C to +70°C and up to 95% non-condensing relative humidity at +5°C to +45°C.