ADT Centaur User manual

Guide 2 Edition 7 Sydney
Centaur Alarm Signalling Equipment
Centaur
InstallationGuide
Guide

Guide 2 Edition 7 Sydney
ADT FIRE MONITORING
ADT FIRE MONITORINGADT FIRE MONITORING
ADT FIRE MONITORING
Centaur Installation Guide
105 Highbury Rd Burwood. 3125
Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
Alarm Enquiries 1300 360 575
ASE Conversion [phone]

CENTAUR – ANSWERING YOUR CALL -
Guide 2 Edition 7 Sydney
Table of Contents
ABOUT THE INSTALLATION GUIDES 3
ABOUT THE CENTAUR 3
GENERAL RF THEORY 4
1. Digital Radio Network 4
2. Mobitex 4
3. Frequency of Operation 5
4. Signal Strength 5
5. Hardwire RF Losses 7
6. About Antennae 8
INSTALLATION 11
1. Pre-Installation Checklist 11
2. Site Monitoring Requirements. Examples 15
3. Installing The ASE 16
4. Antenna Placement 17
5. Flowcharts 18
6. ASE wiring 20
A. Introduction 20
B. Connection Of A Fire Indicator Panel To The Centaur ASE 20
ASE Threshold Voltages as Measured at the ASE’s I/P Terminals 22
C. Connection Of An Alarm System with Alarm Outputs Only 23
D. Power Supply Connection 24
E. About the Power Supply 25
F. Open Collector Outputs 26
G. PSTN Connection 27
H. RF TNC Connector 28
7. Power Up and ASE Status Indicators 29

CENTAUR – ANSWERING YOUR CALL –
Guide 2 Edition 7 Sydney
8. Operating the ASE 30
A. Normal Operation 30
B. Key Insertion 31
C. Isolate Mode 31
D. Test Mode 32
E. RSSI Mode 33
F. Key Removal & Timeout 33
G. Daily Test 33
H. ASE Number 33
9. INSTALLATION CHECKLIST 34
COMPLIANCE TO STANDARDS 37
GLOSSARY OF TERMS 38
DISCLAIMER 38
APPENDIX A 39
Centaur Specification 39
Electrical 39
Physical 39
Environmental 39
Approvals 39

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About the Installation Guides
The ADT Installation Guide is available twoways…..
he Centaur Installation Guide is available two ways. Guide 1 steps through the entire
installation and commissioning procedure in an abbreviated form. It is aimed at the
installation technician who has installed a number of Centaur Alarm Signalling
Equipment (ASE) units, is familiar with radio frequency (RF) theory and the
additional information presented in Guide 2.
About the Centaur
The Centaur is self-contained Alarm Signalling Equipment (ASE) which monitors up to
six alarm systems (either fire detection or fire suppression), and sends alarm, fault and
isolation information to ADT Fire Monitoring’s Control and Monitoring System (CMS).
It communicates through a radio link and/or conventional dial-up telephone line. When
installed with a radio, the radio is the primary communications link and the telephone
line is configured as a backup link or secondary communications link
Guide
ICON KEY
Further Reading
from Part 1
*Please Note
NWarning
T
Customer Care Centre
ASE No
Tel: [phone]
ASE INPUT ALARM TYPE ALARM SYSTEM STATUS
ASE INPUT STATUS
ASE STATUS
Normal Operation
Alarm System Test Procedure
ASE Isolate Procedure
Action ASE TEST MODE ALARM
Action ASE ISOLATE
POWER
FAULT
COMMS
ASE ISOLATE
ASE TEST MODE
WIRING FAULT
ISOLATE
FAULT
ALARM
1
2
3
4
6
5
1 Insert Test Key
2 Activate Alarm
3 Reset Alarm
4 Remove Test Key
Slow Flash On
On
On
Slow Flash Off
Off
Slow Flash On
Slow Rapid Flash
Rapid Flash Off
COMMS and POWER On Steady
Insert Isolate Key Slow Flash On

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General RF Theory
1. Digital Radio Network
Centaur communicates with the ADT CMS via a Mobitex© Digital Radio Packet network as
its primary link.
The Digital Radio Packet network carries digital data over an analogue medium, radio.
Although there are radio systems capable of carrying both voice and data, the system chosen
by ADT Fire Monitoring is optimised for carrying data only.
2. Mobitex
Mobitex is a radio network technology designed exclusively for two-way, wireless data
communications (see Figure 1). The technology, developed by Swedish Telecom, has
been in use for over 13 years. Mobitex networks are operating in 14 countries, including
Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States of
America, Sweden and France.
ADT Fire
Monitoring
Figure 1: Typical Mobitex Network Structure
The Mobitex network has a hierarchical (or pyramidal) network structure.
An intelligent base station serves each radio cell.
Each device (ASE) and host (CMS) attached to a Mobitex network is assigned a unique
Mobitex Access Number (MAN). The Mobitex protocol guides digital data, formed into
packets, from the ASE to the CMS and vice-versa. All packet transmissions are checked
for integrity prior to passing to the next stage. Automatic error correction and re-
transmission of data may occur as the result of borderline radio signal conditions.

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3. Frequency of Operation
The frequency band used by the radio system is in the range 400 to 420 Megahertz (MHz).
This has several implications:
•The wavelength of the RF carrier is approx. 730mm. The majority of antennae used with
the ASE units will be ½ wave antennae or least 365mm long.
•The radio communications path between the ASE antenna and the radio base antenna
should, if possible, be ‘line of sight’. There should be few, and ideally no obstacles
between the ASE antenna and the base site antenna.
If optical line of sight in the open is not quite possible (just out of sight), it can still be
possible to obtain reliable communications with the base because of a natural
phenomenon known as diffraction. Diffraction (or bending) of radio waves allows
communications between two antennae which are in an almost ‘line of sight’ condition
(see Figure 2). Diffraction allows an increase of approx. 20% extra distance over the
optical ‘line of sight’.
Figure 2: The RF waves bend downward over the top of the mountain towards the
ground
•As the frequency of radio waves increases, so does the inability of an RF signal to
penetrate a building. At 410 MHz the RF signal is attenuated to a greater extent inside
buildings than, for example, the frequency of Broadcast FM radio at about 100 MHz.
However, the signal strength is attenuated to a lesser extent inside a building than for
example a mobile telephone operating at 900 MHz.
4. Signal Strength
Signal strength is the measure in dBuV/m (decibel microvolts per metre) of the strength of a
radio frequency signal. Generally, the stronger the RF signal, the more reliable and intelligible
the communications will be between the transmitter and receiver.
The signal strength of an RF source is affected by many things such as:
Free Air Loss. The further you are from the RF source, the weaker the signal
strength will be due to dispersion of the RF signal. This is much like the resultant ripple
after a stone is dropped into the middle of a pond.
Reflections. Radio signals may have more than one path from the transmitter to
the receiver. Usually a direct free air path exists. As well as this path, one or more

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unwanted secondary paths may also exist, this is known as multi-pathing. This secondary
path can either add or subtract to the main signal and cause unwanted effects in the
receiver. Multi-pathing in radio receivers can cause many problems.. In a broadcast TV
system, reflections can be seen as a ghost alongside the main picture (see Figure 3).
Figure 3: Multipathing of an RF signal
Short Term Fade. Short term fade can be caused by reflections off moving
objects such as vehicles, roller doors, people or other RF reflective surfaces in the near
vicinity of an antenna.
Losses Inside Buildings. The signal strength, even a short distance inside a
building, can be 1/1000th (-30dB) of the signal that exists on a nearby outside wall of
that building.
Long Term Cyclic Fade. The received signal strength from a source can vary
in its intensity due to natural environmental and weather conditions such as rain, sun and
sun spot activity.
Physical Obstructions to RF Signal
Man Made Obstructions (Fixed)
•Buildings
•Walls
•Roofs
•Pipes
•Tinted glass. Some types of tinted glass contain minute metal particles which
will tend to shield and reflect the RF signal.
•Etc.
Man Made Objects (Movable)
•Roller Doors
•Cars and trucks
•ForkLifts
•Etc.

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Natural Obstructions
•Trees
•Hills
•Horizon
•Rain
•People
•Etc.
5. Hardwire RF Losses
It is very important to keep all losses in the RF path as low as possible.
Power and losses in the RF transmission path are calculated in dBm (decibel milliwatts).
Many parts of this transmission path can contribute losses that affect the overall
efficiency of the RF system (see Figure 4).
The level of RF signal in both the transmit (TX) and the receive (RX) paths will be
equally affected.
If the losses in a system add up to, 3dB, then half of the power transmitted out of the modem fails to
reach the antenna and therefore the outside world. The level of received signal into the modem is also
attenuated by half.
Figure 4: Losses in the RF system add up and come from all items in the
Transmission/Receive path of the ASE modem.
*
Please
Note

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Types of losses include:
•Connector Loss. Every connection made, although having electrical continuity, will
add a small amount of loss, typically 0.5 dB to 1.0 dB. A poor termination or poor
quality connector can create even higher losses.
•Cable Loss. Every metre of cable used, although again having electrical continuity,
will add some amount of loss at radio frequencies, typically 0.5 dB/metre, for RG58U
coax (pictured left). A 6 metre run of RG58U coax will introduce 3 dB of loss. Long
runs may require the use of a more efficient coaxial cable such as RG213 which has
typically half the loss of RG58U. The max. possible length of a coax run and therefore
the loss induced, depends primarily upon the level of signal you have to start with.
•Antenna Loss. Inefficiencies in antenna construction also add loss.
•Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR). VSWR (or SWR as it is commonly called)
is a measure of an installation’s ability to radiate all of the power from the transmitter
into the air via the antenna.
When the impedance (similar to resistance) is not uniform along the path that the
signal travels out to the antenna, impedance mismatches occur. These mismatches
cause some of the power to be reflected back down the coaxial cable and into the
transmitter where it is dissipated as heat in the radio’s electronics. This is wasted
power. These mismatches can be caused by, amongst other things, poor installation
procedures and untuned antennae. Therefore the antennae will come pre-tuned to the
mid-band frequency of all bases used in the RF system. No cutting or tuning of the
antennae will be necessary.
A VSWR of 1:1 is ideal and shows NO mismatches. If the installation guidelines are
followed, then the VSWR of the antenna and installation should be close to 1:1.
6. About Antennae
ØRadiation Pattern And Gain
Each type of antenna has a characteristic radiation pattern that can be plotted using an
RF signal strength meter.
The level of RF energy around an antenna in all planes, can be plotted and depends for a
fixed power level upon the physical construction of the antenna.
Gain is the ability of the antenna to concentrate the power applied to the antenna into a
particular direction. Some antennae, such as a Yagi (see Figure 6 and 7), exhibit gain
over and above a standard issue ½ wave dipole antenna (see Figure 5 and left). This
antenna makes better use of the available energy, somewhat akin to the lens in a
magnifying glass.
If an antenna has a transmit gain in a particular direction then it will also have a
corresponding amount of receive gain in the same direction .