Crowcon Vortex User manual

The products covered by this manual are Vortex, Vortex Rack, Vortex
Panel and Vortex DIN. The topics covered by the manual are installation,
technical information, operation and maintenance.
Part No M07211, Issue 7 December 2009
VORTEX
12 Channel Gas and
Fire Control Panel
MANUAL

Vortex Manual Contents
Issue 7 December 2009
iii
INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
1Introduction..............................................................................................1
1.1 What this manual is for.........................................................................1
1.2 What is Vortex?....................................................................................1
1.3 Who should use this manual................................................................1
1.4 What this manual contains...................................................................2
2System Overview.....................................................................................3
2.1 General.................................................................................................3
2.2 System description...............................................................................3
2.2.1 System modules and options.....................................................3
2.2.2 Input/output capability ................................................................4
2.2.3 Digital Communications .............................................................5
2.2.4 Specification...............................................................................5
2.2.5 Approvals ...................................................................................6
3Installation................................................................................................7
3.1 General.................................................................................................7
3.2 Before installation.................................................................................7
3.3 Installation of a pre-configured Vortex system.....................................7
3.4 Installation of an un-configured Vortex system ....................................9
3.4.1 General ......................................................................................9
3.5 Building a Vortex system....................................................................10
3.5.1 Building the system..................................................................10
3.5.2 Installing the system.................................................................11
3.6 Cabling ...............................................................................................12
3.7 Circuit Breaker....................................................................................13
3.8 Zero adjustment and calibration of Vortex..........................................14
3.8.1 General ....................................................................................14
3.8.2 Zero Adjustment and Calibration procedure ............................14
4Technical information: Vortex..............................................................16
4.1 General...............................................................................................16
4.2 Node Controller Module......................................................................17
4.2.1 Functions of the Node Controller Module.................................17
4.2.2 Node Controller Module indicators, switches and connectors .18
4.2.3 Configuring the Node Controller Module..................................19

Contents Vortex Manual
Issue 7 December 2009
iv
CONTENTS
4.3 The Bus Rail and electrical connections.............................................20
4.4 Quad Channel Input Module...............................................................21
4.4.1 Functions of the Quad Channel Input Module..........................21
4.4.2 Configuring the Quad Channel Input Module...........................22
4.5 Relay Output Module..........................................................................25
4.5.1 Functions of the Relay Output Module.....................................25
4.5.2 Configuring the Relay Output Module ......................................26
4.5.3 Configuring the Relay Logic .....................................................30
4.6 The Display Module............................................................................31
4.6.1 Functions of the Display Module ..............................................31
4.6.2 Display Module Features..........................................................33
4.7 Power Monitoring Module...................................................................35
4.7.1 Functions of the Power Monitoring Module..............................35
4.7.2 Removing the 5-Way Cable Assembly.....................................37
4.7.3 Mounting the Power Monitoring Module on a DIN Rail.............37
4.7.4 Backup batteries.......................................................................38
4.7.5 Power Failure ...........................................................................39
5Technical information: Field devices ..................................................40
5.1 General...............................................................................................40
5.2 Gas Detectors.....................................................................................40
5.2.1 Gas detector location ...............................................................40
5.3 Fire detectors......................................................................................41
5.3.1 Fire detector location................................................................42
5.4 Connections for audible/visual alarms................................................42
6Operation................................................................................................43
6.1 General...............................................................................................43
6.2 Monitoring with the Display Module ....................................................43
6.3 Alarm conditions and faults.................................................................44
6.3.1 Display Module.........................................................................44
6.3.2 Internal sounder and relays......................................................44
6.4 Fault Messages ..................................................................................44
6.4.1 Channel Faults .........................................................................44
6.4.2 Power Status............................................................................46
6.4.3 System Faults...........................................................................47
7Maintenance...........................................................................................49

Vortex Manual Contents
Issue 7 December 2009v
INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS
7.1 Detector Functional Testing ...............................................................49
7.2 Inhibiting input ....................................................................................49
7.3 Re-calibration of Vortex......................................................................49
7.4 Channel Test Mode............................................................................51
7.4.1 Channel Test Mode procedure.................................................51
7.4.2 Setting alarm levels..................................................................53
7.5 Lamp test............................................................................................53
7.6 Event logging......................................................................................54
7.7 Module replacement...........................................................................55
7.8 Mounting and dismounting DIN Rail modules ....................................55
7.9 Changing the Batteries.......................................................................56
Appendix A: Glossary...................................................................................58
Appendix B: Electrical connections............................................................60
Appendix C: List of spare parts...................................................................65
Appendix D: Crowcon detector range.........................................................66
Appendix E: Vortex configuration...............................................................68
Appendix F: Earthing....................................................................................71
Introduction..................................................................................................71
Definitions....................................................................................................71
Questions.....................................................................................................71
Diagrams .....................................................................................................74
Diagram 1 .............................................................................................74
Diagram 2 .............................................................................................75
Diagram 3 .............................................................................................76
Diagram 4A...........................................................................................78
Diagram 4B...........................................................................................79
Diagram 5A...........................................................................................80
Diagram 5B...........................................................................................81
Wiring Standards ..................................................................................81
WARRANTY STATEMENT ............................................................................83

Contents Vortex Manual
Issue 7 December 2009
vi
CONTENTS
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1 : General Assembly of Vortex Modules...............................................4
Figure 2: Vortex system in Standard Enclosure................................................9
Figure 3: Node Controller Module ...................................................................17
Figure 4: Bus Rail Assembly Details ...............................................................20
Figure 5: Quad Channel Input Module ............................................................21
Figure 6: Switches on Quad Channel Input Module........................................22
Figure 7: Relay Output Module........................................................................25
Figure 8: Relay Ouput Module Selection Switch .............................................27
Figure 9: Back of Display Module....................................................................31
Figure 10: Front of Display Module..................................................................32
Figure 11: Power Monitoring Module...............................................................35
Figure 12: Alternative mountings for the Power Monitoring Module................38
Figure 13: Representation of a fire detection circuit........................................41
Figure 14: Module on DIN Rail, and method of removal .................................56
Figure 15: Removing batteries from Vortex Standard Enclosure....................57
Figure 16: Connection schematic for the Vortex systemError! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 17: Wiring diagram for the Node Controller Module.............................62
Figure 18: Wiring diagram for the Quad Channel Input Module......................63
Figure 19: Wiring diagram for the Relay Output Module.................................64
Figure 20 Decision Tree for determining Earthing Requirements...................73

Vortex Manual Contents
Issue 7 December 2009
vii
INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Vortex options .....................................................................................1
Table 2: Which sections of this manual to read................................................2
Table 3: List of Vortex modules.........................................................................3
Table 4: Vortex Specification ............................................................................5
Table 5: Cable characteristics.........................................................................13
Table 6: Node Controller Module indicators, switches and connectors ..........18
Table 7: System Configuration Properties ......................................................19
Table 8: Quad Channel Input Module switch settings.....................................22
Table 9: Detector channel configurable properties .........................................23
Table 10: Features of the Relay Output Module .............................................25
Table 11: Relay Output Module switch settings..............................................26
Table 12: Relay configurable properties..........................................................27
Table 13: Relay output types...........................................................................28
Table 14: Relay Logic configurable properties................................................31
Table 15: Display module features..................................................................33
Table 16: Features of the Power Monitoring Module ......................................36
Table 17: List of channel faults .......................................................................45
Table 18: List of Power Status LED codes......................................................46
Table 19: List of Node Controller Module LED fault codes.............................47
Table 20: Channel test display sequences......................................................52
Table 21: Data recorded in the Event Log.......................................................54

Vortex Manual Introduction
Issue 7 December 20091
INTRODUCTION
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 What this manual is for
This manual describes the installation, configuration and operation of the Vortex gas and fire detection
system and its components.
Some of the functionality described in this manual may not be available with some units. Contact
Crowcon concerning upgrades of existing systems, if required.
1.2 What is Vortex?
Vortex is a modular gas and fire detection system, designed to monitor remote 4-20mA and
conventional loop powered fire detectors. Other devices may be used as advised by Crowcon. It can
operate flexibly assigned and voted relays if pre-set levels of gas are exceeded or if smoke or fire is
detected. These relay outputs may be used to drive audible and/or visible alarms.The built-in Modbus
communications interface allows multiple Vortex systems to be connected to industry-standard control
monitoring systems.
The Vortex system may be mounted in a variety of enclosures, the options are listed in Table 1
Table 1: Vortex options
Vortex Standard wall-mounted enclosure with display.
See Figure 2: Vortex system in Standard Enclosure.
Vortex Rack* Vortex system with a 19-inch rack-mounted display.
Vortex Panel* Vortex system with a panel-mounted display.
Vortex DIN* Vortex system with no display.
Options marked * can be supplied as modules to be mounted in your own enclosure.
The system can be supplied pre-configured with detectors and output devices, the configuration is
summarised on the Specification Sheet provided with the system. The configuration can be modified
using the VortexPC software.
1.3 Who should use this manual
You may not need to read the whole of this manual. You will be guided to the sections that you
require.
You should consult this manual if you:
•Use the Vortex system for monitoring fire or gases, and respond to alarms
•Carry out routine maintenance on the Vortex system and its detectors
•Configure the Vortex system

Introduction Vortex Manual
2Issue 7 December 2009
INTRODUCTION
•Install the Vortex system and its detectors
•Require technical information on Vortex
1.4 What this manual contains
This manual covers the following topics:
•An overview of the Vortex system
•Installation of Vortex systems ready configured and supplied with detectors
•Installation and configuration of Vortex to work with your own detectors
•Installation of Vortex when supplied as modules for mounting in your own equipment
•Configuration and technical information
•Day-to-day operation of Vortex, and accepting alarms and faults
•Routine maintenance, recalibration and testing
Table 2 lists the sections to read for particular kinds of information. If you require details not covered
in this manual, please contact Crowcon Technical Support.
Table 2: Which sections of this manual to read
If you Refer to
Use the Vortex system for monitoring
fire or gases, and respond to alarms Chapter 6
Carry out routine maintenance and
testing on the Vortex system and its
detectors
Chapters 2 and 7, and references
to other sections
Install, calibrate and reconfigure a
Vortex system Chapters 2 to 5