Mircom FA-300 Series User manual

User Guide
LED Fire Alarm Control Panel
LT-953 Rev. 1
Feb. 2016
FA-300 Series
ZONE DISCONNECT
ZONE DISCONNECT
INFO
GROUND
FAULT
CPU
FAULT
REMOTE
TROUBLE
LAMP
TEST
AC
ON
COMMON
ALARM
COMMON
SUPERVISORY
COMMON
TROUBLE
BATTERY
TROUBLE
BUZZER
SILENCE
FIRE
DRILL
SIGNAL
SILENECE
SYSTEM
RESET
AUXILIARY
DISCONNECT
LAMP
TEST
MENU
Advanced Life Safety Solutions
FA-300 SERIES
Fire Alarm Control Panel
Advanced Life Safety Solutions
FA-300 SERIES
Fire Alarm Control Panel
ZONE DISCONNECT
ZONE DISCONNECT
INFO
GROUND
FAULT
CPU
FAULT
REMOTE
TROUBLE
LAMP
TEST
AC
ON
COMMON
ALARM
COMMON
SUPERVISORY
COMMON
TROUBLE
BATTERY
TROUBLE
BUZZER
SILENCE
FIRE
DRILL
SIGNAL
SILENECE
SYSTEM
RESET
AUXILIARY
DISCONNECT
LAMP
TEST
MENU

3 (20)
Contents
1.0 Introduction 5
1.1 About this Manual .......................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Technical Support .......................................................................................................... 5
2.0 Main Display 6
2.1 Paper labels for buttons and indicators .......................................................................... 7
3.0 The Buzzer and LED Indicators 8
3.1 Common LED Indicators ................................................................................................ 8
3.2 Indicating Circuit Indicators ............................................................................................ 10
4.0 Main Display Buttons 14
4.1 SYSTEM RESET Button ................................................................................................ 14
4.2 SIGNAL SILENCE Button .............................................................................................. 14
4.3 FIRE DRILL Button ........................................................................................................ 14
4.4 AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL Button (or ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL
button for single stage system) ...................................................................................... 14
4.5 GENERAL ALARM Button ............................................................................................. 14
4.6 AUXILIARY DISCONNECT Button ................................................................................ 15
4.7 LAMP TEST Button ........................................................................................................ 15
4.8 ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL Button (or MENU for single stage systems) ......... 15
5.0 Circuit (Zone) Disconnect Buttons 16
6.0 Glossary 17

4 (20)

5 (20)
1.0 Introduction
1.1 About this Manual
This user’s guide provides information on the main indicators and controls of the FA-300 Fire
Alarm Control Panel. Specifically, with this manual you will learn about what the LEDs indicate
and what the buttons on the main display do.
Refer to the Glossary on page 17 for an explanation of commonly used terms in this manual.
1.2 Technical Support
For all technical support inquiries, please contact Mircom’s Technical Support Department
between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. (EDT) Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Email: [e-mail]
Local Phone: [phone] Toll-Free Phone: [phone]
Local Fax: [phone] Toll-Free Fax: [phone]

6 (20)
2.0 Main Display
Refer to the diagram below for the LED indicators and control buttons locations.
Figure 1 Main Display
The main display panel on the main fire alarm control board consists of:
• 18 common LED indicators (top half of display)
• 8 common buttons (top half of display)
• Up to 12 Initiating circuit alarm LEDs and 12 initiating circuit trouble LED indicators
• 4 indicating circuit LEDs (labeled NAC - Notifying Appliance Circuit)
• Up to 16 disconnect buttons (12 for initiating circuit and 4 for indicating circuits)
LED indicators may be amber, red, or green, and may illuminate continuously (steady), or at
one of two flash rates:
•Fast flash (supervisory): 120 flashes per minute
•Trouble flash (trouble): 20 flashes per minute
WALK
TEST
REMOTE
TROUBLE
CPU FAIL
GRO UND
FAULT
SIGNAL
SILENCE
FIRE
DRILL
GENERAL
ALARM
SYSTEM
RESET
AUX
DIS CO NN E CT
LAMP
TEST (MENU)
A.C.
ON
COMMON
ALARM
COMMON
SUPV
COMMON
TROUBLE
BATTERY
TROUBLE
ZONE-1
DIS CO N NE CT
ZONE-3
DIS CO N NE CT
ZONE-5
DIS CO N NE CT
ZONE-7
DIS CO NN E CT
ZONE-9
DIS CO N NE CT
ZONE-11
DIS CO N NE CT
ZONE-2
DIS CO NN E CT
ZONE-4
DIS CO NN E CT
ZONE-6
DIS CO NN E CT
ZONE-8
DIS CO NN E CT
ZONE-10
DIS CO NN E CT
ZONE-12
DIS CO NN E CT
NAC-1
DIS CO N NE CT
NAC-3
DIS CO N NE CT
NAC-2
DIS CO NN E CT
NAC-4
DIS CO NN E CT
AUTOMATIC
ALARM SIGNAL
CANCEL
ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG
AUDIBLE SIL

7 (20)
Main Display
2.1 Paper labels for buttons and indicators
Each display is supplied with laser printable labels. These labels slide into the plastic label
templates on the panel.The label paper for the main display includes English and French
versions (Mircom # NP-2005).

8 (20)
3.0 The Buzzer and LED Indicators
3.1 Common LED Indicators
3.1.1 Buzzer
The buzzer sounds if there is a fire alarm, a supervisory alarm, or a trouble in the fire alarm
system. It turns off if the condition causing the buzzer to sound goes away or if the ALM/SUP/
TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL (buzzer silence) button is pressed.
3.1.2 A.C. ON LED
3.1.3 COMMON ALARM LED
3.1.4 COMMON SUPERVISORY LED
3.1.5 COMMON TROUBLE LED
3.1.6 REMOTE TROUBLE LED
3.1.7 FIRE DRILL LED
The green A.C. ON LED illuminates steadily as long as the main power is above minimum
level. The indicator turns off when the level falls below the minimum level and the panel
switches to standby (battery) power.
The red COMMON ALARM LED will illuminate steadily whenever there is a fire alarm. If the
panel is set for two stage operation, pressing the red GENERAL ALARM button will also turn
on the COMMON ALARM LED. This LED will remain on until the system is reset.
The amber COMMON SUPERVISORY LED illuminates at the fast flash rate when there is a
supervisory alarm in the fire alarm system. For non-latching supervisory alarms, the
COMMON SUPERVISORY LED will turn off when the condition causing the alarm goes
away. For latching supervisory alarms, this LED remains on until the panel is reset.
The amber COMMON TROUBLE LED flashes at the trouble flash rate when the panel
detects any trouble condition. For non-latching trouble conditions, the COMMON TROUBLE
LED will turns off when the condition causing the alarm goes away. For latching trouble
conditions, this LED remains on until the panel is reset.
The amber REMOTE TROUBLE LED flashes at the trouble flash rate if the panel detects a
trouble at the City Tie or UDACT module, communication trouble with a remote annunciator,
or a local trouble at a remote annunciator.
The amber FIRE DRILL LED illuminates steadily after you press the FIRE DRILL button.
This LED remains on until you press the FIRE DRILL button again.
A.C.
ON
COMMON
ALARM
COMMON
SUPV
COMMON
TROUBLE
REMOTE
TROUBLE
FIRE
DRILL

9 (20)
The Buzzer and LED Indicators
3.1.8 AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL LED
3.1.9 GENERAL ALARM LED
3.1.10 WALK TEST LED
3.1.11 CPU FAULT LED
3.1.12 AUXILIARY DISCONNECT LED
3.1.13 SIGNAL SILENCE LED
If the panel is configured as a two-stage system, the AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL
CANCEL LED illuminates steadily when the Alarm timer is canceled by the activation of the
AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL or SIGNAL SILENCE buttons. The LED goes out
when the SYSTEM RESET button is pressed.
This LED can be configured to flash amber at the fast rate while the Auto General Alarm
timer is running. If the Auto General Alarm timer times out and puts the panel into General
Alarm, the LED turns off.
Note: If this LED is configured to flash, then the panel is outside of UL/ULC certification
acceptability. The authority having jurisdiction must approve this selection.
If the panel is not configured as a two-stage system, this LED is ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG
AUDIBLE SIL (buzzer silence). It flashes at the slow rate when the ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG
AUDIBLE SIL button is pressed.
The red GENERAL ALARM LED illuminates steadily when the GENERAL ALARM button is
pressed, a General Alarm Initiating circuit is activated, or the Auto General Alarm timer times
out. Once the GENERAL ALARM LED has turned on, it will stay active until the panel is
reset.
The amber WALK TEST LED illuminates steadily to indicate that the panel is in walk test
mode. If the panel is left in this mode for over an hour with no operator activity, the panel will
return to normal and the WALK TEST LED will turn off.
The CPU FAULT LED flashes amber at the trouble flash rate to indicate a microprocessor
failure on the main board.
The amber AUXILIARY DISCONNECT LED flashes at the trouble rate when the AUXILIARY
DISCONNECT button is pressed. It turns off when the AUXILIARY DISCONNECT button is
pressed a second time. When on, the AUXILIARY DISCONNECT LED signifies that
auxiliary alarm relay and relay adder modules (if disconnect is enabled) are not activated. If
installed and enabled, the city tie module and the smart relay annunciator relays are also
inactive.
The SIGNAL SILENCE LED flashes amber at the trouble rate when indicating circuits are
silenced either by the SIGNAL SILENCE button or by the Auto Signal Silence timer. It turns
off when the signals are re-sounded by a subsequent alarm or when the panel is reset.
AUTOMATIC ALARM
SIGNAL CANCEL
GENERAL
ALARM
WALK
TEST
CPU FAIL
AUX
DISCONNECT
SIGNAL
SILENCE

10 (20)
The Buzzer and LED Indicators
3.1.14 BATTERY TROUBLE LED
3.1.15 GROUND FAULT LED
3.1.16 SYSTEM RESET LED
3.2 Indicating Circuit Indicators
The panel has 1 indicator for each of the 12 initiating circuits (shown in Figure 1). Each
indicator has a button and 2 LEDs, shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 Alarm Circuit Indicator
The Circuit Disconnect Button is described in 5.0 Circuit (Zone) Disconnect Buttons on
page 16. The LEDs are described below.
The amber BATTERY TROUBLE LED flashes at the trouble rate when the battery is either
low or disconnected.
The amber GROUND FAULT LED flashes at the trouble rate when the ground fault detector
detects a ground fault on any field wiring. It turns off when the ground fault is cleared.
The amber SYSTEM RESET LED illuminates for a short time when the SYSTEM RESET
button is pressed.
BATTERY
TROUBLE
GROUND
FAULT
SYSTEM
RESET
ZONE-1
DIS CO NNE CT
Circuit Status LED
Circuit Trouble LED
Circuit
Disconnect
Button

11 (20)
The Buzzer and LED Indicators
3.2.1 Alarm Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to Initiating Circuits configured as Verified Alarm, Non-Verified Alarm,
Water flow Alarm, Sprinkler Alarm, or General Alarm Circuits. Table 1 summarizes the
indications at different events:
3.2.2 Supervisory Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to initiating circuits configured as latching or non-latching supervisory
circuits. The following table summarizes the indications in response to different events:
Table 1 Alarm Circuit Indicators
Event Circuit Status LED Configuration
Circuit in Alarm Steady (red)
Pre-alarm Fast flash rate (red)
Verified Alarm
Sprinkler Alarm
Water flow Alarm
Activated circuit reconnected (when you
press the Disconnect button a second
time)
Fast flash rate (red) for 5
seconds to indicate a
pending alarm
Event Circuit Trouble LED Configuration
Open circuit (Class B) Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber) Verified Alarm
Non-Verified Alarm
Water flow Alarm
Sprinkler Alarm
General Alarm
Open circuit or Style D/Class A trouble Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Disconnected (Style D/Class A) Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Circuit in Alarm OFF
Table 2 Supervisory Circuit Indicators
Event Circuit Status LED Configuration
Circuit in Alarm Steady (amber) Latching Sup.
Non-Latching Sup.
Activated circuit reconnected Fast flash rate (red) for 5 seconds to indicate a
pending alarm
Event Circuit Trouble LED Configuration
Open circuit (Class B) Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Latching Sup.
Non-Latching Sup.
Open circuit or Style D/Class A trouble Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Disconnected (Style D/Class A) Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Circuit in Alarm OFF

12 (20)
The Buzzer and LED Indicators
3.2.3 Property and Building Safety Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to initiating circuits configured as property and building safety circuits.
The following table summarizes the indications in response to different events:
3.2.4 Trouble-only Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to initiating circuits configured as Trouble-Only Circuits. The following
table summarizes the indications in response to different events:
Table 3 Property and Building Safety Circuit Indicators
Event Circuit Status LED Configuration
Circuit Active Steady (amber) Property and Building
Safety
Activated circuit reconnected Fast flash rate (red) for 5 seconds to indicate a
pending alarm
Event Circuit Trouble LED Configuration
Open circuit (Class B) Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Property and Building
Safety
Open circuit or Style D/Class A trouble Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Disconnected (Style D/Class A) Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Circuit Active OFF
Table 4 Trouble-Only Circuit Indicators
Event Circuit Trouble LED Configuration
Open circuit (Class B) Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Trouble Only
Open circuit or Style D/Class A trouble Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Disconnected (Style D/Class A) Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Short Circuit Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)

13 (20)
The Buzzer and LED Indicators
3.2.5 Signal Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to indicating circuits of any type. The Circuit Trouble Indicator flashes
amber at the Trouble Rate to indicate short-circuit or open-circuit trouble, or if the circuit is
Disconnected.
Table 5 Signal Circuit Indicators
Event Circuit Trouble LED Configuration
Open circuit Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Signal
Short Circuit Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)
Disconnected Flashes at the trouble rate
(amber)

14 (20)
4.0 Main Display Buttons
4.1 SYSTEM RESET Button
4.2 SIGNAL SILENCE Button
4.3 FIRE DRILL Button
4.4 AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL Button (or ALM/SUP/
TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL button for single stage system)
4.5 GENERAL ALARM Button
The SYSTEM RESET button resets the fire alarm control panel and all circuits.
Pressing the SIGNAL SILENCE button when the panel is in alarm deactivates any
silenceable signal devices in the fire alarm system. Non-Silenceable signal devices are
unaffected. If you press the SIGNAL SILENCE button a second time, or if there is a
subsequent alarm, the signals will re-sound. If the panel has been configured with a Signal
Silence Inhibit timer, this button will not work until the timer times out. This button also
does not work if you have pressed the FIRE DRILL button.
In a two-stage system, the SIGNAL SILENCE button silences the stage 1 and stage 2
alarms.
Pressing the FIRE DRILL button will simulate a fire alarm by activating the fire alarm
signals without transmitting an alarm to the central station. To cancel the fire drill, press the
button again. If the fire alarm system goes into a real alarm while you are performing a fire
drill, this button will not turn off the signals or activate any programmed relays.
If the Panel is configured as a two-stage system, pressing the AUTOMATIC ALARM
SIGNAL CANCEL button while the Auto General Alarm timer is running (there is an alarm
in the panel, but it is still in the first stage), cancels the timer and illuminates the amber
AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL LED steadily, thereby acknowledging the alarm.
If the Panel is not configured as a two-stage system, this button becomes ALM/SUP/TBL/
BLDG AUDIBLE SIL (buzzer silence). Press ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL to
silence the buzzer.
Press the GENERAL ALARM button to immediately send the panel into General Alarm or
total evacuation. It also re-activates the signals if they have been silenced during General
Alarm. The General Alarm condition remains active until the SYSTEM RESET button is
pressed.
SIGNAL
SILENCE
SIGNAL
SILENCE
FIRE
DRILL
AUTOMATIC ALARM
SIGNAL CANCEL
GENERAL
ALARM

15 (20)
Main Display Buttons
4.6 AUXILIARY DISCONNECT Button
4.7 LAMP TEST Button
4.8 ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL Button (or MENU for single
stage systems)
Pressing the AUXILIARY DISCONNECT button activates the auxiliary disconnect function.
Pressing the button again de-activates this function.
Pressing and holding the LAMP TEST button causes all front panel LEDs to illuminate and
sounds the buzzer. Use this button to test that all LEDs in the main display are working. If
you hold the LAMP TEST button for more than ten seconds, the COMMON TROUBLE
LED will illuminate.
If the Panel is configured as a two-stage system, press the ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG
AUDIBLE SIL (buzzer silence) button to silence the buzzer. The buzzer resounds if there is
a subsequent event. Pressing the button when the buzzer is not sounding has no effect.
If the Panel is configured as a single stage system, press the MENU button to select the
command menu when a CFG-300 Service Tool with LCD is connected. Otherwise, this
button has no effect.
AUX
DISCONNECT
LAMP
TEST
ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG
AUDIBLE SIL

16 (20)
5.0 Circuit (Zone) Disconnect Buttons
There are circuit (zone) disconnect buttons for all initiating and indicating circuits on the fire
alarm control panel. These buttons are located beside their respective indicating LEDs.
Pressing a circuit disconnect button disconnects that circuit from the system and turns on its
trouble indicator. While a circuit is disconnected, the panel will ignore all changes in the status
(alarms and troubles) of that circuit. Circuit disconnect buttons are toggle switches; therefore,
pressing an activated button a second time will reconnect the circuit.
Disconnecting an active latching initiating circuit such as alarms, water-flow alarm, sprinkler
alarm, general alarm, and latching supervisory does not affect its status until the panel is reset.
Disconnecting active non-latching initiating circuits including non-latching supervisory and
trouble-only causes them to behave as if the alarm situation has disappeared. Disconnecting
an active indicating circuit immediately deactivates the circuit.
When an initiating circuit disconnect button is pressed a second time, the panel checks the
state of the circuit. If the circuit is active and will cause a false alarm, the Status LED flashes
for ten seconds at the fast flash rate (red for alarm or amber for supervisory) without
processing the input. If the circuit is not re-disconnected by then, it will be processed as a new
input.

17 (20)
6.0 Glossary
Alarm Condition
Occurs when devices such as detectors, pull stations, or sprinklers are activated. In a single
stage system, this condition will activate all signalling devices throughout the building. In a two
stage system, this condition will activate an alert signal and the General Alarm timer.
Circuits
Refers to an actual electrical interface and can be classified as initiating (detection), indicating
(signal), or relay. The terms “circuit” and “zone” are often used interchangeably in the fire
alarm industry.
Fast Flash Rate
120 flashes per minute is the rate at which an LED will flash to indicate a supervisory alarm.
General Alarm Timer
In a two stage system, the general alarm timer begins timing when the panel is in the alert
stage. When the general alarm timer times out, the system will go into a general alarm, where
all signals in the building will sound.
Indicating Circuit
A circuit in a fire alarm system that is connected to audible or visual signalling devices.
Initiating Circuit
A circuit in a fire alarm system that is connected to detectors, pull stations, or sprinkler flow
switches.
Latching Circuit
A circuit that, when activated, will cause a condition on the panel that cannot be cleared until
the panel is reset.
LED
The light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of the FA-300 ar colored either amber, red, or green. When
lit, LEDs provide information regarding the status of the panel.
Property and Building Safety Condition
Occurs when dampers open or close, when supply and return fans are running, etc.
Non-latching Circuit
A circuit that, when activated, will cause a condition on the panel that will be cleared once the
circuit is deactivated. This term is used to describe supervisory and trouble circuits.
Non-Silenceable Circuit
A signal circuit that cannot be silenced by pressing the Signal Silence button.

18 (20)
Glossary
Relay Circuit
A circuit in a fire alarm system that connects relay devices (e.g. fan damper relays, etc).
Remote Annunciator
A device that visually indicates, either by LCD or LEDs, the floor or zone where the alarm
originated.
Single Stage System
A type of fire alarm system that immediately sounds all the signals throughout the building
when an alarm is detected in any part of the system.
Silenceable Circuit
A signal circuit that can be silenced by pressing the Signal Silence button.
Supervisory Condition
Occurs when the system detects open circuits, short circuits, and grounds. A supervisory
condition is one that would interfere with the operation of
the fire alarm system.
Trouble Condition
Occurs when an abnormal condition such as a problem in the wiring, battery or power circuits
exists in the fire alarm system.
Trouble Flash Rate
20 flashes per minute is the rate at which an LED will flash to indicate a trouble condition.
Two Stage System
A type of fire alarm system that causes an alert signal to sound when an alarm is detected in
any part of the system. An alert signal advises designated persons of a fire emergency. If the
alert signal is not acknowledged within five minutes of its initiation, an alarm signal will
automatically sound throughout the building.
Walk Test
A test performed by a technician to ensure that each detection device is connected to the
panel and working properly.
Zones
A fire alarm protected area that consists of at least one circuit. The terms “circuit” and “zone”
are often used interchangeably in the fire alarm industry.

19 (20)
Glossary

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