Driller Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 Anyone here know a thing or two about these bell boxes? Just connected to a Dimension panel, outputs 1001 and 1002 for bells and strobe, bells working fine but the strobe isn’t activating when testing outputs. First time I’ve installed one of these (only the old Odyssey series and never had a problem) and I was surprised when the siren didn’t sound briefly before going into the “special engineer mode” when first connecting to the panel. Thanks for any help anyone can provide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte Carlo Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 Assuming it is -ve for strobe, what happens if you connect the wire for the strobe to a permanent -ve? Quote I don't have a signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driller Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 I was just about to say that I’m about to test the strobe output with a multimeter but that’s even better! I’ll report back shortly-thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driller Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 (edited) Ok strobe works when connected to ground. Hmmmm. Why is my strobe output not strobing? It’s configured as a strobe output Edited April 27 by Driller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driller Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 Perhaps it has something to do with these output contacts? I’ve installed several G2 systems which didn’t have this “relay” type affair on these outputs. There’s a common, a NO and an NC. I have connected to the NC contact (just to the right of bells 1001). I’m going to post a very small section of the output diagram, I hope I’m not breaking any rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driller Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 (edited) And continuing the conversation, I wonder if I shouldn’t connect the C terminal of that relay to ground? Otherwise the strobe light isn’t going to have anything to sink to Edited April 27 by Driller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 That will be it yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driller Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 26 minutes ago, sixwheeledbeast said: That will be it yes. Thanks for the confirmation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 28 minutes ago, sixwheeledbeast said: That will be it yes. Eh? 2 minutes ago, Driller said: Thanks for the confirmation Why don't you just use proper output instead of relay? Is an output available and programmable for strobe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte Carlo Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 It could be said that you should programme the strobe output as bell, so if the alarm activates and stops 15 minutes later, no one will know the alarm has activated and not been reset. (As the strobe is no longer flashing) 1 Quote I don't have a signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driller Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 1 hour ago, al-yeti said: Eh? Why don't you just use proper output instead of relay? Is an output available and programmable for strobe? It’s a fair point and I could have done as there are plenty of available outputs but: 1) I’m bloody minded and have OCD and I wanted to do it as written in the manual rather than taking an “easy” option but also to find out exactly how the relay thing worked. 2) In the manual it says that this “strobe relay” is rated at 30V, 1A and I reflexively assumed that it would give better protection somehow. Must be there for a reason right? In hindsight, since it’s sinking to the ground anyway I don’t see how this would make a difference. As usual, I may be talking complete bollox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 Don't use Galaxy much but it's just what the default programming is IIRC. 1=Bell 2=Strobe, you could use whichever they are programmable. A dry relay with only one wire isn't connecting to anything on contact changeover. FWIW I would also use "bell follow" type output for strobe, to cancel the strobe with the bell like above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 If your concerned about current look at the specifications of the output and what the device will pull, but would expect it to be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driller Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 50 minutes ago, Monte Carlo said: It could be said that you should programme the strobe output as bell, so if the alarm activates and stops 15 minutes later, no one will know the alarm has activated and not been reset. (As the strobe is no longer flashing) Just reread this (with SWB’s prompting) and will do as you suggest, makes a lot of sense, thanks for the advice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 The system will still rearm regardless, the number of times its programmed for. You just don't have the strobe flashing all the time until you get to site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte Carlo Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 The original strobe (Xenon flash tube) did draw a lot of current for what it was, in some cases this would be too much for the "output" transistor so it was suggested a relay be used, but with most modern strobes being LEDs, it is not a problem. (And even then, most bell box xenon strobes were feeble) Quote I don't have a signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 2 hours ago, Monte Carlo said: The original strobe (Xenon flash tube) did draw a lot of current for what it was, in some cases this would be too much for the "output" transistor so it was suggested a relay be used, but with most modern strobes being LEDs, it is not a problem. (And even then, most bell box xenon strobes were feeble) It's a trigger tho not supplying current ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 C-Type days, standalone strobes can be a few hundred mA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte Carlo Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 15 hours ago, al-yeti said: It's a trigger tho not supplying current ? I see. (Correct me if I am wrong ) You are thinking that as the panel terminal is listed as "Trigger" you are saying "When the trigger operates what ever it is connected to (Strobe in this case) will operate, and in so doing it will draw its current from the supply to the device (Sounder in this case) not draw its power via the trigger?" It is possible to do as you say, a typical example is the Master blaster, 12v is used to trigger it, but it draws its current from the mains supply it has. ..............Back to the Odyssey X. It is up to the designer of any sounder how it actually works, so short of getting one and testing it, we will never know for sure. Back in the day, when you had to make your bell box up (And it had a real bell inside it ) and you bolted the strobe on too, the strobe often went back on its own pair (It only needed one wire, but often a pair was used) they did draw quite a lot of current 500+mA But one thing is for sure, some panels they have outputs (The Galaxy does) some (few) have triggers. I suspect that they are all OUTPUTS meaning you can draw upto X amount of current through them. Quote I don't have a signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 7 hours ago, sixwheeledbeast said: C-Type days, standalone strobes can be a few hundred mA. Ah Ok ,I thought just trigger problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driller Posted May 1 Author Share Posted May 1 On 28/04/2022 at 15:46, Monte Carlo said: Back in the day, when you had to make your bell box up (And it had a real bell inside it ) and you bolted the strobe on too, the strobe often went back on its own pair Incredible to hear this, must have been a completely different work dynamic back then! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrHappy Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 11 hours ago, Driller said: Incredible to hear this Its was back in those crazy days of NHS dentist's & Doctors doing home visits Quote Mr Veritas God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 Home visits? Your lucky if your allowed in the surgery at the moment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrHappy Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 37 minutes ago, sixwheeledbeast said: Home visits? Your lucky if your allowed in the surgery at the moment... I'll PM you my google review... Quote Mr Veritas God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driller Posted May 2 Author Share Posted May 2 14 hours ago, MrHappy said: Its was back in those crazy days of NHS dentist's & Doctors doing home visits Progress 14 hours ago, sixwheeledbeast said: Home visits? Your lucky if your allowed in the surgery at the moment... It drives me absolutely f*$king mad! There's a whole bunch of dentists who haven't done a scale and and polish for 2 years "because covid". What the f*$k do they think is going to happen? It's a wonder they are brave enough to to get out of bed in the morning, it's pathetic. When it all started they were all posting up images of themselves PROUDLY wearing diving gear type respirators with tubes and seals all over the place. Absolute madness and as you say the GPs are just as bad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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