Looking for beginner advice and resources for fire & security apprenticeship

[EJKibble]

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently started my fire and security apprenticeship and I’m really keen to learn as much as I can. I’ve been getting a lot of help from my colleagues on site, but if I’m honest a lot of things aren't really clicking yet. I’d love to start doing some extra learning at home, but I’m not sure where to start.

The main things I’m struggling with at the moment are understanding the wiring of different devices and getting to grips with what each device actually does. For example, I often hear about things like relays, zone monitors, tampers etc (+way more) but I don’t fully understand how they work or how they fit into a system.
 

If anyone could point me toward good resources online or just share any advice from your own experience, I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks a lot!

[PeterJames]

Ask your boss if you can take stuff home to wire up and play with, if he is a good boss he should be impressed.(If he isnt he isnt a good boss) I learned loads at home on with old panels that I had removed to update, as well as new panels that I was installing. There is nothing like it for gaining confidence in how to program panels and how to wire them etc. Make sure you have the engineers manual for any old panels that you take home, as the programming is not the same as the ones you currently install.

Well done for finding here and asking, many young lads/lass's wont have the initiative to do that, you are obviously keen, stick around we will help where we can.

[al-yeti]

1 hour ago, EJKibble said:

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently started my fire and security apprenticeship and I’m really keen to learn as much as I can. I’ve been getting a lot of help from my colleagues on site, but if I’m honest a lot of things aren't really clicking yet. I’d love to start doing some extra learning at home, but I’m not sure where to start.

The main things I’m struggling with at the moment are understanding the wiring of different devices and getting to grips with what each device actually does. For example, I often hear about things like relays, zone monitors, tampers etc (+way more) but I don’t fully understand how they work or how they fit into a system.
 

If anyone could point me toward good resources online or just share any advice from your own experience, I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks a lot!

Yes as above

 

They must have stuff you can play around with in spare time 

 

If you can source an addressable and standard panel you will be off to a good start 

 

Although I still believe a basic electronics course of sorts will help you aswell

 

I still get half the stuff that goes on , have to sometimes do things repeatedly and experiment to make it work 

 

But some products are basically stoopid 

[MrHappy]

Everything is a switch....

 

You always ask questions on an internet forum ?

 

eg- my employer fits Kentec Sigma Fire alarms, could anyone describe how the fire relay works on the control panel & what it could be used for ?

 

A relay is switch operated by circuit board aplying voltage, (in the same manner as you operating a light switch at home by hand)

There are 3 screw terminal on the pcb mark NO/ C /NC

Normally Open

Common

Normally Closed

 

Measured with multi meter on Ω's you will have a circuit between NC & C in its normal state (light switch on)

Measured with multi meter on Ω's you will not have a circuit between NO & C in its normal state (light switch off)

 

When the Panel is on Fire the Relay operate & the state is reversed

 

Measured with multi meter on Ω's you will not have a circuit between NC & C (light switch off)

Measured with multi meter on Ω's you will have a circuit between NO & C in its normal state (light switch on)

 

A practical application is door retainer for a fire door, its need power to hold the door open on magnet, other wise the overhead door closer pulls the door shut

The positive voltage is switched by the NC/C terminals on the fire controls

When the controls are normal the switch is closed

When "in fire" the switch is open so there is no power for the door retainer

 

Once you have an old panel you can faff around & work out whats what.

It much easier on a bench than...

 

[MrHappy]

15 minutes ago, al-yeti said:

But some products are basically stoopid

 

There are also lots of terms which mean the same thing

 

Double Balanced

Fully Supervised Loop

Double End of Line

 

Same thing called different name by different intruder alarm makers

[EJKibble]

All very useful, thanks so much for the replies. 
 

If there are any good resources online I’d love to hear them as well

 

[MrHappy]

39 minutes ago, EJKibble said:

If there are any good resources online I’d love to hear them as well

 

Lots of stuff is product dependent,

 

Is your firm a pyronix user ?