PEL Fire Warn Panel ?

[Fergie]

Has anyone had any dealings with PEL Fire Warn panels? Was called out to a fault on a panel, which is 18/20 Zone BFP 6135N. It’s a panel that I have not come across before and appears to be a 2-wire SAV system with Apollo Sav- wire bases and detectors.

As usual no manual available for the panel, all the customer could tell me was that it had been installed approximately 15 years ago and has not been serviced for sometime. I managed to locate and clear the fault but could not see a way to test the system without having someone else to reset the panel controls as no way to isolate the sounders, unless anyone else knows otherwise?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Davro]

If you find out of no way of testing the alarm without the sounders going then i would disconnect all other zones and leave/test the zone your in, that way only sounders work in that area. But i will say i do not know if that is o.k to do in a service, but there again at the end i would connect all zones back in and let it go as a live test before leaving site. 

[JonnyG]

Could you not connect a diode across the zones you want to test, therefore not allowing the polarity to reverse??

[Fergie]

Good point! Just means that I will need to carry out testing zones individually but will still require someone to reset the panel after each device is activated. Zones can be disabled without the need to disconnect via internal switches within the panel. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with this make of panel when it comes to testing?  

[David Rooney]

I think PEL simply badged up Protector Alarms panels out of Crystal Palace .. but not sure.... they'll send you a manual if you need it.

If it is one of theirs, depending on the panel, you could put it into on man test using an internal slide switch and also isolating the auxillary contacts - another internal slide switch or key switch on the front.....

[Fergie]

Thanks for your input guys, it’s always helpful when someone else has come across similar panels. I will have another look at the panel to see if I can ID it further and also if I can locate the switches you describe ……………..

[colin todd]

PEL was Planned Eqipment Ltd. Their ex technical director works for us. Email me with specific enquiry.

[Fergie]

Thanks Colin

Will contact you directly.

[Benzerari]

Could you not connect a diode across the zones you want to test, therefore not allowing the polarity to reverse??

This is a good point, worth trying it. 

[Wiz]

Could you not connect a diode across the zones you want to test, therefore not allowing the polarity to reverse??

JonnyG, can you please explain (technically) why this works?

[JonnyG]

I can't Wiz, I just know it works with our Sav-wire panels, so assumed that it would be the same here.

[Allen Higginson]

Sav Wire panels reverse the voltage on the zone to drive the sounders so the diode stops it going through on an activation.

[JonnyG]

That's what I thought. Just thought Wiz was looking a more in depth explanation.

[dark one]

have not seen one for years but from what i remember zones can be put into test by means of dil switches we would put one zone into test and isolate the others again by dil switches on the right hand side of the pcb

[Fergie]

As I mentioned earlier the panel does have internal dil switches to isolate and disable each zone individually, but I can’t for the life of me see how you put the panel into one- man test and avoid the need for a second person to reset the panel each time a device is activated?

There is another set of dil switches marked up as ‘optional switches’ but I’m unsure as to what they are for and why they are set in the manner that they are? Until I can obtain a manual or be advised as to how or if, the panel can be put into test mode then JonnyG’s idea of fitting a diode across the zones might be worth a try.