Advanced MxPro 5 Addressable Fire Alarm Panel, 1 Loop, Argus Vega, Standard Enclosure MX-5101V

Overview

A fire alarm control panel is the brain of a fire system: it watches every detector and call point, decides when there is a fire and drives the sounders. This Advanced panel is the standard-enclosure, Argus Vega version of the 1 loop MxPro 5 panel, one of the commercial fire alarm panels in the MxPro 5 series.

Engineers configure it through a graphical display and keypad, while the end user gets clear zonal LEDs and dedicated buttons for Mute, Silence, Resound and Evacuate.

How it works

• Addressable loop: the panel talks to each device on its loop in turn, so it can name the device that raised an alarm rather than just a zone. Every device on the loop must speak the same protocol as the panel, and here that is Argus Vega.
• Cause and effect: programmable rules link inputs to outputs, and enhanced trace diagnostics help with fault finding.
• Dual processors: dual flash-based processors with a real-time clock run the panel and keep the event log of 5000 event and diagnostic entries plus 500 fire entries.

Where to use it

It suits a single building with one loop of devices, and Advanced positions the panel for sites from small premises to large multi-area systems once networked. The steel enclosure is IP30, so it belongs indoors in a dry area, between -5°C and 40°C and up to 95% humidity.

What the figures mean in practice

• 200 zones per panel: a zone is the area a responder is sent to. Up to 200 come by default without extra hardware, and 2000 across a network.
• 3A total output: the loop, the two sounder circuits and the 24v auxiliary supply share this budget, so total the loads before adding devices.
• 4Ah to 7Ah batteries: the standard enclosure holds internal standby batteries sized between those limits; work out the size from the system's standby and alarm load.

Installing it

The equipment chassis lifts out and uses plug-in connectors, which makes fixing the box and terminating cables simpler. Cables enter through 13 top and 8 rear 20mm knockouts.

During commissioning, Auto-learn and loop detection find the devices, and the onboard scope helps diagnose loop problems. The two 1 Amp sounder circuits drive conventional sounders and bells wired to them.

Planning your system

• Relays: two programmable 1 Amp relays are on board, and the MXP-507 relay card takes the relay count to 4.
• Networking: fit an MXP-503 standard network card, or an MXP-509 fault-tolerant card, to join other MxPro 5 panels, remote terminals, BMS or graphical interfaces.
• Monitoring: the on-board Ethernet port connects to AdvancedLive for real-time management of the fire system.
• Metalwork: a flushing bezel lets the panel sit part-recessed in the wall, and a battery box, utility enclosure or termination enclosure adds room where the job needs it.

Standards and ratings explained

EN54-2 covers fire alarm control and indicating equipment, and EN54-4 covers its power supply equipment; this panel is approved to both. IP30 means the enclosure keeps out fingers and tools but offers no protection against water.