Eaton Solista LED Beacon, Red Flash, Clear Lens, Red Housing, Shallow Base 811062FULL-0094

Overview

A beacon adds a visual signal to a fire alarm, for people who may not hear the sounders. This one is part of Eaton's Solista range, with an LED light source and a compact shallow base.

It is made for conventional systems. Other styles are in the wider range of fire alarm sounders and beacons.

How it works

• LED light source: the flash comes from LEDs rather than a xenon tube. LEDs usually draw less current, which matters on a busy sounder circuit.
• Conventional wiring: it connects to a conventional sounder circuit, which the panel powers when the alarm sounds.
• Modes: it has 4 modes. Set them during commissioning to suit the site.

Where to use it

IP21 protects against fingers and dripping water, so it suits dry indoor areas.

The guide to commercial fire alarm systems explains where beacons are usually added, such as noisy areas or where occupants may not hear a sounder.

What the figures mean in practice

• 93 × 53 mm: a small, low-profile device that sits close to the wall.
• -10 °C to 55 °C: the ambient range it is rated for, so check unheated spaces that drop below freezing.
• EN 50130-4:2011: a standard for resistance to electrical interference in alarm system parts. It is not a light output rating.

Installing it

• Surface mounting: fix the shallow base to a flat wall, with the cable coming in at the rear.
• Polarity: as a rule, sounder circuit devices are polarised, so observe the marked terminals when wiring.
• Circuit load: add up every device on the circuit and check it against the panel's output before commissioning.

Planning your system

Every beacon hangs off a conventional fire alarm panel, so check its sounder outputs before adding devices. Larger jobs may need extra fire alarm power supplies.

Another LED beacon in the same family is the Solista Maxi LED beacon. The full fire alarm systems range covers detectors and call points too.