Eaton Alarm Zone Expander, 10 Wired Zones, 4 Outputs, Bus Connected EXP-W10

What this expander is for

A control panel has a set number of zones on board, and a zone is one monitored point such as a detector or a door contact. Once they are used, or when detectors sit far from the panel, an expander adds more.

This Eaton expander sits on the bus, which is the data cable linking the panel to its keypads and modules.

How it works

• Decimal expansion: each expander gives you ten zones, so numbering runs in tens. That makes a zone number easier to trace to its expander.
• FSL: fully supervised loop wiring uses resistors, so the panel can tell an alarm from a tamper or a cut cable on the same pair.
• CC: closed circuit is the older method. The 2 wire and 4 wire options let existing wiring stay in place on a takeover.
• Semi-automatic addressing: this makes addressing simpler, with no address links to lose or set twice.

Where to use it

It suits a larger house or commercial building, and any job where a group of detectors sits far from the panel. Putting an expander near them means fewer long cable runs.

Environmental Class 2 and a plastic housing point to a protected indoor position. Class 2 is usually treated as an indoor rating.

What the figures mean in practice

• 4 outputs: these can drive other equipment from the expander, so you may not need to run every output cable back to the panel.
• Grade 2 or 3: this expander can be used in systems at either grade. The whole system's grade is still set by its lowest graded part.
• Loudspeaker connection: a speaker can be planned at the expander. Check the speaker's value against the installation manual.

Installing it

• Finding it later: the device locator activates the buzzer inside, so you can walk the site listening for it on a service visit.
• Power: this model has no battery charge output. If the bus cannot power it at that distance, the EXP-PSU-SM from the same range has its own supply.
• Before ordering: check your panel's documentation to confirm it can take expanders.

Planning your system

You need an i-on control panel with bus capacity and alarm cable for the bus and each zone.

Add the detectors and contacts to fill the zones, and allow for their current in your supply figures. Check the manual for the expander's own current.