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Fire
LP800 Loop Tester
User Manual V1.3.0
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CONTENTS
CONTENTS
1 Table of contents 2
2 Hardware connections 3
3 Software 3
3.1 Installation 3
3.2 Start up 3
4 Loop devices 4-5
4.1 Pre-addressed 4
4.1.1 Retrieve existing devices 4
4.1.2 Standard search 4
4.1.3 Search defined range 4
4.1.4 Search range of selected loop 4
4.2 Soft addressing 5
4.3 Remove addresses 5
5 Device statuses 5-8
5.1 Device icons 5
5.1.1 Analogue values 6
5.1.2 Details 6
5.1.3 Test LED 7
5.1.4 Automatic test LED 7
5.1.5 Cycling test LEDs 7
5.2 Device settings 7
5.2.1 Device classes 8
5.2.2 Copying settings 8
5.3 Filters 8
6 Reports 9
6.1 History log 9
6.1.1 Communication 9
6.1.2 Event 9
6.1.3 Device status 9
6.2 Loop overview 9
7 Loop databases 10-12
7.1 What is a loop database? 10
7.2 Loop database sources 10
7.2.1 Site Installer database 10
7.2.2 From a panel 10
7.3 Selecting a loop 10
7.4 Using loop data 11
7.4.1 Compare the detected loop 11
7.4.2 Pre-addressed search 11
7.5 Saving loop data 12
8 Supported devices 12
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2 HARDWARE CONNECTIONS
The loop tester hardware requires a free serial port on the
PC, either internal or via a USB extension, a mains power
supply and a direct connection to the device loop. It need
only be connected to one end of the loop, effectively making
it a spur.
• Connect the loop leads into the loop tester hardware
ensuring to match the positive and negative
sides of the connection.
• Connect the device to the PC serial port using a regular RS232 cable.
• Power up the device before loading the PC software to avoid confusion.
3 SOFTWARE
The install program will guide you through the setup process, including asking for a password. This
password is to prevent unauthorised and/or accident readdress of loop devices. See “Soft
addressing.” The password maybe left blank if desired.
3.1 Installation
On start up, the application will attempt to connect to the
loop device via the com port last used. On first run, no
connection will be attempted until a port is selected from the
list. Upon successfully opening the com port an initial
handshake with the hardware is performed. If this fails,
please ensure all hardware is correctly connected and the
device has a working mains power supply. If the device is
connected to a port other than the default, select it from the
drop down list. This will restart the connection and handshake process. If the port you’re using is not
listed, seek technical advice from your administrator or consult your hardware documentation.
Upon successful connection to the loop tester hardware, you will be informed in the status bar and
the features for interfacing with the loop will be enabled.
3.2 Start up
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PUBLIC ACCESS LEVEL 1
4 LOOP DEVICES
This process simply queries the loop for all devices and uses their existing address. No change to the
devices take place and is thus suitable for working on an already commissioned loop.
4.1.1 Retrieve existing devices
Simply and quickly retrieves devices currently known to the loop tester hardware. No querying
of the loop is performed. This does require that hardware have learnt the contents of the loop
since being power up.
4.1.2 Standard search
A standard search polls each address in turn until no device is found. This is fine if you are sure
the loop is complete and all devices are addressable. If you believe otherwise, see sections
4.1.3 and 4.1.4.
4.1.3 Search defined range
Like a standard search, but this will search all addresses in turn up to a define point entered by
the user. This will allow the hardware to detect all connected devices, even if earlier devices are
missing or otherwise un-addressable.
4.1.4 Search range of selected loop
Functionally identical to “Search defined range” except the range is defined according to the
currently selected loop data. See section 7 “Loop databases” for details on loading and using
loop data.
4.1 Pre-addressed
Before devices on the loop can be interfaced with, they need to be addressed and learned by the
loop tester. If the loop being tested is already commissioned, using the existing device addresses is
advisable under normal circumstances. Once the loop devices have been learnt by either of the
processes below, the features for querying the loop devices will be enabled and the view will
automatically switch to the “Devices” pane.
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4 LOOP DEVICES
4.2 Soft addressing
Soft addressing will assign a new, and potentially different, address to every device found on the
loop. This does mean that once testing is complete, the loop will have to be commissioned again by
the panel it is to be connected to. Do not use this option unless you have to. A password will be
required from the user to initiate the soft addressing process to avoid unauthorised and/or accidental
readdressing of commissioned loop devices. See “Installation.”
4.3 Remove addresses
Removes the address from all connected devices; essentially resetting them back to factory settings.
This option requires the same password as “Soft addressing” for the same reasons.
5 DEVICE STATUSES
The “Devices” pane will show all known devices on the loop.
If a device is missing it most likely indicates a problem with
the physical connections in the loop. This will need to be
resolved before any interaction with the missing devices will
be possible. A “Missing device” icon will be displayed if the
loop was searched over a specific range.
The device icons each show a symbolic representation of
the device type along with its given address. Devices are
displayed in address order, although this may be different to the order they are physically connected.
To the right of this, the textual device type, analogue value and status as determined by its analogue
value. See “Device settings.”
If an “Unknown device” appears on your loop, it could be that the device is faulty and sending an
incorrect type ID back to the loop tester hardware. This can be confirmed in the communications log.
It could also mean that the version of Loop Tester you are using does not recognise the device
because it is new. Please obtain a newer release of the software. Section 8 lists currently support
devices.
5.1 Device icons
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