FieldServer FCI E3 User Manual

Driver Version:

1.02

Document Revision:

5

APPLICABILITY & EFFECTIVITY

Effective for all systems manufactured after September 2010

Driver Manual

(Supplement to the FieldServer Instruction Manual)

FS-8700-132 Gamewell FCI E3 Series Serial Driver

A Sierra Monitor Company

FS-8700-132 Gamewell FCI-E3Driver Manual Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Gamewell FCI-E3 Series Serial Driver Description ........................................................................................... 3

2 Driver Scope of Supply ................................................................................................................................... 3

2.1 Supplied by FieldServer Technologies for this driver ..................................................................................... 3

2.2 Provided by the Supplier of 3rd Party Equipment .......................................................................................... 3

2.2.1 Required 3rd Party Hardware ................................................................................................................. 3

3 Hardware Connections ................................................................................................................................... 4

4 Data Array Parameters ................................................................................................................................... 5

5 Configuring the FieldServer as a Gamewell FCI-E3 Series Serial Client ............................................................ 6

5.1 Client Side Connection Parameters ............................................................................................................... 6

5.2 Client Side Node Parameters ......................................................................................................................... 7

5.3 Client Side Map Descriptor Parameters ......................................................................................................... 7

5.3.1 FieldServer Related Map Descriptor Parameters ................................................................................... 7

5.3.2 Driver Related Map Descriptor Parameters ........................................................................................... 8

5.4 Map Descriptor Example 1 – Sensor / Module Events .................................................................................. 9

5.5 Map Descriptor Example 2 – Bit Storage ..................................................................................................... 10

Appendix A. Useful Features ................................................................................................................................ 11

Appendix A.1. Extending the Event Table ................................................................................................................ 11

Appendix A.1.1. Index value of 'Trouble' is updated to a new value of 100 ..................................................... 11

Appendix A.1.2. New Entry is added ................................................................................................................ 11

Appendix A.2. Panel Synchronization ...................................................................................................................... 11

Appendix A.3. Networked Panels. ........................................................................................................................... 12

Appendix B. Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................................... 13

Appendix C. Reference ......................................................................................................................................... 14

Appendix C.1. Data Storage Methodology .............................................................................................................. 14

Appendix C.1.1. Example: ................................................................................................................................. 14

Appendix C.2. Events and Event Categories ............................................................................................................ 15

Appendix C.3. Driver Error Messages. ..................................................................................................................... 17

Appendix C.4. Driver Stats Exposed. ........................................................................................................................ 19

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FS-8700-132 Gamewell FCI-E3 Driver Manual Page 3 of 20

FieldServer
Mode

Nodes

Comments

Client

1

One Node per serial port. If there is more than one alarm panel they can be networked
and configured to send event data to the primary panel. The driver can process
messages which identify the node of origin.

FieldServer Technologies PART #

Description

FS-8917-16

Pigtail cable for RJ45 Port for RS-232 use

1 GAMEWELL FCI-E3 SERIES SERIAL DRIVER DESCRIPTION

The Gamewell FCI E3 Series System Control Units are manufactured by Fire Control Instruments. A Gamewell FCI­E3 Panel with an enabled serial port can transmit data to a FieldServer which can, in turn, make the data available
to other devices including those which communicate using different protocols. Messages received from the E3 are
analyzed and are then either discarded or used to update the FieldServer’s internal Data Arrays depending on the
configuration of the FieldServer. Once stored in the FieldServer the data is available to be read or written using
other protocols.

This passive Client driver does not poll for data, nor does it send data or commands to the E3, thus it cannot be
used to acknowledge, silence or reset alarms and other events.

No automatic panel data synchronization technique exists. The data in the FieldServer and the panel status have to
be synchronized manually. This typically requires a panel reset.

The driver can process messages from networked panels. The driver connects to the main panel. Subsidiary
panels are configured to send event data to the main panel which then sends messages to the FieldServer. Node
information is sent in the line preceding the event and the driver uses this to determine the panel at which the
event originated and to store data appropriately.

The driver provides both Client and Server emulation. The Server side of the driver is intended to support
FieldServer’s Quality Assurance program and is not intended to provide complete emulation of an E3 and is thus
not fully documented. Should you require the Server side functionality to be documented and enhanced, please
contact FieldServer’s sales group..

2 DRIVER SCOPE OF SUPP LY

2.1 Supplied by Fiel dServer Technologies for this driver

2.2 Pro vided by the Supplier of 3

rd

Party Equipment

2.2.1 Required 3

 ILI-MB-E3 Board

FieldServer Technologies 1991 Tarob Court Milpitas, California 95035 USA Web: www.fieldserver.com

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Toll Free: [phone] email: [e-mail]

rd

Party Hardware

FS-8700-132 Gamewell FCI-E3 Driver Manual Page 4 of 20

TB6

4321

FieldServer

FieldServer Part #

FS-8917-16

Pigtail for RJ45

Port

RJ45

Connect to one of the RS-232

Ports on the FieldServer

P1

Brown

Blue/white
Orange/White

18

Part of FCI-E3 Panel ILI-MB-E3 Board

Wire Color
RJ-45

Gamewell FCI-E3

Pin

Signal

Signal

Pin

Brown

1

Rx

+ve 2 White/Orange

8

Tx

-ve 1 Blue/white

4

GND

Signal Common Reference

4

3 HARDWARE CONNECTIONS

The FieldServer is connected to the FCI-E3 panel as shown in the connection drawing.

Connector Pinouts

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FS-8700-132 Gamewell FCI-E3 Driver Manual Page 5 of 20

Section Title

Data_Arrays

Column Title

Function

Legal Values

Data_Array_Name

Provide name for Data Array

Up to 15
alphanumeric
characters

Data_Array_Format

Provide data format. Each Data Array can only take on one
format.

FLOAT, BIT, UInt16,
SInt16, Byte.

Data_Array_Length

Number of Data Objects. Must be larger than the data storage
area required by the Map Descriptors for the data being placed in
this array.

1-10, 000
// Data Arrays

Data_Arrays

Data_Array_Name

, Data_Array_Format

, Data_Array_Length

DA_AI_01

, UInt16,

, 200

DA_AO_01

, UInt16

, 200

DA_DI_01

, Bit

, 200

DA_DO_01

, Bit

, 200

4 DATA ARRAY PARAMETER S

Data Arrays are “protocol neutral” data buffers for storage of data to be passed between protocols. It is necessary

to declare the data format of each of the Data Arrays to facilitate correct storage of the relevant data.

Example

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FS-8700-132 Gamewell FCI-E3 Driver Manual Page 6 of 20

Section Title

Connections

Column Title

Function

Legal Values

Port

Specify which port the device is connected to the
FieldServer

P1-P81
Protocol

Specify protocol used

FCI_E3

Baud*

Specify baud rate
Vendor documentation indicated that the only supported
Baud rate was 9600. During testing we learned this was
not true. The driver was tested at 57600 and 9600 baud.
Testing at 115200 Baud produced intermittent result and
should not be used.

9600, 57600
(Vendor Limitation)

Parity*

Specify parity

None (Vendor
Limitation)

Data_Bits*

Specify data bits

8 (Vendor
Limitation)

Stop_Bits*

Specify stop bits

1 (Vendor
Limitation)

FCI_Max_Len_for_Node_line

If the driver is allocating an alarm sent by one panel
(device) to more than one panel inside the FieldServer
then use this parameter. Increase the length to a
maximum of 79 until the problem is resolved.

Positive integer
<80, 68
// Client Side Connections

Connections

Port

, Protocol

, Baud

, Parity

P1

, FCI_E3

, 9600

, None

5 CONFIGURING THE FIEL DSERVER AS A GAMEWELL FCI -E3 SERIES SERIAL CLIENT

For a detailed discussion on FieldServer configuration, please refer to the FieldServer Configuration Manual. The
information that follows describes how to expand upon the factory defaults provided in the configuration files
included with the FieldServer (See “.csv” sample files provided with the FieldServer).

This section documents and describes the parameters necessary for configuring the FieldServer to communicate
with a FCI Series E3.

5.1 Client Side Connection Parameters

Example

1

Not all ports shown are necessarily supported by the hardware. Consult the appropriate Instruction manual for details of the ports available

on specific hardware.

FieldServer Technologies 1991 Tarob Court Milpitas, California 95035 USA Web: www.fieldserver.com

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Toll Free: [phone] email: [e-mail]