FieldServer FS-8700-105 User Manual

A Sierra Monitor Company

Driver Manual

(Supplement to the FieldServer Instruction Manual)

FS-8700-105

National Time & Signal FACP

(Fire Alarm Control Panel) Driver

APPLICABILITY & EFFECTIVITY

Effective for all systems manufactured after May 1, 2001

FS-8700-105_National_Time_and_Signal_FACP Manual Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Time & Signal FACP Driver Description......................................................... 1

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

1.01 Supplied by FieldServer Technologies for this driver ................................................... 2

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

1.02 Connection Notes...........................................................................................................3

4. Configuring the FieldServer as a National Time & Signal FACP Client......................4

1.03 Data Arrays/Descriptors................................................................................................. 4

1.04 Client Side Connection Descriptions ............................................................................. 5

1.05 Client Side Node Descriptors......................................................................................... 6

1.06 Client Side Map Descriptors.......................................................................................... 7

4.1.1. FieldServer Related Map Descriptor Parameters...................................................... 7

4.1.2. Driver Related Map Descriptor Parameters .............................................................. 7

4.1.3. Timing Parameters...................................................................................................... 8

4.1.4. Map Descriptor Example 1 – Port has no Sub-Ports................................................. 9

4.1.5. Map Descriptor Example 2 – Port has Sub-Ports.................................................... 10

5. Configuring the FieldServer as a National Time & Signal FACP Server................... 11

Appendix A. Advanced Topics.............................................................................................. 12

Appendix A.1. Modifying the Trouble String Table............................................................. 12

Appendix A.2. Controlling which arrays get cleared when a Reset is received. .................. 12

Appendix A.3. Controlling case sensitivity in Trouble String Matching.............................. 13

Appendix A.4. Trouble Strings ............................................................................................. 13

Appendix A.5. Panel / Driver Synchronization..................................................................... 15

Appendix A.6. Connection Status.........................................................................................15

Appendix A.7. Node Status................................................................................................... 15

Appendix B. Troubleshooting tips........................................................................................ 17

Appendix B.1. Connection Tips & Hints.............................................................................. 17

Appendix B.2. Exposing Driver operating Statistics............................................................ 17

Appendix B.3. Driver Error Messages.................................................................................. 18

Appendix C. Revision History............................................................................................... 25

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

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Toll_Free: 888-509-1970 email: [e-mail]

FS-8700-105_National_Time_and_Signal_FACP Manual Page 1 of 25

1. National Time & Signal FACP Driver Description

Fire Alarm Control Panels (FACPs) are manufactured by the National Time and Signal Corp.
The series 900 and 902 FACP’s can be purchased with a ‘BACnet’ interface option. When
suitably equipped and when this interface is enabled, the FACPs can transmit data to a
FieldServer which can, in turn, make this data available to other devices including devices which
are capable of communicating using the BACnet and other protocols.

This driver is a passive client driver. This means that the driver does not actively poll for data but
listens passively for data to be sent by the FACP’s that it is connected to. Messages sent by the
panel are either ignored stored by the FieldServer based on panel status. How these messages
are processed is dependent on the configuration.

No automatic panel data synchronization technique exists. The data in the FieldServer and the
panel status have to be synchronized manually.

This is a serial driver. Data is transferred using RS-232 or RS-485 (with converter).
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 a FACP. Thus the server side is not fully documented. However, at a customer’s
request the server side functionality can be documented and enhanced. If you are interested in
this functionality, then please contact FieldServer’s sales group.

Max Nodes Supported
FieldServer Mode Nodes Comments

Client 1 One such connection can be made per FieldServer port.
Server

Server emulation provided for QA purposes only. Not
supported or documented except at customer request.

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

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Toll_Free: 888-509-1970 email: [e-mail]

FS-8700-105_National_Time_and_Signal_FACP Manual Page 2 of 25

2. Driver Scope of Supply

1.01 Supplied by FieldServer Technologies for this driver

FieldServer Technologies
PART #

Description

FS-8917-16 RJ45 pigtail cable.
FS-8700-105 Driver Manual.

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

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Toll_Free: 888-509-1970 email: [e-mail]

FS-8700-105_National_Time_and_Signal_FACP Manual Page 3 of 25

3. Hardware Connections

The FieldServer is connected to the ‘BACnet’ port of the FACP as shown in connection drawing.

TD

GND

CH1 -

GND

CH2 +

CH2 -

CH1 +

RD

Pin 1 = RX - Brown

Pin 8 = TX - Orange/White

Pin 5 = GND - Blue/White

1.02 Connection Notes

A FACP network consists of up to 32 panels. One of those panels acts as the network
interface by means of its ‘BACnet’ interface port. This interface serves data to the
FieldServer by means of a serial connection. Each one of these connections requires
exclusive use of a FieldServer port. Thus, only one network of FACP’s can be connected to
one FieldServer serial port.

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

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Toll_Free: 888-509-1970 email: [e-mail]

FS-8700-105_National_Time_and_Signal_FACP Manual Page 4 of 25

4. Configuring the FieldServer as a National Time & Signal FACP 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 FS).
This section documents and describes the parameters necessary for configuring the FieldServer
to communicate with a National Time & Signal FACP Server.

1.03 Data Arrays/Descriptors

The configuration file tells the FieldServer about its interfaces, and the routing of data
required. In order to enable the FieldServer for National Time & Signal FACP driver
communications, the driver independent FieldServer buffers need to be declared in the “Data
Arrays” section, the destination device addresses need to be declared in the “Client Side
Nodes” section, and the data required from the servers needs to be mapped in the “Client
Side Map Descriptors” section. Details on how to do this can be found below.

Note that in the tables, * indicates an optional parameter, with the bold legal value being the
default.

Section Title

Data_Arrays

Column Title Function Legal Values

Data_Array_Name Provide name for Data Array

Up to 15 alphanumeric
characters
Float, Bit, UInt16, SInt16,

Data_Array_Format

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

Packed_Bit, Byte,
Packed_Byte,
Swapped_Byte

Number of Data Objects. Must be

Data_Array_Length

larger than the data storage area
required by the Map Descriptors for

1-10,000

the data being placed in this array.

Example

// Data Arrays
Data_Arrays
Data_Array_Name, Data_Format, Data_Array_Length,
DA_AI_01, UInt16, 200
DA_AO_01, UInt16, 200
DA_DI_01, Bit, 200
DA_DO_01, Bit, 200

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

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Toll_Free: 888-509-1970 email: [e-mail]

FS-8700-105_National_Time_and_Signal_FACP Manual Page 5 of 25

1.04 Client Side Connection Descriptions

Section Title

Connections

Column Title Function Legal Values

Port

Specify which port the device is
connected to the FieldServer

P1-P81
National_Time_FACP,

Protocol Specify protocol used

National_Time_Fire,
natsco_facp

Baud* Specify baud rate

9600 Baud (Vendor

limitation)
Parity* Specify parity None (Vendor limitation)
Data_Bits* Specify data bits 8 (Vendor limitation)
Stop_Bits* Specify stop bits 1 (Vendor limitation)
Handshaking* Specify hardware handshaking

None

Specify a time in seconds. The
driver reports the connection as
being offline when a new valid

NATSfacp_Timeout*

message has not been received on
the connection during this interval.
Each time one is received the

0-600 seconds.

Default = 180Secs.

interval is restarted. If this parameter
is omitted then the driver assumes a
period of 180 seconds.
Use this parameter to specify a Data
Array. The Data Array need only
contain one element as only the 1st
element is used for the connection
status. If the connection is ‘online’

st

element is set to 1. If the

Up to 15 alphanumeric

characters

NATSfacp_Status_DA*

then the 1
connection is offline then the 1st
element is set to zero.

We recommend that the Length of
the DA be set to 33. One element for
the connection status and the other
32 elements for Node / Panel Status.
Further information is provided in
Appendix A.7

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

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FS-8700-105_National_Time_and_Signal_FACP Manual Page 6 of 25

Example

// Client Side Connections

Connections
Port, Protocol, Baud, Parity, NATSfacp_Timeout, NATSfacp_Status_DA
P8, National_Time_Fire, 9600, None, 120s, DA_NATS_STATUS1

1.05 Client Side Node Descriptors

Create one node for each panel connected to the National Time & Signal Network. You can
have multiple nodes on the same port.

Section Title

Nodes

Column Title Function Legal Values

Node_Name Provide name for node Up to 32 alphanumeric characters
Node_ID

Protocol Specify protocol used

Connection

This parameter is used to specify
the PANEL number.

Specify which port the device is
connected to the FieldServer

1-32
National_Time_FACP,

National_Time_Fire, natsco_facp
P1-P82

Example

// Client Side Nodes

Nodes
Node_Name, Node_ID, Protocol, Connection
Panel1, 1, National_Time_FACP, P1
Panel2, 2, National_Time_FACP, P1

2

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: 888-509-1970 email: [e-mail]

FS-8700-105_National_Time_and_Signal_FACP Manual Page 7 of 25

1.06 Client Side Map Descriptors

4.1.1. FieldServer Related Map Descriptor Parameters

Column Title Function Legal Values

Map_Descriptor_Name

Data_Array_Name

Data_Array_Offset

Function

Name of this Map
Descriptor
Name of Data Array where
data is to be stored in the
FieldServer
Starting location in Data
Array
Function of Client Map
Descriptor

Up to 32 alphanumeric
characters
One of the Data Array names
from “Data Array” section
above
0 to maximum specified in
“Data Array” section above

RDBC, WRBC, WRBX

4.1.2. Driver Related Map Descriptor Parameters

Column

Title

Function Legal Values

Node_Name Name of Node to fetch data from

You must specify one of the 4 choices.

If the ‘Any’ type is used then all messages will be
stored using the MD irrespective of the Data

Data_Type

Type.

Do not create two MD’s with all parameters the
same except that one has a specific Data Type and
the other has ‘Any’. The driver can only store data
in one MD.

Board

Loop

The Board Number. One set of Map Descriptors
required for each board.
The Loop number on the Board. One set of Map
Descriptors required for each loop.
Use one of the 4 permitted values shown on the

Port-Type

right. You can abbreviate the port-types to use the

st

1

character.

The address and length are used to specify a range

Address

of Port Numbers. Think of the Address as a
synonym for port.
Starting address of read block

One of the node
names specified in
“Client Node
Descriptor” above

Alarm
Trouble
Supervisory
Other
Any

1, 2, 3 etc...

1,2,3 etc

Input; Output;
Fault; P(Other)

1,2, 3 … etc

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

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Toll_Free: 888-509-1970 email: [e-mail]