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Fire alarm sensors

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2004-07-10 03:33 in General Discussion
Hi to all,

I'm interested in Fire sensors protocol. I plan to design home alarm unit
with combined sensor system.
Does anybody have those data.

regards,
Damir

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-09 17:55
    Hello, I've worked with commercial Fire sensor
    equipment. The protocols tend to be proprietary
    to the vendor, with draconian "Non-Disclosure
    Agreements (NDA)" to be signed if you REALLY
    need the protocol.

    They do tend to use RS-485 drivers/recievers
    on a party-line, if that helps. You can easily
    roll-your-own protocol for your own equipment.

    BUT, you should be aware that Fire sensor equipment
    is definitely considered Life-Safety equipment.
    If your equipment starts any fires, your fire
    insurance my be void. If you want to sell any
    equipment, your reliability requirements may be
    too high for a Stamp-based solution.

    With those disclaimers, Edwards System Technology
    (EST) makes commercial fire equipment.

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Damir Petrinic"
    <damir.petrinic@r...> wrote:
    >
    >
    >
    > Hi to all,
    >
    > I'm interested in Fire sensors protocol. I plan to design home
    alarm unit
    > with combined sensor system.
    > Does anybody have those data.
    >
    > regards,
    > Damir
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-09 19:21
    Thanks for information,

    I'm electronic engineer working on vessel. I have a lot of sensors from
    previous fire alarm system and I would like to use them. Problem is that I
    can not find any protocol data for sensors. Anyway I would like to use any
    of brand name sensors for my system because I would like to design my own
    system but not sensors.
    Is it possible to find any protocol data about.

    Thanks in advance
    Damir

    Original Message
    From: "Allan Lane" <allan.lane@h...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 6:55 PM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: Fw: Fire alarm sensors


    > Hello, I've worked with commercial Fire sensor
    > equipment. The protocols tend to be proprietary
    > to the vendor, with draconian "Non-Disclosure
    > Agreements (NDA)" to be signed if you REALLY
    > need the protocol.
    >
    > They do tend to use RS-485 drivers/recievers
    > on a party-line, if that helps. You can easily
    > roll-your-own protocol for your own equipment.
    >
    > BUT, you should be aware that Fire sensor equipment
    > is definitely considered Life-Safety equipment.
    > If your equipment starts any fires, your fire
    > insurance my be void. If you want to sell any
    > equipment, your reliability requirements may be
    > too high for a Stamp-based solution.
    >
    > With those disclaimers, Edwards System Technology
    > (EST) makes commercial fire equipment.
    >
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Damir Petrinic"
    > <damir.petrinic@r...> wrote:
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > Hi to all,
    > >
    > > I'm interested in Fire sensors protocol. I plan to design home
    > alarm unit
    > > with combined sensor system.
    > > Does anybody have those data.
    > >
    > > regards,
    > > Damir
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-09 21:42
    1. First thing would be to call the vendor of your
    sensors, and ask them. If they ask you to sign
    a non-disclosure, do so.

    2. Second thing would be to reverse-engineer the
    interface of your existing equipment. This is
    harder than #1 above, but if they won't tell you,
    then they won't tell you. Note while
    forbidding reverse-engineering is commonly put
    in software licenses, generally it is un-enforceable.
    Reverse-engineering is allowed by convention.
    If it was patentable, then they should have
    patented it, and you could look it up, pay the
    licensing fees, and use it.

    If it's a trade-secret, then you are allowed to
    reverse engineer it, if you can.


    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Damir Petrinic"
    <damir.petrinic@r...> wrote:
    > Thanks for information,
    >
    > I'm electronic engineer working on vessel. I have a lot of sensors
    from
    > previous fire alarm system and I would like to use them. Problem is
    that I
    > can not find any protocol data for sensors. Anyway I would like to
    use any
    > of brand name sensors for my system because I would like to design
    my own
    > system but not sensors.
    > Is it possible to find any protocol data about.
    >
    > Thanks in advance
    > Damir
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: "Allan Lane" <allan.lane@h...>
    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 6:55 PM
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: Fw: Fire alarm sensors
    >
    >
    > > Hello, I've worked with commercial Fire sensor
    > > equipment. The protocols tend to be proprietary
    > > to the vendor, with draconian "Non-Disclosure
    > > Agreements (NDA)" to be signed if you REALLY
    > > need the protocol.
    > >
    > > They do tend to use RS-485 drivers/recievers
    > > on a party-line, if that helps. You can easily
    > > roll-your-own protocol for your own equipment.
    > >
    > > BUT, you should be aware that Fire sensor equipment
    > > is definitely considered Life-Safety equipment.
    > > If your equipment starts any fires, your fire
    > > insurance my be void. If you want to sell any
    > > equipment, your reliability requirements may be
    > > too high for a Stamp-based solution.
    > >
    > > With those disclaimers, Edwards System Technology
    > > (EST) makes commercial fire equipment.
    > >
    > > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Damir Petrinic"
    > > <damir.petrinic@r...> wrote:
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > Hi to all,
    > > >
    > > > I'm interested in Fire sensors protocol. I plan to design home
    > > alarm unit
    > > > with combined sensor system.
    > > > Does anybody have those data.
    > > >
    > > > regards,
    > > > Damir
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    Subject and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > > Yahoo! Groups Links
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-10 03:33
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Damir Petrinic"
    <damir.petrinic@r...> wrote:
    > Thanks for information,
    >
    > I'm electronic engineer working on vessel. I have a lot of sensors
    from
    > previous fire alarm system and I would like to use them. Problem is
    that I
    > can not find any protocol data for sensors. Anyway I would like to
    use any
    > of brand name sensors for my system because I would like to design
    my own
    > system but not sensors.
    > Is it possible to find any protocol data about.
    >
    > Thanks in advance
    > Damir


    If you are not in a rush, you can backwards engineer the protocall,
    or possibly tap into the sensor data before it is put into the serial
    lines.

    Also, if you have the old unit, you may be able to monitor that
    system to figure out the operation.

    another possiblilty is to obtain an existing unit from some local
    building demolition or renovation or possibly a local alarm company.

    I was lucky to get some old units from a local alarm company. they
    would get a new customer and remove the equipment and replace it with
    their own new stuff. They would just throw away the old stuff, and
    in my case, threw it away into my car.

    I still have one panel that is mostly intact. the name ESL is on the
    front. I have only the panel, no sensors.

    Regarding liability, you will most likely not get an insurase
    discount because your stuff will not be UL listed and not recognised
    by the insurance company.

    BUT, if you are happy with your work, it may save you and your family.

    My sincearest wishes you never get a chance to test it in any real
    conditions.

    Dave
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