Hi All.
I just have to say that it’s cool that people have the same interest in fire alarms! I currently want to set up a fire alarm system in my one room that is almost all the way dedicated to the era of the 50’s and 60’s. I am currently looking at 10" fire bells, and would like to wire it up to an additional 10" bell that is separate ( a gray one that can be turned on separately with a different button). The fire pull box I want is a newer version than the 50’s, the one I was looking is the Simplex 2099-9795 Mapnet II. I just want a simple alarm for my own pleasure and don’t need a panel. Thank-you for your guy’s help,
-Smokey Pauly
Hello and welcome!
The Simplex 2099-9795 is an addressable pull station requiring a Simplex panel compatible with the Mapnet II addressable protocol. You wont be able to use that device if you don’t want a panel on your setup, unless you tear the device apart and disconnect the addressable module from the switch. The Simplex 2099-9754 is a visually identical model that does not have addressable capabilities and can be used without a panel, so this is what you would want if you want to keep with that style of pull station.
However, many 1950/60’s era devices operate on 120VAC. You would need a pull station capable of handling this current. Most modern devices, such as Simplex 2099/4099 series devices, are only rated for DC current around 30V. Older pulls can be found with much more heavy duty switches, and a few companies manufacture specialty devices for retrofits on older systems with high voltage, such as Edwards with their 270-DPO.
The Simplex 2099-9795 Mapnet II pull station is an addressable station that is made to work with a panel. You can take the circuit board off of it and just use the switch. However, that switch is a low current type that is only rated for 1/2 amp. I would suggest looking for a station meant for use with a hardwired system. A double contact station for an older system has a switch rated at 6 amps that would be able to operate a bell without a panel.
You have to be aware of the voltage and current ratings of the bells. Many of the old bells were installed in systems that used series connected signal devices. Those were something like 12 volts, 1.8 amps which would require a transformer to get the correct voltage. Be sure of what you are looking at before you buy.
If you wanted a Simplex T-Bar, I would recommend the 4251-20 T-Bar since those pull stations can handle such high voltages. Mine in particular can handle up to 125VAC (and also 125VDC for some odd reason).
Proof (Note: not my video)
