Can you use conventional fire alarms with addressable panels? Someone is sending me a Notifier Spartan fire alarm panel, and I want to know if you can use conventional devices with the addressable panel, because I’ve only got conventional alarms.
Typically, one must use a monitor module to interface conventional devices with an addressable panel. Some addressable panels have built-in conventional compatability, but the majority of panels require the addition of a module to interface with conventional devices. Someone else here can tell you what module you will need for your panel, if you need one at all.
EDIT: The http://www.notifier.com/salesandsupport/documentation/Datasheets/DN_60616.pdf HFS-MM module appears to be compatible; however, I would wait for someone to confirm this before buying anything. https://www.notifier.com/salesandsupport/documentation/Datasheets/DN_60609.pdf (data sheet)
I don’t know much about Notifier systems, but I an fairly good at research on the web. I found the datasheet for the Spartan panel. It only uses addressable initiating devices. There is a HFS-MM which is a contact device monitor module. You can connect a conventional manual station to that. It does not monitor conventional 2-wire smoke detectors, and it seems there is not a module that does for the Spartan.
This panel is in the Honeywell family of panels. They sell what looks like the same panel as the Firelite MS-25. I mention this because there is more documentation available for the MS-25 than the Spartan. I don’t know if the software is identical between them. There could be differences.
Be aware that the monitor modules could have internal ID bits that make them unique to the Honeywell brand they are meant to work with. In other words, a Notifier MM might not be the same as the the MM that is sold with Firelite even though they look the same on the outside. Someone more familiar with these brands will have to bring their knowledge on that.
Here are links to what I found.
Notifier Spartan-25
HFS(A) Intelligent Modules
According to the datasheet, they take HFS modules, which I believe can be used on both the Fire-Lite MS-25 and the NSP-25. Just make sure you’re getting the exact monitor module specified (which I believe is the HFS-MM).
Now, are you asking about conventional signals or conventional initiating devices? Because as far as I know, only Simplex does addressable notification. You’ll be good there.