I’ve heard that both of these panels have their issues but I want to see what you guys think.
1 Like
Some people love to bash EST, for no reason, I think they both are good, the EST-3 is more locked down (for a good reason).
QuickStart is definitely worse. The EST3 is solid if it’s programmed well and the history is cleared every couple of years. The QuickStart is still a solid panel, however the CPU seems to fail much more often
It’s not really EST’s fault that the CPUs fail, it’s more the CPU manufacturer.
Agreed, however EST could’ve sourced better parts for the QuickStart. I’ve also heard stories of the “CPU FAILURE” light illuminating, but the system just needs to be completely turned off and on again, and the problem will be fixed.
1 Like
Yes, it is just a tattletale light fault, so there is nothing wrong with THOSE panels.
Now, I don’t understand all the hate to Simplex, or Honeywell, or EST?
Like Simplex are very nice, very good looking
Honeywell is the same, as well as working good, and Honeywell is easy to operate and use.
EST gets a lot of hate due to its mapping system/Signature protocol. The panel identifies “where” devices are at on the map by measuring resistance on the wire between each one. While it’s supposed to make it easier for technicians to find and repair faulted, broken, or missing devices or wiring, as well as enable quick swapping of devices even by an end user or non-EST tech, it relies on a perfectly engineered and installed system and leaves little room for leeway. Buildings age, change, grow, and get renovated over the years and this can cause issues as the wiring and devices change.
Map faults can happen for the dumbest reasons, such as a detector base terminal being screwed in too tightly or even detectors being too close to florescent lights. And on the EST2/3/4, they require an EST certified technician to fix. (From the QuickStart, you can correct a map fault from the front panel, but only accepting a new map, to properly reconcile and fix the map you need the software.)
Mapping can be turned off, which solves this problem, but ANY device replacements WILL then require an EST tech.
As far as the CPU failure light, this comes on when the “watchdog” circuit detects the CPU has stopped responding. Think of it like the panel blue screening. Sometimes it’s just a glitch and a reset gets things back to normal. However if it happens often, it’s definitely a sign of the CPU going bad. Simplex panels (well, all panels really) can crash for various reasons too, but Simplex panels just automatically reboot and store an entry in the history log.
1 Like
I own an EST3 and I personally like it. If anything it should probably be EST3X vs. QuickShart.
2 Likes
I’ve definitely heard of the EST3X having issues, most notably I’ve seen where the knob for navigation breaks and you can’t do anything on the panel besides the functions with dedicated buttons.
3 Likes
Whoever thought that knob idea was good is wrong
2 Likes
Definitely. There’s a reason why the EST3 was their top-of-the-line for so long, while the EST3X was replaced with the EST4 so quickly.
2 Likes
EST3X is a more “refined” version of the EST3, its for midsize applications where the EST3 is for almost all sizes, same with the EST4, also most of the est4 styling imo is from the est3x