Notifier NFS-3030 Fire Alarm Panel

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It’s been awhile since I posted a panel build, but here’s my latest completed project!
This is a Notifier NFS-3030 (not the NFS2-3030), part of the 1st generation of Onyx series panels.

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This NFS-3030 has 3 bays. The 2nd and 3rd bays make up the DVC voice system, tied to the NFS-3030. As with the AFP1010, could’ve gone with a 4-bay cabinet, but I was able to fit everything snug in a 3-bay cabinet.

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There’s a lot going on behind the dress plates. This panel contains 3 power supplies, split amongst the amplifier, main power supply, and an auxiliary power supply.

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The top bay contains the CPU, an LCM-320, an LEM-320, IZM-8RK zone card, and an ICM-4RK signal card (with a CRE-4 relay card expander). In its configuration, the NFS-3030 has a 2 addressable protocols (FlashScan and CLIP), as well as conventional zones: a broad variety for a flagship panel!

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The middle bay contains the DVC and associated components. The DVC-EM board itself lies on the chassis inside the backbox, with the DVC-KD providing user controls. There’s also a MIC-1 microphone assembly for paging. The DVC is configured for high-quality audio, and I was able to load a variety of messages and tones onto it. These audio clips can be played manually using the DVC-KD.

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The bottom bay contains a DAA2-7525 amplifier (75 watts at 25 vRMS). It has 4 speaker circuits and communicates directly to the DVC. The chassis also has a CH-BH1 battery holder.

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The battery section at the very bottom contains an AMPS-24 and ACPS-610 power supplies. The AMPS-24 is the main power supply for the NFS-3030; it powers the CPU bay and the DVC. The ACPS-610 is an auxiliary power supply, providing 4 outputs (all configured for signal circuits) and additional auxiliary power.

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This panel wasn’t cheap to assemble, especially as I got the DVC new in box. However, it’s also one of the most complex Notifier panels in my collection. Like the AFP1010, the panel is configured for non-fire emergencies, including weather and security alerts. I chose the NFS-3030 over the NFS2-3030, as the former still supports panel circuit modules. While a bit slow, it’s still a very capable voice alarm system, with some modern enhancements from the AFP-era.

I plan for the NFS-3030 to be the main panel for the future NOTI-FIRE-NET network.
Definitely one of my new favorite panels, alongside the NFS-640!

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Very neat indeed Dew! Any idea why the NFS-3030 didn’t last long & was eventually replaced by the NFS2-3030? (much like some other panels I know of)

I see yours has the newer Audiosears 3300 microphone (most life safety product manufacturers had to switch to Audiosears’ mics around 2019 due to Shure, their existing microphone supplier, ceasing production of paging microphones) even though the NFS-3030 was only sold up until 2007 from what I’ve read (newer microphone or DVC on an older panel though I assume).

Seems like it has more than enough amperage to power all of its sub-systems!

Wow: had no idea that at least one of Notifier’s higher-end panels had such capability! (where do the conventional zones come from though if the NFS-3030 is mainly intended to be addressable?)

Where did you get said messages & tones from? (they wouldn’t happen to come from firealarmcollector.com, thesdx’s old site, would they?)

Oh I bet: hope you think it was worth the money though!

Why not: when you have a voice-capable panel like the NFS-3030 you can do stuff like that with it!

You got a multi-panel Notifier setup planned for the future?

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The 1st gen Onyx panels didn’t last too long, not sure why.
Yeah the DVC parts were all made in the last few years. I don’t know if the 1st gen Onyx panels supported direct connection to a DVC, but I have this one networked to the 3030 via NCM-Ws.
The conventional zones come from the IZM-8RK module next to the CPU. Same module used in the System 5000.
I got the messages from a private source.
Lastly, yes. I plan to do a network video by the end of the year. Current network is shaping up to be 9 nodes, could be one more or less depending on how things go!

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Oh, alright. I don’t have any idea why either honestly.
Ah, yeah, thought so.
Oh, okay. Does that mean that the 5000 is addressable even though its younger brother the 500 is conventional?
Oh, okay I guess (even though if I had to guess at least some of them can be found on the website I mentioned).
Ah alright, neat. 9? You mean to tell me that you plan on having 9 panels in the setup/network?

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i’ve never seen a security alarm on a notifier nfs before! Nice job!

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I’m curious how the security alarm works. Can you wire in motions and door contacts and arm the system like a vista 20? Or is it just a 24hr alarm type zone thing?

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I think it’s a little feature for like an office safe. I think it’s motions and door contacts. But if you want my true opinion, I think it’s not a vista 20p. But I think it’s a great feature if you don’t have a security system. But then again I would install a NFS-3030 in a high rise building. Not a small building.

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I tried the site. It didn’t load. But then again I’m on a low end device lol.

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Going by NewAge demonstrating such on his somewhat similar AFP-400 in Mini System Test 16 you wire any device to a zone & program its type as “security”, do the same for one or more NACs, & then I guess whenever a zone programmed as a security one goes into alarm that in turn sends the panel into “security alarm” state & sounds whatever NACs are programmed for security (or you instead map a security zone to a security NAC like NewAge did in said test. Could be wrong though as I otherwise know basically nothing about working with Notifier panels).

No, it’s not: it’s nothing like an actual security panel (thus meaning that if you need one you’ll still have to install a separate one. You could still tie the FACP into it if it has a security zone type though (even if doing so probably would end up doing nothing).

The site itself has been defunct for years, but last I checked the files it hosted are still there (somehow/for some reason).

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I believe there’s ways to bypass alarms and such, but isn’t like typical security systems. Unlike fire zones, security zones do alarm for open circuits, and you can map specific sounders for that security point since it’s addressable.

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The System 5000 is conventional, but you can add the AIM-200 for addressable points on those.

Yeah, 9 nodes: AFP-200, AFP-400, AFP1010, NFS-320, NFS-640, NFS-3030, DVC, NCA, and NCA-2. Could be +1 if I can get the N16e to work on it. I have a spare cabinet I might throw an NFS2-3030 on. We’ll see…

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That’s a beautiful 3030! Great job on that build.

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Looks good! I’m a fully biased Simplex guy but have always had a soft spot for Notifier. Good panels, easily my #2 fire alarm system.

Edwards can still get bent. (oops was that my outside voice?)

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I was too until I realized just how much their current parent has ruined them (still hope that someday someone rips them away from said parent & restores them back to the way they once were though).

On the contrary compared to Simplex I’d say all things considered that Edwards is one of the best life safety brands around today (if not really the only good one left!), & before you try & cite how crap their systems supposedly are as “proof” of how terrible they are, keep in mind that most of the time that’s due to incompetent third-party installers, electricians, & technicians, none of which Edwards themselves are responsible for. Their products are excellent, but of course only when installed & maintained properly.

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JCI screwed everything up when they bought Simplex.

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Going by NewAge demonstrating such on his somewhat similar AFP-400 in Mini System Test 16 you wire any device to a zone & program its type as “security”, do the same for one or more NACs, & then I guess whenever a zone programmed as a security one goes into alarm that in turn sends the panel into “security alarm” state & sounds whatever NACs are programmed for security (or you instead map a security zone to a security NAC like NewAge did in said test. Could be wrong though as I otherwise know basically nothing about working with

I once asked the Notifier tech that I am friends with how security works, and I was told that it is really never used, but if I wanted to use it I could have a security panel (I am using my VISTA) trip a monitor module set to security alarm.

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Makes sense that it’s rarely used, but hey: at least it’s there if technicians & enthusiasts alike ever need it!

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Usually used for tamper switches in fire protection cabinets and emergency exit alarms. not arm and disarm like an intruder system. this would be similar to simplex’s pri2 condition

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Not exactly, I’m sure you can do full security. The AM2020 has an entire chapter in the manual dedicated to security applications, including sensors and sounders.

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Ah interesting. Didnt know that