I’m looking for a recommendation for a small (3-5 zone, no programming) panel. I’ve been out of the fire alarm game for a while now and haven’t kept up with what’s what these days. It seems like everyone under Honeywell has discontinued their own lines for a version of the Fire-Lite MS-2/4, which I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole after my experiences with those. I really wanted the Napco FWC4EZ (http://staging.napcosecurity.com/testframe.html?products-firewolf.html old link), until I realized they’ve been discontinued for about 10 years! One place I worked had good luck with the ESL 1503, and I see some options from Potter, Faraday, and Summit/Mirtone, but really don’t know anything about those.
Even though Napco no longer offers the FW-C4EZ, it looks like Potter still sells the same panel under the http://www.pottersignal.com/product/datasheet/8900104_pfc5004e.pdf PFC-5004E model number. I believe both panels were originally sold by Mircom as the FA-204E.
Mircom also offers the five-zone http://www.mircom.com/media/datasheets/CAT-5673_FA-265_Five_Zone_Fire_Alarm_Control_Panel.pdf FA-265 panel, which would probably meet your requirements. I don’t think anyone here has any experience with these particular systems, but they appear to be relatively simple to use. However, unlike the PFC-5004E (which seems to use DIP switches for programming), the FA-265 requires programming via the panel’s main controls and LEDs, which seems like it could be slightly more complicated.
EST Fire shield series, if you can find one. The come in 2 (or 3 maybe), 5, and 10 zone configuration. Still think there is some basic programming on the panel but should work right out of the box. Going to be difficult to find one that doesn’t need some sort of programming. Anything current uses dip switches, binary programming, or keypad in some way.
Wow, Welcome back to the forum, Harrison. I have not talked to you in a long time, ever since I got that MS-2 from you.
I’d offer it back but you clearly don’t want it, lol.
What I’d recommend for you is the Fire-Lite MS-5UD because it is a great small panel. Built in dialer, sync options, LCD, LCD annunciators, zone types and labels, 5 zones, 2 NACs, remote sync, pluggable terminal blocks, and several more options. It’s a much better panel than the MS-2 and MS-4 by a LONG shot.
EDIT: You said “no programming”. The MS-5UD requires a bit of programming to get it working which you can do right on the front panel (it’s real easy) or with a laptop and PS-Tools.
Welcome back! I can also vouch for the MS-5UD. It was my very first panel, and the programming is so easy that I had it mastered before the panel even arrived. It’s a lot more straightforward than DIP switch programming in my opinion. Here’s the http://www.firelite.com/CatalogDocuments/52626.pdf manual if you want to get an idea of what the programming’s like. Another benefit of going with Fire-Lite is that it’s pretty much the industry standard for the small conventional market, so parts and help will be very easy to find.
I’m not afraid of programming, just don’t need it for a very standard installation and would rather not invest in a panel with it it if I don’t need to. It looks like it’s pretty standard on even basic panels nowadays, though.
I will check in on the Fire-Lite panel, though it may not be best for this application. I vowed to stay away from Fire-Lite after we had two of the MS-2 fail in a row as a replacement panel, but I’m willing to at least play around with the MS-5UD. That’s where we eventually ended up installing the ESL panel, which I kind of liked but I guess is discontinued too now! I just think there’s a nice, fail-safe elegance to really simple panels, and I’ve been disappointed in the lack of diligence of the Honeywell companies, where components seem to frequently fail with no trouble indication.
I’ll certainly report back with whatever we do and give you some photos!
Harrison, most of the products from the Honeywell brands are decent. It’s only the bottom of the line, low end ones, that have the problems. I do agree that the MS-2 and MS-4 are garbage. MS-5UD and MS-10UD are better, and the Notifier stuff is just incredibly reliable.
Don’t knock an entire company because a single product failed.lol
It’s pretty hard to find a decent panel for a decent price. I saw the notifier version of an ma 2/4 go for about 2 or 3 times the amount of the fire lite one.