Syncro Focus Repeaters -
Correct mains suppression

The Syncro Focus and Syncro Focus+ repeaters are available with 24V d.c. or 240V a.c. power supply options.
The 240V a.c. variants of the Focus and Focus+ repeaters offer the potential for reduced installation costs, by virtue that the cable connections for power do not need to be installed between the repeater and its host Syncro panel. There is also the additional advantage that the standby battery capacity of the host Syncro panel is not affected when using a 240V a.c. repeater.

However it is essential that care is taken when installing the mains powered Syncro Focus and Syncro Focus+ repeaters, in particular the mains supply feed to these repeaters must be suitably filtered.

To ensure this, the mains powered Focus and Focus+ panels are fitted with a ferrite bead. This ferrite bead is located in the rear of the panel enclosure and is held in place using a special plastic carrier.

To provide adequate power filtering, the mains feed cables to the Focus panel must be looped through this ferrite bead one complete turn before being connected to the internal power supply.

All three cores of the mains supply should be routed through the bead, then around the outside of the bead, then through the middle again. The cables should be formed to ensure that they are as close to the bead as possible.

The effect of an inadequately filtered mains supply will cause the repeater to be susceptible to external interference. In cases where high levels of interference are encountered, this can result in the repeater going offline and being reported as disconnected on other panels on the network. The Data In and Data Out indicator LEDs on the Focus are normally extinguished when this occurs. Pressing the CPU Reset button will normally revert the panel back to a fully operational unit and the Data LEDs will illuminate as expected.

Download the Syncro Focus/Focus+ manual:

EN54-2 Approved Panels - Delays to outputs

The facility to have delays to outputs (to allow investigation of the fire event without evacuating the building) is an attractive option in certain commercial premises.
Such a facility is permitted within the requirements of the product standard EN54-2, as an "Option with requirements". This means that such a facility is optional, but if implemented should meet certain requirements specified in the standard.

Clause 7.11 of EN54-2 specifies the requirements of the delay option, including maximum delays permitted, which outputs can be delayed and which level these delays are configured.

Clause 7.11 also refers to Clause 9.4.2.c of EN54-2. This clause states that is shall be possible to disable the immediate actioning of outputs, to delay the response of outputs in accordance with the requirements of clause 7.11.

In other words, delays are configured at commissioning but are never active unless selected by "Disabling the immediate output" response.

Because clause 9.4.2.c. is a disablement function, the "General Disablement" indicator and "Delay On" indictors will also be lit whenever the outputs are selected to be delayed.

This mode of operation applies to all approved Kentec control panels. The facility to switch the delay on and off is performed using the "Ad" menu option on the Sigma CP and Sigma XT control panels or by using the "Disable Immediate Output Response" menu option on the Syncro panel.

In general, this mode of operation has not been a problem with the Sigma approved panels, as there are few conventional systems that are configured with delays to outputs.

However this requirement of EN54-2 does cause problems with EN54-2 Syncro based systems for two reasons.

1) The Syncro is always showing the disablement condition when the delays are selected.

2) It is easy to forget to select the delays using the disablement menu if you are not familiar with the EN54 approved version of the control panel, as it was not necessary to select the disablement on earlier Syncro panels.

It is necessary to understand that this mode of operation, whist unpopular with many customers, is necessary to meet the requirements of the current EN54-2 standard and therefore cannot be revised on BSI approved panels.

For a detailed explanation of all the changes made to the EN version panel, please click here: