HyperTerminal Settings For Fire Alarm Panels

Hyperterminal is a great way to connect to a fire alarm control panel.  It is also the preferred method to achieving a fire alarm control panels device parameters f you cannot access the program.  Simply connect your laptop to the fire alarm control panel with the appropriate cable and enter the correct values for HyperTerminal.  Once in, your laptop will mimic the FACUs screen or display.  From here you can capture the text file making it easy to store fire alarm testing reports and device parameters.

Here is a little trick if you need to know exactly what devices are on each loop.  While connected with Hyperterminal, pull off each SLC circuit one at a time.  Your laptop screen will then start to display every device on that loop as they go into trouble due to the lack of communication with the FACU loop card.  Capture the text file and your done.  You now have a simple starting plan to re-write a program if necessary.

Below are some of the HyperTerminal settings I have come across:

FCI E3 Series FACU:

1. Start HyperTerminal from its Start Menu icon.
2. Give the connection a name (for example, E3) and select any icon that you’d like. Click OK to continue.
3. In the “Connect Using” section, select the appropriate COM port that you’d like to use to communicate with the panel. Click OK after the selection has been made.
4. Set your parameters as follows:
   • Bits per second: 115200
   • Data bits: 8
   • Parity: None
   • Stop bits: 1
   • Flow Control: None
5. Click OK.
6. You are now connected to the panel.
7. Click here for a video demonstration

Gamewell 600 Series FACU: Includes the IF610, IF602, IF650, IF630

1. Start HyperTerminal from its Start Menu icon.
2. Give the connection a name (for example, 600) and select any icon that you’d like. Click OK to continue.
3. In the “Connect Using” section, select the appropriate COM port that you’d like to use to communicate with the panel. Click OK after the selection has been made.
4. Set your parameters as follows:
   • Bits per second: 2400
   • Data bits: 8
   • Parity: None
   • Stop bits: 1
   • Flow Control: Xon / Xoff
5. Click OK.
6. Select the pull down file menu at the top of the screen
7. Select properties
8. Select settings tab
9. Set emulation to VT-100
10. Select ASCII setup
11. Change the line display setting to 1 milliseconds
12. Change character display setting to 100 milliseconds
13. Click OK twice
14. You are now connected to the panel.
15. Click here for a video demonstration.

Notifier Fire Warden Series FACU: Includes NFW2-50 and NFW2-100

1. Start HyperTerminal from its Start Menu icon.
2. Give the connection a name (for example, Fire Warden) and select any icon that you’d like. Click OK to continue.
3. In the “Connect Using” section, select the appropriate COM port that you’d like to use to communicate with the panel. Click OK after the selection has been made.
4. Set your parameters as follows:
   • Bits per second: 19200
   • Data bits: 7
   • Parity: Even
   • Stop bits: 1
   • Flow Control: None
5. Click OK.
6. You are now connected to the panel.
7. click here for a video demonstration

Fire-Lite Series FACU: Includes MS-9200, MS-9600, MS-9200UDLS, MS-9600UDLS

1. Start HyperTerminal from its Start Menu icon.
2. Give the connection a name (for example, Fire-Lite) and select any icon that you’d like. Click OK to continue.
3. In the “Connect Using” section, select the appropriate COM port that you’d like to use to communicate with the panel. Click OK after the selection has been made.
4. Set your parameters as follows:
   • Bits per second: 19200
   • Data bits: 7
   • Parity: Even
   • Stop bits: 1
   • Flow Control: None
5. Click OK.
6. You are now connected to the panel.
7. Click here for a video demonstration

FCI 7100 Series FACU:

1. Start HyperTerminal from its Start Menu icon.
2. Give the connection a name (for example, 7100) and select any icon that you’d like. Click OK to continue.
3. In the “Connect Using” section, select the appropriate COM port that you’d like to use to communicate with the panel. Click OK after the selection has been made.
4. Set your parameters as follows:
   • Bits per second: 9600
   • Data bits: 8
   • Parity: None
   • Stop bits: 1
   • Flow Control: None
5. Click OK.
6. You are now connected to the panel.
7. Click here for a video demonstration

FCI 7200 Series FACU:

1. Start HyperTerminal from its Start Menu icon.
2. Give the connection a name (for example, 7200) and select any icon that you’d like. Click OK to continue.
3. In the “Connect Using” section, select the appropriate COM port that you’d like to use to communicate with the panel. Click OK after the selection has been made.
4. Set your parameters as follows:
   • Bits per second: 1200
   • Data bits: Leave Default
   • Parity: Leave Default
   • Stop bits: Leave Default
   • Flow Control: None
5. Click OK.
6. You are now connected to the panel.
7. Click here for a video demonstration

I have more coming.  In the mean time if you guys know of any others you would like to share drop me an email or comment on this post.