How to find a Ground Fault on a Class B SLC with T-Taps

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[@lumenfirealarms]

This is a really cool video! This a basic for troubleshooting!! I like how notifier loops cards have the ground fault led so you can verify faster!! Stay safe and have fun!! ...

[@FireAlert]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulsheehan9246]

Fire alarm systems are at times frustrating when it comes to tracing and troubleshooting ground faults. I think the video is very informative. You did a great job explaining the wiring of the circuits and the Understanding circuits is very important when trying to trouble shoot Ground faults opens and short circuits etc. I have been servicing maintaining programing commissioning large life safety systems for over 30 plus years. So, when it comes to the infamous ground fault IE SLC, NAC, 24VDC Aux etc. Negative or positive doesn't matter. Troubleshooting is key on the approach on how to investigate the fault. Like was there any construction done recently? Known water leaks floods, roof in the building etc. This would help out the technician pinpoint the area. When breaking up the known circuit in the fire alarm panel. The Technician on site will not know how its wired (doesn't matter) The key is to break the known faulted circuit in halfway segments which once done they will know which half is causing the fault. The key here is at this point is to keep breaking the fault circuit in half's IE not Every device etc. This will be a time saver, along with never having more than 2 to 3 opens of the circuit any 1 time so you don't' lose track of the path where the ground fault is located IE class-A or B Etc. Connections are very important Please always twist the wires before using the wire nut. Very important when it comes to the SLC Map net loop. Now not all ground faults have a low resistance. Most modern fire panels will detect a high resistance ground fault IE 200K ohms or more. Now these may be from a wire that has been pinched in an electrical box or from a cable pulled tight on a metal pipe or HVAC duct or even tie wrapped FPL cable to a threaded support rod etc. There is another tool to use in the troubleshooting toolbox. Set the Multimeter to DC voltage The Fluke T5-1000 meter will be fine for this test if used. I like the Fluke 87 ($$$) but the 177 is fine anyways. etc. High resistance grounds are not easy to trouble shoot. These can be caused from Wiring faults on the input side of a monitoring module on the SLC circuit. A 300K ground could be from a Wiring issue or from an input monitoring point. The video was very good in explaining how to troubleshoot the circuits. Most circuits are powered limited so a short will shut off the power but typically most circuits as designed to operate on 1 ground fault but NOT multiple ground faults. Voltage is key here Lack of voltage or a low voltage condition from a ground fault will disrupt the SLC communication to devices along with not having the proper voltage to operate the Horn/strobes etc. I Hope this helps the professionals in the fire alarm Tech field The more you know sure helps in daily work!!

[@user-ri5eh2il1e]

Paul, I believe we worked together at the JFK Library in Boston.

[@manickproductions]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@firealarm300andmore4]

Cool

[@scottodonnell7121]

I'm an old retired electrician so I'm behind the times. So, I gotta ask: What is SLC and can you really T-tap fire alarm circuits? We never could.

[@user-ri5eh2il1e]

I would never T-tap. In a high-rise building it becomes a nightmare for troubleshooting. Some panels have mapping, and the programmer can see the T-taps with the addresses of each device, but most don't share the location to the installer.

[@user-dp7co2sv5v]

Depends on the type of system. Usually mapped systems can not be T Tapped or if they are they can only be T Tapped in certain areas of the system. Honeywell systems have no issue with T Tapping

[@scottodonnell7121]

@@user-dp7co2sv5v what's mapped?