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ASL INTERCOM VAR8 Product Description

Audio router and system controller
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See also: Operation & Maintenance Manual , Installation Manual
VAR8 and Variants
Audio Router and System Controller

Product Description

ASL Document Ref.: U-0450-1360.doc
Issue: 02 - complete, approved - Date: 18/08/10
Part Number: M0450_51

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Summary of Contents for ASL INTERCOM VAR8

  • Page 1: Product Description

    VAR8 and Variants Audio Router and System Controller Product Description ASL Document Ref.: U-0450-1360.doc Issue: 02 - complete, approved - Date: 18/08/10 Part Number: M0450_51...
  • Page 2 VAR8 and Variants - Product Description This equipment is designed and manufactured to conform to the following EC standards: EN55103-1/E1, EN55103-2/E5, EN50121-4, EN50130-4, EN61000-6-3, ENV50204 Safety EN60065 Failure to use the equipment in the manner described in the product literature will invalidate the warranty.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Contents Overview ..............................5 Router Functions ........................... 10 Audio Inputs..........................10 2.1.1 Mic/Line Inputs........................10 2.1.1.1 Paging Microphone Mode ..................11 2.1.1.2 Fire Microphone (ALL-CALL) Mode ................11 2.1.1.3 Zoneable Fire Microphone Mode ................11 2.1.1.4...
  • Page 4 VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Indication, Acceptance, and Clearance..................34 5.1.1 Fault Indication........................34 5.1.2 Fault Acceptance ......................34 5.1.3 Fault Clearance......................... 35 5.1.4 Current Faults ........................35 Fault Logging ..........................35 Fault Relay..........................36 Test Functions............................37 Mechanical Dimensions ........................38 Connector Signals and Pinout......................

  • Page 5: Overview

    Each Mainframe connects to the VAR8 via an Audio-CAN serial data network and audio monitor bus. The VAR8 is the base unit, which can be optionally supplied with an EXP8 Interface Expansion Board, an EFI01 European Fire Interface Card, and/or an ANIC Network Interface Card.
  • Page 6 The VAR8 also has a front panel display and control interface, that provides functions for system commissioning, fault monitoring, and audio monitoring. Alteration of the system configuration is controlled by an access code. For detailed information on the Intellevac ACU Audio Control Unit and VAR8-ACU, please refer to the their specific documentation, [Table...

  • Page 7: Base Unit

    BASE UNIT + INTERFACE EXPANSION BOARD ANIC8: INTELLEVAC NETWORK INTERFACE CARD (FACTORY FIT OPTION) EFI01: EUROPEAN FIRE INTERFACE CARD (FACTORY FIT OPTION) *) EFI01 ANALOGUE INPUTS AND DIGITAL OUTPUTS REPLACE VAR8 BASE UNIT DIGITAL INPUTS Issue: 02 complete, approved Page 7 of 54...
  • Page 8 REMOTE I/O UNIT FMS10 AMBIENT NOISE SENSOR FIRE MICROPHONE VOLUME CONTROL DMS10 PAGING MICROPHONE BACKGROUND MUSIC PROGRAMME SELECTOR Figure 3 VAR8/VAR8-E Network Application Network with Intellevac ACU DMS20 CENTRAL V400 PAGING MICROPHONE AMPLIFIER MAINFRAME SPEAKER CIRCUITS CENTRAL FIRE ALARM OUTPUT 1...
  • Page 9 VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Figure 4 VAR8/VAR8-E Network Application Network with VAR8-ACU V400 AMPLIFIER MAINFRAME SPEAKER CIRCUITS OUTPUT 1 *) B outputs available on EXP8 Interface Expansion Board CENTRAL OUTPUT 8 FIRE ALARM ALERT PANEL EVACUATE VAR8 VAR8-ACU...

  • Page 10: Router Functions

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Router Functions Audio Inputs The Router has eight electronically balanced line level inputs. Each of these inputs features a serial communications interface, which allows any ASL microphones to be connected. The first two of these inputs can also be used for ASL emergency or Fireman’s Microphones in Voice Alarm systems, this is because they have the facility for an analogue bypass mode in the event of processor failure/mis-operation, as required by BS5839 Pt 8.

  • Page 11: Paging Microphone Mode

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description 2.1.1.1 Paging Microphone Mode It is possible to set any of the Mic/Line inputs for Paging Microphone operation. When configured for this mode of operation, any ASL Paging Microphone can be supported. For example: DMS5, DMS10, DMS20.

  • Page 12: Single Button Microphone Mode

    “2.6 Control”. 2.1.1.6 Network Channel Mode By default if a Network Interface Card is fitted in the VAR8 then it will use Router Inputs as follows: • Network Channel 1 – Router Input 1 • Network Channel 2 – Router Input 3 •...

  • Page 13: Digital Voice Announcers

    Audio Outputs The Base VAR8 variant or this Router provides eight electronically balanced outputs for connection to external amplifiers. These are on two RJ45 connectors, and are single (non A+B) outputs. Each of these outputs is also provided as separate A and B output connections on the EXP8 Interface Expansion Board.

  • Page 14: Audio Input Priority And Override

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Audio Input Priority and Override The input priority is used to resolve conflicts when two or more inputs try to broadcast to the same output. In this case the input with the highest priority will be able to broadcast, and the others will not.

  • Page 15: Fades And Chimes

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Fades and Chimes 2.4.1 Fades It is possible to specify a fade up and fade down time for each Mic/Line or Music input source. This is typically used on background music where a slow fade-up, in particular, is desirable.
  • Page 16 VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Figure 5 Sequence of Events for Single Audio Source MUSIC AUDIO MUSIC FADE UP=T1 FADE DOWN= T2 The diagram in Figure 6 illustrates the sequence of events during the override of a background music source by a Paging Microphone with chime.

  • Page 17: Surveillance Tone Detection And Generation

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Surveillance Tone Detection and Generation 2.5.1 Detection The Router is able to detect the presence of a low frequency 20 Hz surveillance tone on the Mic/Line inputs. ASL Microphones produce this tone as standard and, in a networked system, the network audio busses also carry this signal.

  • Page 18: Contacts

    Opto-Isolated Interface Contacts 1 to 10 (or 1 to 20 when the VAR8 is fitted with the EXP8 Interface Expansion Board) use an opto- isolated interface. The contact is asserted when the opto-isolator is turned on. These may be used to interface a simple closure, or as a Sounder Circuit Interface that is suitable for connecting the Fire Alarm to the Router for triggering DVA messages.

  • Page 19: Contact Functions

    END OF LINE between the fire panel and the VA system is RESISTOR (*) monitored at the Fire Panel by means of End of Line Resistors in the VAR8. This is the current OPTO OFF recommendation of BS5839. The Fire panel MONITORING monitors the current flowing in the End of Line Resistor.

  • Page 20: Routing: Non-Latching, Latent Routes

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description DVAs can be assigned Priorities as described in Section “2.3 Audio Input Priority and Override”. Once triggered, DVAs may be overridden by any higher priority DVAs, or other inputs that are routed to the same output.

  • Page 21: Permanent Routes

    Remote I/O Units The VAR8 is able to support the connection of up to 6 remote I/O units; these may be either ASL Remote I/O Units (ASL Product: BMB01) or Third Party Fire Loop Interfaces, or a mixture of both.

  • Page 22: Remote I/O Unit Functionality Summary

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description 2.6.3.2 Remote I/O Unit Functionality Summary Each BMB01 Remote I/O Unit and the EFI01 European Fire Interface provide the following I/O capability. Table 4 BMB01 and EFI01 Inputs and Outputs Quantity Type Functions BMB01...

  • Page 23: Programme Selector Operation

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Monitored Analogue Contact A resistance of 7270 ohms indicates inactive (switch open) and resistance of 470 ohms This interface enables the Router to monitor the indicates active (switch closed). Open and short interface to the Fire Panel or other contact closure.

  • Page 24: Ambient Noise Sensors (Ans)

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description In the event of such a fault, the volume will default to that set up on position ‘off’, i.e. the maximum level. The same default operation occurs in the event of RS485 communications failure to the Remote I/O Unit.

  • Page 25: Digital Inputs

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Figure 8 ANS Operation AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL ANS=+90dBA MAX CONTROL RANGE (+20dB) ANS=+70dBA AREA AMBIENT NOISE BELOW MIN ANS THRESHOLD, THEREFORE MINiMUM GAIN IS USED. AREA ANNOUNCEMENT AMBIENT NOISE ABOVE MAX ANS THRESHOLD, IN PROGRESS THEREFORE MAXIMUM GAIN IS USED.

  • Page 26: Night Time Volume Control

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Night Time Volume Control The Router provides a Night Time Volume Control function. This is a facility for automatically limiting the volume of announcements at configurable times of the day, usually during the night.

  • Page 27: Network

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Network Network Operation The Intellevac Network enables a number of physically distributed Slave Units to be controlled by a master Audio Control Unit (ACU). The units in the Intellevac Network are interconnected by a loop cable, which carries a data ring for control and a triple audio ring.

  • Page 28: Network Topology

    Slave-ID#1: outputs 1 to 4 • Slave-ID#2: outputs 5 to 8 • Etc. Figure 9 shows the scheme of an Intellevac Network of DAU (4x4 and 8x8) and VAR8 units hosted by a 4x4 Intellevac ACU. Issue: 02 complete, approved Page 28 of 54...

  • Page 29: System Parameters

    Slave Units: Intellevac Distributed Amplifier Units (4x4 DAU or 8x8 DAU) or VAR8 Routers fitted with an ANIC Network Interface Card. • 8x8 DAUs and VAR8 Units are 4x4 from the perspective of the network. The remaining 4 outputs may be locally used but are not addressable across the network. •...

  • Page 30: 8X8 Acu Network Topology

    3.2.2.2 Main Network Features • Slave Units can be any combination of: Intellevac 4x4 DAUs; Intellevac 8x8 DAUs; VAR8 Routers fitted with an ANIC Network Interface Card; and VAR12/20 Routers using a VAR-NIA interface unit. • Slave-IDs must correspond to the Slave Unit’s physical position in the network.
  • Page 31 VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Figure 10 Intellevac 8x8 ACU Network Topology UPSTREAM UPSTREAM UPSTREAM Network O/P 20 Network O/P 68 Local VAR8 4x4 DAU VAR8 Network O/P 19 Network O/P 101 Slave-ID Network O/P 18 Network O/P 48...

  • Page 32: Control And Indicators

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Control and Indicators Figure 11 LCD Display and User Interface Issue: 02 complete, approved Page 32 of 54...

  • Page 33: Lcd Backlight Control

    AUDIO MON Selects Audio Monitor sub-menu on the LCD display. Tests all indicators on the VAR8 and on all connected amplifier units. The sounder is also tested. The display shows ‘LAMP + LAMP TEST SOUNDER TEST’ and the menu locks during this time.

  • Page 34: Fault Monitoring

    ‘Faults’ menu. In order to time-stamp the fault reports the VAR8 features a Real Time Clock (RTC). The unit is fitted with an internal Lithium battery to keep this clock running when the power from the Router is turned off.

  • Page 35: Fault Clearance

    CLEARED’ fault is logged. A manual fault log clearing function is also provided. It is possible to view a log of all faults logged by the VAR8. Multiple faults can be examined by scrolling through the list by means of the front panel keys or rotary encoder.

  • Page 36: Fault Relay

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Fault Relay The unit features a fault relay, for indicating system Figure 12 Fault Relay Wiring health to external equipment. The relay is normally energised to indicate system health, and de- energised in the event of system fault. If power is RELAY NC removed then a fault is indicated.

  • Page 37: Test Functions

    • Sounder and lamp test: The unit features the LAMP TEST key. Pressing this key will cause all indicators on the VAR8 to operate, and the fault and health indicators on all mainframes and amplifiers to also illuminate. The built- in sounder is also tested.

  • Page 38: Mechanical Dimensions

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Mechanical Dimensions 263 mm 233 mm 222 mm 88 mm (2U) 222 mm 233 mm 263 mm Issue: 02 complete, approved Page 38 of 54...

  • Page 39: Connector Signals And Pinout

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Connector Signals and Pinout 1 FAULT (INPUT 2) 2 FAULT 3 FAULT SCRN (INPUT 1) BUS1+ BUS1- BUS2+ BUS2- BUS3+ BUS3- DOWN / UP V+NB BUS1+ BUS1- BUS2+ BUS2- BUS3+ OUT8-B+ BUS3- OUT8-B- 1 FAULT...

  • Page 40: Network Interface

    UPSTREAM DOWNSTREAM connections, comprising a RS485 control bus and a 3-channel audio bus. This interface is only provided on VAR8 Routers which are fitted with the ANIC Network Interface Card. The Audio Bus connections are outputs at the ACU Audio Control Unit and inputs at the VAR8 Slave Units.

  • Page 41: Audio Inputs

    Paging Microphone, Single Button Microphone, Miscellaneous Input. Input 1 is not available when the VAR8 is networked. Network Channel 1 – Input 1 Signal Description Microphone Data+ (EIA RS485 19200 baud) Microphone Data− (EIA RS485 19200 baud) 0 V supply Balanced audio input +VE Max.
  • Page 42 VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Inputs 7 to 8 VAR8 • 7 way terminal block (5 mm). • Can be used for Paging Microphone, Single Button Microphone, or Miscellaneous Input. Signal Description Microphone Data+ (EIA RS485 19200 baud) Microphone Data− (EIA RS485 19200 baud)

  • Page 43: Audio Outputs

    Outputs 1 to 4: 9 way terminal block (5 mm). • Outputs 5 to 8: 8 way terminal block (5 mm). A & B outputs are only provided on VAR8 Routers which are fitted with the EXP8 Interface Expansion Board. VAR8 Signal...

  • Page 44: Digital Inputs (Control Contacts)

    Lower terminal block: Contacts 1 to 5. • Upper terminal block: Contacts 6 to 10. Contacts 1 to 10 are not available when the VAR8 is fitted with an EFI01 European Fire Interface Card. The EFI01 provides the VAR8 with analogue inputs and digital outputs.

  • Page 45: Rs485 Serial And Can Bus

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description RS485 Serial and CAN Bus RS485 VAR8 • 2x3 way double stack terminal block (5 mm). • Lower terminal block. • Serial control connection for interfacing with Remote I/O units (ASL product: BMB01) and Fire Alarm Loop Interfaces.

  • Page 46: Fault Relay, Audio Monitoring Bus, And Auxiliary Supply

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Fault Relay, Audio Monitoring Bus, and Auxiliary Supply Fault Relay • 2x3 way double stack terminal block (5 mm). VAR8 • Lower terminal block. The relay NO contact closes to COM to indicate health.

  • Page 47: Product Specification

    Support Paging Microphone, Single Button Microphone, or Miscellaneous Input. Support up to 20 microphone buttons. Inputs 1, 3, and 4: Support Network Channel, and are normally used for system networking on VAR8 Routers that are fitted with the ANIC Network Interface Card.
  • Page 48 For mutually exclusive use by Host PC for configuration, Intellevac Network or PC/DVA system When the VAR8 is fitted with an EFI01, the 10 digital inputs on the VAR8 base unit are replaced by the EFI01 analogue inputs and digital outputs.
  • Page 49 VAR8 ......................Base Unit, standard 8x8 Router VAR8-E................... VAR8+EXP8 Interface Expansion Board ANIC ......................Intellevac Network Interface Card Factory fit option ordered with VAR8 or VAR8-E EFI01 ......... European Fire Interface Analogue Input and Digital Output Interface Card Factory fit option ordered with VAR8 or VAR8-E Network (VAR8 or VAR8-E with ANIC) Network Audio Channels ........................

  • Page 50: Reference Documentation

    Table 5 Reference Documents Ref. No Title Filename Ref Origin VAR8 / Variants Product Manual (this document) U-0450-1361 VAR8 / Variants Installation Guide U-0450-1360 VAR8 / Variants Commissioning and Operation Guide quoting Refer to ASL the SW version of...

  • Page 51: Abbreviations

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Abbreviations ANIC Intellevac Network Interface Card Ambient Noise Sensor Application Solutions Limited BMB01 Remote I/O Expander British Standard Controller Area Network Digital Microphone Station Digital Signal Processing Digital Voice Announcers (Messages) EFI01 European Fire Alarm Interface...

  • Page 52: Index

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Index latent routes ............20 lcd display ............ 33, 34 attack time............24 comms............33 max ..............24 fault............33, 34 min ..............24 power.............. 33 audio input processor............33 balanced............10 network channel ..........12 single button microphone........12 microphone unbalanced............10...

  • Page 53: Service And Warranty

    VAR8 and Variants - Product Description Service and Warranty Name and Address of Authorised Distributor: This product carries a full warranty. For full details of warranty and service agreements, please contact the Authorised Distributor who supplied the product to you.

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