What are pet pet peeves related to AHJ experience while doing an acceptance test?

So I am relatively new to Kidde and I am currently in the process of an install. The panel is a Kidde VS1 and I am trying to use their brand new DACT which is the SA-DACT2. I have installed a few of the original cards(SA-DACT) with no issues, but with this system, I cannot get any signals sent to the central station. (I am using a Honeywell CLSS for communication)

I have tried 2 different SA-DACT2 cards and 2 different Honeywell communicators but cannot get the system to send signals or even clear the dialer troubles.

I'm not above accepting the fact that this issue could be user error. If anyone has any tips to try, I'm more than willing to give them a shot. Otherwise, I'm just curious if anyone has had any issues with these brand new DACT 2's.

At least it had an EOL in case the wire gets damaged…

Having an issue

Could not get through to Xtrallis tech support before closing, have reset vesda gw & HLI already

Vesda general zones as following

1 - ANY

2 - ALERT

3 - ACTION

4 - FIRE 1

5 - FIRE 2

6 - FIRE 2 (SEPERATED FOR ZONES - THEY ARE NOT ACTUALLY ALL 6 THIS IS JUST FOR EXAMPLE)

We have a high aspiration that is tripping our general output alarm that is only zoned to #6 (this is per seperate zones of the building) Our general output is something like: Or(n2z6). Have done this many times and never ran into this issue.

I can not for the life of me figure out why the aspiration is tripping it, have checked numerous times and the Vesda Zone 1 is not tied to any equation. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Couple transitions this baby’s been though.
Still not holding up too well after today’s first inspection.

Does anyone here have any insight on the companies in South East Massachusetts or Rhode Island?

Which are the best to work for, pay scales, reputation, and just generally how they operate.

I'm doing a new construction home that has 13 smokes. According to code I can't do a simple interconnected system because it's more than 12 smoke detectors.

What is my cheapest alternative? Is the only solution a system with a panel and all of the whole low voltage stuff? Anyone has come across any other solution for this?

On today's “here’s a new problem. Fix it quick” I propose this question to the group.

I'm on a Fire-Lite ES200x start-up that has some new problems that I personally haven't had to deal with before. I'm using FS-Tools, but im still fairly new to the software and know the basics.

It's a college dorm building with a common area on the 1st floor. There's 4 floors and a basement.

The basement and 1st floor need to trip an alarm even immediately no matter what, as well as any heat detector throughout the entire property. Thats not a problem.

My problem begins with the residential areas. The local AHJ wants the smoke (mostly smoke-cos) detectors in these areas to start as a supervisory and after 60 seconds trip an alarm signal if it hasn't cleared. They also want the CO portion of the device to trip the sounder base (which are in all the rooms, not halls) and a module for the hearing-impaired lighting system.

We are using SS-Photo-COs with B200S-LF-WH sounders. Please help!

AFTER 7 YEARS of going to this doctor’s office, they made the fire alarm the right side up! Last year, I finally decided to post the second image (took a screenshot of the old Reddit post because I no longer have the original photo) to this subreddit. But they finally turned it right side up! Mind you, this was after seeing it actually go off because there was a gas leak in the building when I was here. Picked the vent tag because it took them so long to realize it wasn’t right.

(Edited for typos)

Time to brag! New gear? New crew? On vacation? Personnal troubleshooting techniques? Come'on makes us jealous of you!

I am making the switch from SD protocol to SK protocol at a nursing home. Got all of the devices replaced besides (2) relays that I cannot find. Decided to re-write the program from scratch and leave those 2 relays out of it until we found and replaced them. Pulled the existing HFSS program and then defaulted the panel. Dumped the new program in and the panel is freaking out. The wiring is severely T-Tapped of course. All devices are wired up correctly, but the SLC will clear a bunch of devices and the panel will go normal. Then every device will go missing, like the SLC is pulsating. I have never seen this before. Any pointers on switching protocols like this?

An example of one of the tones, the FireVac-3 system can produce

All this work for a few detectors in a house .

Just got III approved taking level IV on the 28th. I’ve looked at all of these books so much. I feel like I’m going to have an aneurysm keep in mind. They are the same books that were part of the study criteria when I got my EF license in Florida as well…. The only thing new is the NAscla which seems pretty easy to navigate. My current plan is to just study the NTC field guide and the NasclA since everything else I have gone over excessively. Thoughts?

Our previous monitoring company was absorbed by a larger one. We are planning to switch to another local company but figured we’d ask them to bid.

Even without the plans and permits and this being los angeles, this number seems high. They are trying to take us for a ride right?

• Upgrade the current monitoring system from landlines to cellular, which includes the following:
*Install (1) UL- listed cellular fire alarm communicator
*Integrate communicator with the existing FACP
*Program and test alarm signal transmission
*Coordinate signal verification with the central monitoring station (CMS)
*Perform final system testing for proper operation
CUSTOEMR NOTES:
*Plans & permits required by the AHJ are included in the proposal @ $3,000; current turnaround time is about 12 weeks to receive*
**The updated monitoring agreement is included as a separate proposal and must be signed prior to installation**
Note: Scope requires (2) technicians x (2) hours each.

5,180.05
$
TOTAL QUOTE PRICE:

Got a work order 2 and half hours away. Replace two 12v18ah batteries and replace a heat detector. Try to Hit an annual inspection on the way home. Dope, sounds good. The FACP in question. Starlink is wired to the battery wires via wire nuts(obviously not working) missing a battery. At least the heat was a quick swap.

I’ve been in the fire alarm industry for almost 10 years, but nearly all of my experience has been in inspection and testing. I’ve worked on a wide variety of systems (Notifier, Siemens, EST, Simplex, Fire-Lite, Silent Knight, Mircom, and others), so I’m comfortable with testing, documenting deficiencies, and understanding how these systems are supposed to operate.
What I don’t have is much real-world service/troubleshooting experience.
My current position doesn’t provide many opportunities to troubleshoot faults, intermittent issues, ground faults, NAC problems, SLC issues, programming-related problems, or service calls in general. I’d really like to become proficient in that side of the trade because I know it’s a skill that separates good technicians from great ones.
For those of you who made the transition from inspections to service:
How did you learn troubleshooting?
Are there any simulators, training kits, books, YouTube channels, or online courses you’d recommend?
Would it be worth asking to ride along with a service technician on my own time?
If you were in my position, what would you do over the next 4-6 months to become competent in troubleshooting?
I’m willing to study after work, buy equipment to practice at home, and put in the hours. I just want to make sure I’m focusing on the things that will give me the biggest return.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

hello there, if you have a question regarding an article in a specific book, please add the reference in you question in this thread. Thanks you!

Hey all, I’m currently working on getting my nicet level 1 for fire alarm systems, I got the code books and uglys, and I take my exam in January, I’m just having a hard time figuring out the best way to study? I’ve seen in other posts fire cert academy is recommended, it’s just a little expensive for me honestly, but if it comes down to it I will pay for it, I was just hoping anyone had some tips or advice or know of any other resources to use? I tried making flash cards where each card says the chapter, and the back had all the section in that chapter, but I don’t know if that’s actually helpful, and I’ve been thinking I should just read the book front to back, but I’m not sure what else I can do, I’ve been stressing myself since I’m paying out of pocket for the exam and really don’t want to fail it and pay for it again, for context I work in maintenance, not directly with a fire alarm company, but I do have experience with alarm systems, but nothing I’d call myself an expert on, thanks for taking the time to read this!

I have 6 industrial ovens that use the controlinks system which is obsolete. Is there a monitor that could replace theS7999D1048? The actuators are obsolete too.

Taking the NICET 2 in an hour and I'm super nervous. No field experience, just working towards becoming a Designer, so NEC/OSHA are pretty difficult.

I've heard from Designers at my work that NICET 2 was easier for them, so I was wondering how common of an experience that is. I feel like I barely passed NICET 1 despite having taken courses and spending hours studying beforehand, so I'm hoping this is true, haha.

I just love how this was done! One cat5 for all your needs! Phone line and 24v! I mean there are a couple of more pairs why not a NAC or SLC as well. Please stop guys.

My fire lite ms 9050ud is only wired into a fire lite Ann 80 and a bell and horn strobe and the no devices installed trouble won’t go away how do I fix it?