Re: Addressable Fire Panel Search

[JoeRaisin <joeraisin2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 10/28/2010 3:29 PM, Frank Kurz wrote:
> On 28/10/2010 10:11 AM, JoeRaisin wrote:
>> On 10/27/2010 2:26 AM, Frank Kurz wrote:
>>> On 26/10/2010 7:49 PM, ABLE1 wrote:
>>>> Hey all,
>>>>
>>>> Looking for a reliable Commercial Addressable Fire Panel.
>>>>
>>>> Needs to have more than 150 zones.
>>>>
>>>> Easy to program with on board keys, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Downloadable with included software.
>>>>
>>>> Reasonably priced.
>>>>
>>>> At least 2 NAC's
>>>>
>>>> Any other features would be standard on most any Commercial Fire Panel.
>>>> I can name a number of panels Silent Knight, FireLite, Ademco, and
>>>> others.
>>>>
>>>> Actually looking for pros and cons that you are using. Any tidbit
>>>> will be
>>>> helpful.
>>>>
>>>> TIA
>>>>
>>>> Les
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> With 150 ZONES you've pretty well limited yourself to "the big guys". If
>>> EVAC and fire phones are involved, you won't have a whole lot of
>>> options. Notifier, Chubb Edwards, Simplex, Siemens, Gamewell. Mircom may
>>> figure in there as well. Their FX-2000 is also priced well, but I
>>> understand that they've had some problems in the US market. Why so many
>>> zones, mind my asking?
>>>
>>
>> Could we have a discussion on the Edwards line?
>>
>> The Direct TV job is dismal - large portions of many days are spent
>> trying to connect with other techs who either have equipment you need,
>> or need equipment you have. Once a week (and again on the first of every
>> month) we have to drive two hours (one way) to submit paperwork, get
>> inventoried and get what equipment they will issue (never enough for the
>> whole week). We also engage in a "tech meeting" where, among other
>> things, they complain about gas usage. This being a piece-work job I see
>> why they have such high turnover - in the 6-7 weeks I've been there I've
>> seen three guys walk out the door. Two of them had been there several
>> years (five years is considered an "old timer"). Perhaps if I worked
>> directly for Direct TV it would be different, but being a
>> "Semi-independent" for a sub-contractor...
>>
>> ANYWAY - I've just accepted a job offer from a fire and safety company
>> as a service tech. They use, almost exclusively, Edwards products. I
>> will be doing service work and head end programming.
>>
>> Having only had contact with Edwards gear as a user doing fire
>> inspections I am curious. It looks like fairly solid equipment and I'm
>> told that programming is straight forward without too many twists.
>>
>> The company has been around for many years and they are picking up the
>> tab for my code update to renew my fire alarm license - plus I'm
>> starting at just a buck an hour less than I was making when I left the
>> other place (frankly, more than I expected).
>>
>> I would like to hear opinions/experiences with the Edwards line.
>>
>> Thanks
>
>
> Quickstart, EST-2, EST-3 are all pretty rock solid product. Easy to
> program. Problem in Canada is that you HAVE to be employed by
> Chubb-Edwards to program the product. Their present charge out rate in
> Vancouver is $130.00 an hour. The recent take-over by UTC has created a
> couple of problems for the local office as everyone adapts to the new
> employer's way of doing business. Chubb/UTC/Edwards will probably become
> the top player in the Canadian fire alarm industry. Their local
> management team is pretty well top-notch and nationally they're well
> positioned.
>
> There have been some minor hiccups with equipment reported. You can't
> get closer than about three feet from an EST-3 with a firefighter's
> radio or the sucker goes into "rail fault" and resets. Appropriate
> notices have to be posted on all the head end panels and annunciators.
>
> Best of luck embarking on your new career there, Joe. Give me a call
> anytime!
>

This is my new employer:

http://www.northernfiretc.com/