Nexus 8 Alarm Engineers Manual

1. Nexus 8 Phone
2. Refx Nexus Manual

WHAT THE MANUFACTURER SAYS.The Nexus 8 was designed with the installer’s requirements paramount. It offers eight fully programmable zones, each with an individual tamper. A separate auxiliary supply per zone makes the Nexus 8 faster, neater and easier to wire. Up to four remote keypads can be used on each installation and the alternative twin seven-segment display provides more concise information without the confusion often associated with LEDs.There is a 64-event memory log stored in a non-volatile memory, and there can be up to eight four-digit access codes.

Nexus 8 Phone

There is a full set option plus two part set options and the detailed instruction manual makes programming simple and quick. We have incorporated six pre-set program options into the software to make the system fully operational with the minimum of effort.A useful feature is the two panic attack buttons located on the top of the keypad.

By pressing the two buttons together, the panic attack can be activated regardless of the status of the system. If the feature is not required it can simply be programmed out.The panel has a programmable silent set for the two part-set options. This is another useful feature, particularly if young children are asleep and the normal setting tone would disturb them. Should there be a fault on one of the zones during the setting of the panel then there will be an audible indication to evidence this, but unlike other panels which would remain unset the Nexus 8 will, after giving a warning, set the remaining zones and provide partial protection. This is a remarkably easy panel to work on with a detachable gear tray to ease connections to the PCB, and ample space in the unit to house a 7.0Ah battery.

Step-by-step programming makes the engineer’s job a lot quicker and the overall specification of the panel is that normally associated with a more expensive unit. Every effort has been made to design a durable, stylish panel.WHAT OUR EXPERTS SAY.Installers looking for a “bells only” system should seriously consider the Lynteck Nexus 8 alarm panel. It is soundly constructed and has eight fully programmable zones along with many refined pre-set options which should cover most requirements for domestic and small commercial installations, all at a very competitive price. The Nexus 8, as supplied for testing, consists of a blank end station and one remote keypad. It will support a maximum of four keypads.

The remote keypads use two seven-bar indicators to show system state, programming inputs and system trouble. With the aid of the Display Guide, these are surprisingly easy to interpret. The keypads also carry two prominent, unmarked PA buttons which can be programmed in or out individually for each keypad. The system has three setting modes: Full, Part 1 and Part 2. Each mode can be programmed for individual entry and exit times (six settings).

There are also individual settings for the entry/exit sounder volume in each mode. Part-set alarm outputs can be restricted to the internal sounder if required.There are 25 programming options for each of the eight zones; the intruder zones are covered by 22 of these, which give combinations of zone types in the three setting modes; the other three options cover PA, Fire and 24 hour zones. It sounds a bit complicated, but the options are clearly listed in tabular form in the Instructions. We urge the manufacturer to programme in the extra option of separate entry/exit points for Part 1 and Part 2 setting, thereby enabling the premises to be alarmed in two halves.The Nexus 8 system has a master code, six normal user codes and an engineer code, each four digits long. The normal users have access to the normal user menu which includes code changing, so that they can change their own codes, but the master user has over-riding control with the ability to enable or disable each code. Other programmable options include a strobe flash for seven seconds when the system is set; a service timer; and a load test which activates the bell, strobe and internal speaker(s) simultaneously to enable the engineer to measure full load current and voltage to comply with NACOSS requirements.The Nexus 8 provides a terminal for the set/unset supply to latching detectors. Monitoring facilities for the mains supply, battery voltage, bell and auxiliary fuses are also supplied.The end station and remote keypad enclosures are moulded in white high gloss polycarbonate 3mm thick.

The result is very stylish, with rounded edges and corners, and robust even without the PCBs and end station gear tray fitted. The front covers are hung in place by two plastic hooks at the top and secured by a single screw at the bottom – an engineering thread into a brass nut in the RKP but a self-tapper in the end station where a nut and bolt would be beneficial in the long term, considering its regular usage.

The remote keypad cover has a hinged flap to hide the keys, giving a very neat, tidy, unobtrusive appearance.The end station has a power PCB, 114 x 50mm and a separate control PCB, 156mm x 83mm, both mounted on a rigid plastic gear tray which provides a solid support for the PCBs. It is easily removed (two hooks and a single screw), leaving a blank base for installation. The control PCB has connecting terminals along the top and bottom edges. Each zone has individual power, alarm and tamper terminals which should lead to a very tidy wired result. The remote keypad PCB, 118 x 80mm, is well supported in the base and carries the twin seven-bar indicator, bleeper, PA switches, keypad and tamper switch (lid operated). The switches are of the metal diaphragm type and the keypad switches give a reassuring tactile response when operated by the keys held on a plastic frame secured to the outer cover.The control PCB uses surface mount technology (SMT) components; all the PCBs are neat and constructed to a high standard.

The component parts and covers fit neatly. The Nexus 8 alarm panel base is moulded such that it stands 5mm clear of the mounting surface and has plenty of rear cable entries so that surface run or concealed cables should cause no problems.

Gear tray removal leaves the base completely empty; we had to use a small pair of pliers to release the tough keypad PCB plastic latches. Four-cored cable is required to connect the remote keypads to the alarm panel – maximum permissible lengths are not specified. Installation is really straightforward and to make life even easier, the manufacturer has numbered each cable entry hole in the alarm panel base. Lynteck helps to speed up installation by providing six pre-set options (menus) for the eight zone types and part-set conditions (where appropriate).

These should save time, since they can be easily amended to suit the system requirements. Zone attributes are then added as required.

One of the pre-set options resets ALL the programming options to their default values.We ran into a spot of bother trying to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for programming out unused zones. The technical helpline quickly sorted our problem and the manufacturer agreed that one line in the instructions is not quite accurate and could mislead. Once it was appreciated that while in an Engineer Programming Menu, pressing the “NO” button returns the system to the Engineers Menu indicated by the “ — “ prompt on the display, the programming was very straightforward. The options are easy to follow, being clearly set down with their one or two digit LED code, often in tabular form. The Nexus 8 was connected on the bench and powered up. The system proved to be very easy to operate; any engineer programme changes needed to fine-tune the internal sounder levels, for example, can be quickly carried out.

We checked out system setting with a faulty zone to prove the partial protection claimed in “What The Manufacturer Says”. During discussions the manufacturer also informed us that the User can omit an entry/exit zone! This can be useful for setting the system, when the front door has been changed and there is a delay before the installer can fit new contacts. The system then recognises the entry route zone as an entry/exit zone. But we could find no reference to the above two properties in either the User Guide or the Engineer Guide, which the manufacturer supplies. The former contains basic user instructions with menu flowcharts for the Master User and Normal Users printed on a folded A4 sized card.

Refx Nexus Manual

The instructions are brief but adequate, making the guide more useful for reference purposes. It also includes an essential Event Log Display Guide for interpreting the two seven-bar indicator outputs and system details consisting of the installation company and zone information. The light grey ink used to print the lines and to highlight the outcomes on the flowcharts is much too faint and requires firm concentration to interpret the information. The Engineer Guide provides a brief introduction to system planning, installation instructions, initial power-up and programming, engineer options, glossary of terms, trouble-shooting and technical specification.

The Installation Instructions contain clear, informative diagrams, supported by brief text where necessary. We found some of the terminology a bit unusual, the Engineer Menu, for example, which is generally termed Engineer Mode, allows access to the Engineer Programming Menu, Engineer Menu Options and System Test. Lynteck provided an addendum sheet which included instructions for “exiting the engineer’s menu” and “exiting the engineer’s programming menu”. These did not clear up our initial confusion and we have suggested that they use the more conventional term “engineer mode” instead of “engineer menu”. Reader Service No 187 SI. Overall assessmentOur test team was very impressed with this Lynteck panel, which provides flexibility at a very reasonable price.

The Nexus 8 consists of a blank end station, capable of supporting a maximum of four remote keypads. These are soundly constructed in very neat and stylish polycarbonate enclosures.

It has eight fully programmable zones and a wide range of options not generally found in systems designed for the domestic and small commercial market sectors. Installation and programming are simple after initial familiarisation.