Hello.
I am installing my system and the FireFighter Wired Smoke Alarm Audio Detector (ECFF345) smoke detector is not working properly. I put the system into the ‘walk test’ mode and triggered my smoke detector. It is within 4 inches of the smoke alarm detector. It did not register on the panel that it was triggered.
Is there anything I can try or do I need to have it replaced?
Thank you
Before you mounted the Fire Fighter and ran the walk test, did you learn the Fire Fighter into the panel? If not, this video can help you with learning the ECFF345 into your panel. While the panel in the video is a GC2, the process is the same, albeit easier, on your panel.
Also, if you manually typed in the serial number of the ECFF345 (instead of tripping the unit to learn it into your panel) did you take the cellophane wrapping off of the battery? It is very thing/clear and easy to miss!
When you tested the Smoke Detector did you push test once? You will need to produce 2-3 cadences from the Smoke Detector in a row in order to activate the ECFF345 Fire Fighter.
Excellent… This did the trick! Thank you!
Steve
No Problem!
Hello there.
Having similar issues with testing the Firefighter ECFF345. I have enrolled the device per the instructions. I can see the devices is communicating with the panel as it triggers the tamper alert…and also resets it when the cover is replaced. However no matter the amount of time holding the smoke detector test button ( over 30 seconds) it does not trigger the panel alarm. I also can visually see that the ECFF345 is registering the sound as the led is flashing red.
Please advise
Make sure that the Loop number is set to 2 for the ECFF345 in programming.
Are you using 24 hour fire or 24 hour fire with verification?
Do you see the LED turning yellow and flashing along with the smoke detector sounder prior to the red LED?
Loop is set to 2.
Also set to 24 hour fire (9)
I do not see a yellow led. Only red flashing along with smoke detector.
For clarity, see the LED response description from the manual, to help us determine what may be going on.
"The Firefighter™ is equipped with a multi-color LED. When a valid audio signal is heard the LED will turn yellow and flash in sequence to the smoke detector sounder. When the Firefighter™ has
determined the audio signal heard is a valid alarm, the LED will turn red to indicate it has
transmitted to the panel. It will also turn red when the case is opened to indicate a tamper
transmission to the control panel. On power up the LED will also flash red then green as part of its power up cycle.
Insert Battery = One RED blink, then one GREEN blink
In frequency sound detected = Flash YELLOW for the duration of that sound
Fire Alarm detected = Solid RED for 3 seconds, then blink RED when tone detected
Tamper = Solid RED until tamper condition removed
Learn button pressed = Solid GREEN for 3 seconds"
Is the ECFF-345 mounted within 6 inches of the smoke detector?
You’ll want to see a yellow flashing light, followed by a solid red for 3 seconds which indicates the signal was sent. If you do not see the flashing followed by a solid red LED, the Firefighter is not sending a signal.
What model of smoke detector is this firefighter directly listening to?
I have been studying the manual i have for this device and it appears to be a different revision. I am attaching the front and back of the manual I have.
This manual stated that it is a newer revision date than the one that I find on the internet.
There is no mention of LED functionality in this manual. I have tested this device when it powers up and it only blinks red once for non-legacy mode and twice red if in legacy mode. I have yet to see the LED flash Yellow at any time.
I have not mounted the unit just yet, wanting to have a valid test before doing so. I have been holding the unit directly below the smoke detector to test.
The smoke detector is a FIREX 120-538B
Is the existing smoke detector a temporal 3-pattern sounder? What does the sounder produce?
If it is not a standard 3 pattern sounder, note the bottom of page one of the ECFF345 manual.
The model number of the smoke detector looks to be an older discontinued product, so depending on age, you may want to consider replacement. Check the under side of the detector for a date code.
Ok I will try to purchase a temporal 3-pattern sounder.
I have purchased the First Alert Smoke Alarm model 9120B. I have tested it and it has a sounder that consists of 3 beeps and a pause at 85 deciles. I cannot find any documentation stating that it is temporal 3, however I went online to see what temporal 3 sounds like and it seems right.
I have put the firefighter next to this smoke detector in both modes and neither of them set the alarm.
In both cases the led of the firefighter starts off syncopated red flashes to the beeps of the smoke detector then after first cycle turns solid green for a cycle then returns the syncopated red flashes to the beeps of the smoke detector.
Please advise.
Just to make sure, when testing, you have the cover on the ECFF and the ECFF is within 6 inches of the smoke detector?
So we’ve covered everything in one test:
Have you held the ECFF on the ceiling within 6 inches, held down the test button on the smoke for 30 seconds, with the cover on the ECFF? The ECFF should have perforations on one side, make sure these face the detector.
To definitively test you will want to follow manufacturer instructions, holding the ECFF beneath the detector is not the prescribed mounting location, and may or may not impact functionality, depending on how it is being held.
Ok… so I finally found the last issue. Building on the fact that this devices instruction version did not match the one online nor the one that you referenced, I discovered that it states to use LOOP 1 instead on LOOP 2. I changed this setting and it immediately set the panels alarm off.
Thanks so much for your assistance. But I would definitely ask about the version for future user’s issues.
Best Regards
Shawn
PS: I need to ask additional questions but I will start a different thread so as not to get it mixed up with this one.
I discovered that it states to use LOOP 1 instead on LOOP 2. I changed this setting and it immediately set the panels alarm off.
That’s very strange, have not heard of a version with a different loop. I do not recall that ever happening with any sensor, let alone from Encore, where a manufacturer switched the used loop from one revision to the next. Good to know, thank you.
Looks like this may have been changed due to combined CO/Fire detectors, and the new version you reference can be used as two separate sensors in programming, one for CO sounder, one for Fire sounder.
