Introduction
This article is intended to help you build an extremely sophisticated hard-wired or hybrid (hard-wired & wireless) alarm system using the Texecom Premier range of control panels.
We have several assembled kits available which are discounted - look under Alarm Kits>Full Kits.
The Premier range is Texecom's top of the range system. The range is based around a number of control panels starting with the Premier 24 (24 zones max) up to the Premier 640 (512 zones max). Each base panel is supplied with 8 zones (except the 640) - the extra zones are added using 8 zone expanders. A wide variety of remote kepads and other accessories are available - see below.
The Premier 24 Panel is available in Polycarbonate or Metal.
Click on the Explain links for more information.
The Premier Control Panels - Key Features
| | Premier 24 |
Premier 48 |
Premier 88 |
Premier 168 |
Premier 640 |
| Number of Zones (Onboard) Explain... |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
0 |
| Number of Remote Keypads (RKPs) |
4 |
4 |
8 |
16 |
64 |
| 8 Zone Expanders Explain...
| 2 |
4 |
8 |
16 |
64 |
| Event Log Time & Date Stamped
| 500 |
500 |
1000 |
2000 |
5000 |
| SMS Text Messaging (with Com 2400) Explain...
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Plug on Digimodem/ISDN Digimodem
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
| Single Pole Zone Wiring Explain...
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
| Double Pole Wiring Explain...
| No
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
| End of Line Wiring Explain...
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
| Areas Explain...
| 0
| 4
| 8
| 16
| 16
|
| Part Sets Explain...
| 3
| 3 PER AREA
| 3 PER AREA
| 3 PER AREA
| 3 PER AREA
|
| Max No Of Users Explain...
| 15
| 24
| 49
| 99
| 99
|
| Programmable Outputs (Control Panel)
| 9
| 10
| 13
| 13
| 13
|
| Multi Format Communication Protocols
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
| Remote & Local Upload/Download Explain...
| Local Only
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
| Printer Output (needs PRINT-Com)
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
| Conventional 2-wire Fire Detector Compatible
| No - 4-wire only
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
| EN 50131-1
| G3†
| G3
| G3
| G3
| G3
|
| TS 50131-3
| G3†
| G3
| G3
| G3
| G3
|
† Polycarbonate panel is Grade 2.
Choosing the Correct Panel
The first criterion in deciding which panel to choose will probably be the number of zones. In an ideal installation each detector will connect to a different zone, however, it is common practise to put more than one detector onto a zone. This results in less wiring returning to the contrrol panel but note that if a fault develops on one of the detectors on a zone with multiple detectors and you wish to set the alarm by omitting that zone then all the detecors on that zone will also be omitted.
For most domestic and small commercial installations the Premier 24 or 48 will be adequate. The Premier 24 is available in Polycarbonate or Powder-coated Metal. The advantages of the Metal version are that the casing is far more robust, it will accept up to 2 x 7.0Ah batteries and its auxiliary power supply (for powered detectors and other devices) is rated at 1.5 Amp rather than the 1.0 Amp with the Polycarbonate version. The drawback is that the Metal Panel is larger and heavier.
In summary, if you require a relatively small installation and the control panel is to be hidden away (recommended), then the Premier 24 Poly will suffice. If you need a more robust panel then the Metal version is the one to choose. If you want more than 24 zones or you want areas and the ability to connect to the internet then the Premier 48 (and above) will be needed.
Expanding the Control Panel
All the panels (except the 640) are supplied with 8 fully programmable zones. Each panel can be expanded by the addition of 8 zone expanders. The maximum number of expanders that can be installed is shown in the table above. NB: The Premier 24 panel can be expanded to 16 zones using the Plug-on 8XE Expander and up to 24 zones using an additional 8XP expander. The Premier 48 and above panels are NOT compatible with the 8XE expander - 8XP Expanders must be used.
Remote Keypads (RKPs)
 
Premier Control Panels require at least one RKP. There are a lot of different RKP options ranging from the simple surface-mount LCD, through to flush-mounted LCD units with Proximity readers and stylish finishes. All the RKPs have backlit and touchtone keys, 2 additional zones, and 1 programmable output. The flush-mount, and the Large-display RKPs can have an extension speaker fitted.
Any combination of RKPs can be connected to a Control Panel up to the maximum allowed for that panel - see table above.
NB: The Veritas range of RKPs are NOT compatible with the Premier Range of Control Panels.
Choose the Battery
All alarm systems need a back-up battery in order to maintain the alarm system during a power cut. The Premier 24 Polycarbonate panel can accept up to ONE 12v 7.0Ah rechargeable battery. The Premier 24 Metal and the 48 uowards can accept up to 1 x 12v 17Ah rechargeable battery or 2 x 12v 7.0Ah batteries. The battery required depends on the power drawn by the panel and the powered devices on the system. As a rough guide a 7.0Ah battery will give 12 hours back-up on a system with around 12 PIRs.
Local (LAN) & Remote (WAN) Access
All the Premier range panels can be accessed locally by using either the COM-2400 modem or the USB-COM. Note that the COM-2400 can also send SMS messages - see below. The Premier 48 and upwards can be accessed from a PC remotely (WAN - Internet) using the IP-COM module. The local or remote PC requires the Wintex Software installed on the Windows operating system.
Signalling The Alarm Condition
Obviously, once an alarm occurs it needs to be communicated. The simplest installation will us Internal and external sounders to signal the alarm. More sophisticated systems will use the COM-2400 to send SMS messages to a text-enabled phone (Mobiles) or a speech dialler to allow voice messaging to any phone. Speech diallers have additional features such as Listen-in and Talk-back.
The Premier 24 Polycarbonate has an in-panel speaker. The Premier 24 Metal and the 48 and upwards are not fitted with the speaker. It is recommended that the speaker in the Premier 24 is either disconnected or relocated away from the panel - we don't really want to tell an intruder where the panel is sited.
The Premier control panels can connect to any of the External and Internal sounders on our website.
Choosing Hard-wired Detectors
The first thing to decide is which type of wiring scheme you are going to use - Closed Circuit Loop (CCL) or End Of Line (EOL).
Using CCL wiring (2 cores for Alarm, 2 for Tamper, and if required 2 for 12v power), any hard-wired detectors can be used - you do not have to use Texecom detectors.
Using EOL wiring (2 cores for Alarm & Tamper, and if required 2 for 12v power), then again any hard-wired detectors can be used, but the required resistors (supplied with the Control Panel) will have to be fitted at the detector. However, life can be made easier by using detectors with the resistors already built into the detector. The Texecom Prestige range of PIRs and the Pyronix KX series of PIRs have selectable resistors built-in. For magnetic contacts see Grade 3 Magnetic contacts in the Products Listing.
Enabling Wireless Components
Texecom have recently introduced the Ricochet™ wireless system for connecting to the Premier range of control panels. The Ricochet™ system is a very sophisticated wireless system which uses hopping to relay wireless signals through other wireless detectors. See the Ricochet Brochure (opens in new window)
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