12 Clintonville Road

Northford, CT 06472-1653 USA

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NCM Installation Document

Network Communications Module NCM-W, NCM-F
PN 51533:A 06/29/01 ECN 01-245

1 Product Overview
The Network Communications Module (NCM) provides a means for connecting specific Notifier fire
alarm control products to NOTI•FIRE•NET™. There are two types of NCMs available: NCM-W for
connecting nodes with twisted-pair wire, and NCM-F for connecting nodes with fiber-optic cable.

1.1 The Network Communications Module for Wire (NCM-W)

Ground Fault • Supports twisted-pair wire medium.
Detection • NFPA Style 4 (Class B) operation or NFPA Style 7 (Class
Channel
Switches
A&B A) operation.
and
Connections
E F B TE RM B E F A TE RM A

• Two programmable data thresholds.

O FF

O FF
S W 101

S W 1 02

S W 103

S W 1 00

Network
ON

ON

End-of-Line • Transformer coupling provides electrical isolation

Termination between nodes.
Resistor • Pluggable terminal wiring with strain relief.
Switches J3 J2
Network • Pluggable service connector (feeds signal directly
LED 101 LED 100

A HI B HI
LED 6 LED 7

Connection
N U P2

N U P1

RCD A RCD B

through) in the event that power must be removed from a

LED 4 LED 2

STATA STATB
LED 3 LED 5

RECON PULS E1
LED 1 LED 8 Ports
node.
LC M A

RESET POW ER

(NUP)
Diagnostic • 312.5 Kbaud transmission rate.
LEDs • Data is regenerated at each node.
LC M B

• Two network ports to allow simultaneous connection to

L C M TE R M
A A

fire alarm control panel and to programming computer

[Link]

O FF
ON
SW 1

SW2

• Enables software and database upload/download over

Not used NOTI•FIRE•NET™.
• Refer to the NOTI•FIRE•NET™ manual for wiring
Figure 1 NCM-W length and threshold information.

1.2 The Network Communications Module for Fiber (NCM-F)

Channel • Supports fiber-optic medium.
A&B • NFPA Style 4 (Class B) or Style 7 (Class A) operation.
Connections • Data is immune to all environmental noise.
• Optical isolation prevents ground loops.
J 2 02

J 2 01

J 2 00

NOTI•FIRE•NET™ fiber optic medium.

RX TX RX TX
J 20 3

•
Network
J3 J2

• Fiber type:
LED 6 LED 7

Connection
N U P2

N U P1

• 62.5/125 micrometers (multimode)

RCDA RCDB
LED 4 LED 2

STATA
LED 3
STATB
LED 5

RECON PULSE 1
Ports
• 50/125 micrometers (multimode)
LED 1 LED 8

(NUP)
LCM A

RESET POW ER

Diagnostic • Wavelength (1): 820 nanometers. (Use standard 850 nm

LEDs fiber.)
LCM B

L C M TE R M
• Connectors: ST® Style (ST® is a registered trademark of
A A

AT&T).
[Link]

O FF
ON
SW 1

SW2

• 312.5 Kbaud transmission rate.

Not used • Data is regenerated at each node.
• Two network ports to allow simultaneous connection to
Figure 2 NCM-F fire alarm control panel and to programming computer.
• Enables software and database upload/download over
NOTI•FIRE•NET™.

NCM Installation PN 51533:A 06/29/01

2 Installing the NCM
2.1 Interconnecting the NCM-W
When wiring consecutive NCM-W boards, note that wiring may enter or exit at Port A or Port B as
shown in Figure 4. NCM-W port-to-port wiring is not polarity sensitive. The use of Port A or Port B is
arbitrary. An NCM-W may be connected to any of the following devices:
• MIB-W
• MIB-WF
• NAM-232W
• NCM-W (in another panel)
• NCS-W network connection
• RPT-W
• RPT-WF
For information regarding these devices, refer to the documentation listed in Table 4 “Supplemental
Documentation”.

From last node, To next node,

Port A Port B

B A
B A

[Link]
EF B T ER M B EF A T ER M A EF B T ER M B EF A T ER M A
O FF

O FF

O FF

O FF
S W 101

S W 10 2

S W 103

S W 10 0

S W 101

S W 10 2

S W 103

S W 10 0
ON

ON

ON

ON
Note: Wiring from the NCM-W that is installed outside the building:
• Cannot exceed 1000m (3280 ft.).
• Must be in conduit and is to be buried in a trench separate from any power lines.
• Cannot cross any power lines.
Figure 3 The NCM-W

TB100-1 CH-A (+) Channel-A Driver/Receiver

TB100-2 CH-A (-) Channel-A Driver/Receiver
TB100-3 CH-B (+) Channel-B Driver/Receiver
TB100-4 CH-B (-) Channel-B Driver/Receiver
TB100-5 Earth Ground

Table 1 NOTI•FIRE•NET™ Connections: NCM-W

Switch Functions: Ground Fault Detection and Line Termination

The NCM-W provides two sets of switches to simplify
EF B TER M B EF A TE R M A
network setup; in Figure 4 all are in the “off” position.
OFF

OFF
S W 1 01

S W 1 03
S W 102

S W 100

• Enable ground fault detection by setting

ON

ON

switches “on”: SW103 for Channel A, and

[Link]

SW101 for Channel B.

• Activate on-board end-of-line resistors by
setting switches “on”: SW100 for Channel A;
SW102 for Channel B.
Figure 4 NCM-W Switches
Note: Correct configuration depends on your network
design; refer to the NOTI•FIRE•NET™ manual.

2 NCM Installation PN 51533:A 06/29/01

2.2 Interconnecting the NCM-F
When connecting consecutive nodes/repeaters, note that fiber cable must exit one board on transmit
(TX) and enter the next node/repeater on receive (RX). Also, note that the fiber-optic pair (RX, TX)
from port A of one Node/Repeater may be connected to either Port A or Port B of another node/repeater
(refer to Figure 5). An NCM-F may be connected to any of the following devices:
• MIB-F
• MIB-WF
• NAM-232F
• Another NCM-F
• Network connection for NCS-F
• RPT-F
• RPT-WF
For information regarding these devices, refer to the NAM-232 and Repeater manuals listed in
Table 4 “Supplemental Documentation”.
Note: See the NOTI•FIRE•NET™ Network Version 4.0 Manual for maximum fiber-optic cable
attenuation.

[Link]
J20 2

J20 1

J20 0

J20 2

J20 1

J20 0
RX TX RX TX RX TX RX TX
J 203 J 203

RxB TxB RxA TxA RxB TxB RxA TxA

Channel Channel Channel Channel
B A B A

Figure 5 NCM-F Connection

J200 CH A Transmit
J201 CH A Receive
J202 CH B Transmit
J203 CH B Receive

Table 2 NOTI•FIRE•NET™ Connections: NCM-F

2.3 Mixing Wire & Fiber on One Network

In some networks, it may be necessary to mix twisted-pair wire and fiber-optic cable. There are two
solutions for this situation.
1. In any network, an RPT-WF may be used as an interface between wire and fiber.
2. In a network that uses an AFP1010 or AM2020, a MIB-WF may also be used as the interface
between wire and fiber.
See 1.2 “The Network Communications Module for Fiber (NCM-F)” for requirements and restrictions
on the use of fiber optic cable. See the NOTI•FIRE•NET™ Manual (Network Version 4.0) for a
discussion of all compatible configurations.

NCM Installation PN 51533:A 06/29/01 3

3 Diagnostic Indicators
The NCM has LEDs that serve as diagnostic indicators to help in troubleshooting and system
connection. Refer to Table 3 for a list of diagnostic indicators and their descriptions. Refer to Figure 6
for location of the diagnostic indicators.

A HI (NCM-W only) B HI (NCM-W only)

RCD A RCD B
A HI B HI
STATA PULSE1
RCD A RCD B
RECON STATB
STATA STATB
RESET POWER
RECO N PULSE1

[Link]
RESET POW ER

Figure 6 Diagnostic Indicator Locations

LED Indicator LED Color LED Description

A HI Green Illuminates to indicate the NCM-W Port A is set for high threshold.
(NCM-W only)
B HI Green Illuminates to indicate the NCM-W Port B is set for high threshold.
(NCM-W only)
RCD A Green Illuminates when the NCM is receiving data from
NOTI•FIRE•NET™ on Port A.
RCD B Green Illuminates when the NCM is receiving data from
NOTI•FIRE•NET™ on Port B.
STATA Yellow Illuminates when the NCM has not received valid data from
NOTI•FIRE•NET™ on Port A for at least 16 seconds.
STATB Yellow Illuminates when the NCM has not received valid data from
NOTI•FIRE•NET™ on Port B for at least 16 seconds.
RECON Yellow Illuminates when a reconfiguration on NOTI•FIRE•NET™ is in
progress.
PULSE1 Green Illuminates when the NCM is transmitting data to
NOTI•FIRE•NET™.
RESET Yellow Illuminates when the microcontroller fails.
POWER Green Illuminates when +5 VDC is available

Table 3 Diagnostic Indicator Functions and Colors

4 NCM Installation PN 51533:A 06/29/01

4 Door-Mounting
Both NCM-W and NCM-F can be installed in any panel circuit module position; see your control panel
installation manual. Additionally, the NCM-W can be door-mounted on the ADP-4B Dress Panel on a
single-space blank plate (BMP-1) for mounting in a CAB-4 Series cabinet.
Note: The module cannot be mounted in the ADP-4B Dress Panel when a front slot of the CHS-4 or
CHS-4N is occupied, or when either of the two front right positions of the CHS-M2 is occupied.
Always be certain there is enough clearance to close the cabinet door when this installation is used.

[Link]
Single-space
blank plate

Mount a single-space blank

plate onto the ADP-4B Dress
Panel.
Fasten module to the plate
with four screws (included).

5 Supplemental Documentation
The table below provides a list of document sources (manuals) containing additional information
regarding the NCM and products that it can connect to. The NOTIFIER document (DOC-NOT) chart
provides the current document revision.

For information on… Refer to… Part No.

Networking NOTI•FIRE•NET™ Manual: Network Version 4.0 51584

NCS Network Control Station: Network Version 4.0 51585
NFS-640 Installation 51332
Operations 51333
Programming 51334
NCA Network Control Annunciator 51482
Media Interface Board (MIB) Manual 50255
NAM-232 Network Adaptor Module 50038
RPT - W/WF/F Repeaters for NOTI•FIRE•NET™ 50256

Off-line Programming Utility Veri•Fire Tools CD on-line help file Veri•Fire-TCD

Compatible Devices Device Compatibility Document 15378
Cabinets & Chassis CAB-3/CAB-4 Series Installation Document 15330
BMP-1 Product Installation Document 51119
Table 4 Supplemental Documentation

Note: For module mounting instructions, refer to the documentation for your control panel

NCM Installation PN 51533:A 06/29/01 5