The System Supervisor Unit (SSU) is a PC-based design which is used to monitor the status of all main units in the Pinpoint System (this includes products such as Receiver Units and Addressable Call Buttons). The SSU polls these units at regular intervals and is able to process the reply, or note the absence of a reply, in order to ascertain the current operational status of each unit and the System itself.
Advanced Receiver Units (ARUs) can also be configured to carry out two tests independently from the SSU. The first test (a high-powered IR transmission) checks whether the ARU is capable of transmitting and, more importantly, receiving infrared. The second test (a low powered IR transmission) checks whether the ARU may be covered up in a way which could prevent it being activated by a Personal Infrared Transmitter (PIT). Each test can be enabled/disabled using the Hand-Held Programming Unit (HHPU). If the ARU fails either test (when enabled), the next time it is interrogated by the SSU it will send an alert indicating a potential issue.
The SSU contains a configuration file called a ‘message table’. This contains the addresses of all Receiver Units and descriptions of relevant locations in the Pinpoint System. The descriptions for each address location are displayed by the Display when an alarm message is received over the Data Bus from that address location. The SSU needs to have a message table downloaded to it before operation, in the same way as a Communications Interface or Display Unit. This file contains the addresses of all Receiver Units and descriptions of relevant locations in the System, plus information regarding the number of Display Units and the presence of a Communications Interface. In normal operation, the SSU will poll through all units sequentially, repeating the process when the end of the table is reached. Polling is carried out at a default interval of approximately 45 seconds per unit.
The SSU itself does not have any form of visual display. Instead, alerts are sent to a designated Display Unit - this unit is primarily used for alarm messages but could also be configured to solely display the alerts from the SSU. These alerts are then shown on the Display’s LCD screen, as well as being emailed to our Service Software and directly to you (Please note: Only ‘Phone Home’ Supervisors (526.5) which are connected to an active phone line have the ability to relay emails).
Any alarm conditions occurring, while an alert message is being displayed, will override the alert messages. The Display Unit will indicate only the alarm condition(s), scrolling through multiple incidents in the usual manner, until they have been cleared. The Display Unit will then revert to indicating the alert(s). In the event that the Display Unit is ‘power down’ reset, it is programmed to interrogate the SSU when power is re-applied. Any alerts currently stored by the SSU will be re-transmitted to the Display Unit so that they will be indicated as before.
The SSU can be located anywhere on the Pinpoint Data Ring, but it may be most convenient to locate it next to the Power Supply Unit for the System as the SSU requires an unswitched supply. Consideration should be given to the condition of the surface to which the SSU is to be mounted: it should be free from damp and moisture, not be subject to any shock or vibration, and be secure enough to allow a good fixing for the SSU.
