Hello all,
I have an ESL 1500 5 zone FACP missing a transformer. It would appear
the previous installer removed it. The previous installer, an
electrician lost his alarm guy so its now on me to install. My
knowledge base is with Fire-Lite and Notifier this is probably my
third time dealing with one and my first installing one. I am unsure
if the transformer comes pre-installed or not I do not see anything
about installing it in the manual so my guess ?? is that it was
installed at the time of delivery but removed at one point but that is
just speculation.
Does anyone have an old can laying around with a transformer in it?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jake
Bob - 26 Jul 2008 03:03 GMT
> Hello all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Jake
that puppy hooks straight to AC doesn't it?
Jake - 26 Jul 2008 19:36 GMT
Hi
The manual shows a replacement part number if 1500-TR. I could order
one with no problem but I am doing this install as a favor on the side
and I don't want to charge them for a transformer that should have
been there in the first place.. Which is why I was hoping someone had
a spare or used one just to get this system online.
For those that know this panel.. I assume all transformers would be
the same output voltage to the panel correct? I cant imagine there
would be any other output that 24.
Thanks
Jim - 26 Jul 2008 03:22 GMT
> Hello all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Jake
I think I remember that there was a 24V and a 120VAC model. You should
make sure which one you have first.
Why not just call ESL? If the installation is to code, you're going to
need the transformer that the panel was approved with...... anyway.
Robert L Bass - 26 Jul 2008 04:15 GMT
> Does anyone have an old can laying around with a transformer in it?
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I never installed an ESL-1500 but I've serviced a few and IIRC they come with
an open-field transformer pre-mounted inside the can. Unfortunately, the spec
sheet doesn't mention the transformer value since it's not anticipated that
you'd need to replace one. If no one comes up with the spec for you call and
I'll get it from GE for you.

Signature
Regards,
Robert L Bass
==============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
Sales & Tech Support 941-925-8650
Customer Service 941-870-2310
Fax 941-870-3252
==============================>
Frank Olson - 26 Jul 2008 16:00 GMT
> Hello all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Jake
GE still supports this product. A replacement transformer is available
with the proper connector for the circuit board. Contact your local
distributor to obtain one. Do you have the installation manual???
Bob La Londe - 26 Jul 2008 18:22 GMT
>> Hello all,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> with the proper connector for the circuit board. Contact your local
> distributor to obtain one. Do you have the installation manual???
You know I had not even thought to check. I picked up the annual service
inspection on an ESL1500 last year because another company had told the
owner that it was a no-longer supported panel. I just downloaded the
manuals from Jim's Site.
Of course the first thing I noticed was that they had two 4ah batteries in
it, and when I did a battery calculation it barely made the 24+5. Figure if
the batteries are more than a month old capacity has started to fade... I
swapped in a couple 7AH batteries.
Robert L Bass - 27 Jul 2008 19:45 GMT
> Of course the first thing I noticed was that they had two 4ah batteries in
> it, and when I did a battery calculation it barely made the 24+5. Figure if
> the batteries are more than a month old capacity has started to fade... I
> swapped in a couple 7AH batteries.
They put 4AH batteries in a fire panel? Good grief!

Signature
Regards,
Robert L Bass
==============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
Sales & Tech Support 941-925-8650
Customer Service 941-870-2310
Fax 941-870-3252
==============================>
Frank Olson - 28 Jul 2008 01:36 GMT
>> Of course the first thing I noticed was that they had two 4ah
>> batteries in it, and when I did a battery calculation it barely made
>> the 24+5. Figure if the batteries are more than a month old capacity
>> has started to fade... I swapped in a couple 7AH batteries.
>
> They put 4AH batteries in a fire panel? Good grief!
You'd be amazed. We recently took over a building with an Edwards (GE)
verified fire alarm system. The main lobby panel drew 1.3 Amps in
supervisory. The batteries Edwards supplied were 7 AH. It's an EST-3
with full EVAC. The building's 21 stories. The amplifier cabinets had
48 AH batteries, but a fat lot of good they were going to do when the
common control would die after about 5 hours.
On another building we were called in to consult on, one of the biggest
names in the fire prevention industry (in our area) replaced all the
smoke detectors with System Sensor 1400A's. They're not even
cross-listed to the the Edwards 6500 (the common control in this
particular building). "Certified Technicians" too. Right!!
Robert L Bass - 28 Jul 2008 05:51 GMT
>> They put 4AH batteries in a fire panel? Good grief!
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> batteries, but a fat lot of good they were going to do when the common
> control would die after about 5 hours.
Great planning. :^)
> On another building we were called in to consult on, one of the biggest
> names in the fire prevention industry (in our area) replaced all the smoke
> detectors with System Sensor 1400A's. They're not even cross-listed to the
> the Edwards 6500 (the common control in this particular building).
> "Certified Technicians" too. Right!!
How long ago was that?

Signature
Regards,
Robert L Bass
==============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
Sales & Tech Support 941-925-8650
Customer Service 941-870-2310
Fax 941-870-3252
==============================>
Frank Olson - 28 Jul 2008 15:18 GMT
> Great planning. :^)
That's not the word for it. It's down right criminal. In Vancouver a
fire alarm EVAC system (in what they term a "tall building" - over 11
stories) has to be able to supervise for 24 hours and then operate for
two hours. The batteries in the amplifier cabinet were barely adequate.
> How long ago was that?
I'll have to pull the file when I get to the office later this morning.
I do recall seeing several inspection tags (from previous companies)
that had "cleared" the system. The company that called me in on the
consultation red tagged it.