Silent Knight by Honeywell recently released the SK-F485C Wire to Fibre Converter, designed to allow new and existing Silent Knight systems to significantly increase wire runs between fire alarm control panels and power supplies, while providing a major boost in surge protection. Being the first wire to fibre converter to be UL listed for a non-proprietary line of fire alarm systems and sold over-the-counter at Security Equipment Wholesalers nationwide, allows Silent Knight to offer the ideal solution to large facilities and multi-building campuses seeking non-proprietary fire alarm systems.
A fire alarm system run on copper wire underground, between buildings is incredibly susceptible to lightning damage due to earth ground differentials. The new fibre converter allows one Intelliknight™ addressable fire alarm control panel from Silent Knight to be extended over fibre-optic cable to protect multiple buildings while severely limiting the risk of damages from electrical surges.
Covering longer distances over fibre allows Silent Knight systems to offer more economical and reliable fire protection to larger facilities such as warehouses and factories, as well as for multi-building projects, including K-12 schools, universities, corporate campuses, apartment buildings and assisted living complexes. The fibre converter offers a great solution for adding smaller, standalone buildings, such as maintenance sheds and guard shacks to a fire alarm system over fibre too.
The adaptable design elements of Silent Knight systems enable them to provide a closer-fit to the fire protection needs of each facility, which can equal big savings in parts and labour. This has a positive effect on recurring fees too. Case-in-point, the costs associated with monitoring one control panel versus many are much less.
Flexibility in the design of its systems and minimisation of wire has been a continued focus for Silent Knight’s product development teams, says Loren Schreiber, Product Marketing Manager for Silent Knight.
“We’ve always been unique with ‘distributed intelligence’ built into power supplies and other s-bus devices to allow you to place them where needed, as opposed to home-running wire all the way back to the main control,” Schreiber explains.
Silent Knight’s complete portfolio of IntelliKnight products are non-proprietary and sold through security equipment wholesalers throughout the U.S., which helps to ensure competitive pricing and readily available parts.
