The Honeywell Morley-IAS DXc4 (part number 714-001-241) is a 4-loop multi-protocol analogue addressable fire alarm control panel engineered for life safety protection in small to medium commercial, institutional, and light industrial facilities. Providing four independent loop drivers rated at 500mA per loop, the unit supports comprehensive addressable field loops, robust power delivery, and programmable cause-and-effect matrix configurations across 160 detection zones.
Medium-Scale Commercial Facilities and Corporate Offices
In mid-sized office complexes, retail centers, and educational buildings, the DXc4 functions as a standalone central life safety controller. When configured with the System Sensor protocol, each loop accommodates up to 198 addressable devices (99 detectors and 99 modules, call points, or AV devices), delivering an overall panel capacity of up to 792 addressable points. Alternatively, Apollo (Xplorer, XP95, Discovery) or Hochiki (ESP) protocols can be selected to support up to 126 devices per loop.
- Audible and Visual Signalling: Two onboard monitored sounder circuits rated at 1A each drive conventional sounders or visual alarm devices directly from the panel's internal 24V DC 4A power supply unit.
- Sub-System Tripping: Three onboard single-pole changeover relays (Fire, Fault/Extended, and programmable Aux) rated at 24V DC 1A allow direct signaling to access control release systems, HVAC damper trip coils, or elevator recall inputs.
- Field Auxiliary Power: An onboard +24V DC 250mA fused auxiliary output supplies steady DC power to third-party interface relays and specialized beam detectors without requiring external power supplies.
Multi-Building Campus Architectures and Distributed Networks
For educational campuses, hospital annexes, and multi-block industrial sites, the DXc4 integrates into distributed multi-panel networks. By installing the optional DXc Network Card (part number 795-099), up to four DXc4 control panels can be networked together to create a cohesive 16-loop peer-to-peer system that complies with BS 5839 part 1 network requirements.
- Distributed Loop Topologies: Panels can be geographically situated near their respective detection zones to shorten loop cable lengths and reduce voltage drops across high-load sounder loops.
- Remote Annunciation: Facilities requiring secondary security desks or reception monitoring can leverage the onboard RS485 data port to link Morley Active Repeaters (709-601-001) or Morley Passive Repeaters (709-701-001) without consuming primary detection loops.
- Emergency Standby Power: Backup autonomy is sustained by housing 2 x 12V 17Ah sealed lead-acid standby batteries (they are not included), providing up to 48 hours of standalone operation or 24 hours when operating with a network card or active repeater attached.
Industrial Environments Requiring False Alarm Management
In manufacturing floors, repair depots, and warehouse environments, operational conditions such as dust, vehicle exhaust, and production thermal shifts require sophisticated alarm verification to prevent costly interruptions. The DXc4 addresses these requirements via embedded software features:
- Verification and Coincidence Detection: Double-knock (coincidence) programming requires multi-device activation within a zone before initiating general evacuation alarms, protecting operational continuity.
- Day/Night Sensitivity Adjustment: Configurable sensitivity cycling alters optical sensor thresholds automatically between active operational shifts and unoccupied nighttime hours.
- 7-Day Timer Scheduling: Onboard 7-day timers permit automatic scheduling of input disablements, walk tests, and delayed output responses aligned with routine industrial processes.
Phased Retrofits and Heritage Building Modernization
The DXc4 provides exceptional flexibility during legacy system modernizations. Because its loop hardware supports Apollo, Hochiki, and System Sensor protocols (selectable on a panel-wide basis), existing field cabling and compatible detectors can often be preserved during control panel changeouts, reducing retrofit capital costs. For historic properties or architectural spaces where running new conduit is restricted, the DXc4 running firmware version 1.30 or higher supports System Sensor Agile wireless devices, facilitating hybrid wired and wireless device deployment across common zones.
