Cabinet Mounting and Power Precautions
The GST P-9940A Class A RS485 Network Card is an internal expansion printed circuit board assembly engineered for mounting directly within the enclosures of compatible fire alarm control panels, including the GST200, GST200-2, and GST200N series, as well as the GST-NRP00 network repeater panel. Prior to beginning hardware handling or wiring, all power to the host panel must be completely disconnected. The P-9940A card must never be inserted, connected, or removed while the host control panel is energized.
Position the P-9940A circuit board in the designated internal slot inside the panel cabinet and fix it firmly in place using mounting screws. Ensure the board is securely seated to eliminate mechanical vibration or contact with adjacent panel hardware. The installation site must maintain an ambient operating temperature between 0°C and +40°C, with a relative humidity level of 95% or lower (non-condensing).
Host Main Board Ribbon Cable Connection
Interfacing the P-9940A network card to the control panel processing architecture requires the Flat Cable HF-20 multi-pin ribbon assembly. Connect one end of the Flat Cable HF-20 to socket XS1 on the P-9940A network board. Route the ribbon cable within the enclosure and seat the opposing connector into terminal socket XS12 located on the GST 200 series panel main board. Verify that the ribbon cable connectors are fully engaged and locked before proceeding to field network wiring.
RS-485 Class A Loop Wiring Specifications
The card integrates two photoelectrically isolated RS-485 communication interfaces: Master Interface (terminals A1 and B1) and Slave Interface (terminals A2 and B2). These interfaces form a Class A closed-ring, peer-to-peer network topology supporting up to 32 interconnected GST control panels. The closed Class A loop provides redundant signal routing, ensuring continuous communication if a cable break occurs along the network path.
Loop field wiring between adjacent network nodes requires connecting the Master Interface of one control panel to the Slave Interface of the neighboring panel. Terminals A1 and B1 must wire directly to terminals A2 and B2 on the adjacent network node, maintaining strict polarity matching throughout the closed ring.
| Network Parameter | Field Specification |
|---|
| Transmission Medium | 1.0 mm² or greater twisted pair cable (shielded twisted pair recommended) |
| Loop Topology | RS-485 Class A closed ring (peer-to-peer) |
| Transmission Baud Rate | Fixed at 2400 bps |
| Maximum Distance Between Neighbor Nodes | Less than 1200 meters |
| Maximum Network Node Capacity | Up to 32 GST series control panels |
| Field Terminals | A1/B1 (Master Interface), A2/B2 (Slave Interface) |
Panel Registration and Commissioning Sequence
After verifying the mechanical mounting, the Flat Cable HF-20 seating, and external Class A loop connections, energize the host fire alarm control panel. Enter panel calibration mode to register the P-9940A network card. Press key SK1 on the panel assembly to initiate a main board reset. If the P-9940A network card is properly interfaced and successfully registered by the panel processor, the display screen will show "Color CRT OK".
Diagnostic LED Indicators and Troubleshooting
The card includes three diagnostic LEDs to verify circuit health and identify transmission faults:
- HL1 (Red LED): Main board communication status. Flashes intermittently during normal communication with the host panel main board. If HL1 does not illuminate or flash, check whether the panel has entered calibration mode; power the control panel off and then switch it on again to complete card registration.
- HL2 (Green LED): Master Interface (A1B1) communication status. Illuminates steadily when the RS-485 master interface is functioning normally and no active messages are transmitting across the loop.
- HL3 (Green LED): Slave Interface (A2B2) communication status. Illuminates steadily when the RS-485 slave interface is functioning normally and no active messages are transmitting across the loop.
If network messages fail to transmit between control panels, inspect the operational state of LEDs HL2 and HL3. Confirm terminal polarity across each segment (A1 to A2 and B1 to B2), inspect for open or short circuits along the Class A loop, and ensure the cable run between any two adjacent nodes does not exceed 1200 meters.