M & I Systems - Alarm System Details

M & I Systems, Inc.
4200 Aurora Avenue N.
Seattle, WA 98103
Info: (206) 547-7899
Fax: (206) 547-8875

alarm panel The alarm system can be powered by 12VDC or 24VDC. A voltage regulator chip operates the internal functions on 12VDC. A 5 amp circuit breaker protects the system. The indicator lights and audio functions will operate on whichever voltage is supplied to the system and are protected by a 5 amp circuit breaker. A dedicated 10 amp circuit should be provided to power the system.

Installation

The alarm panel is easy to install. First select the location for the controller. The unit should be in a dry, protected area. Wiring must be easily accessible, but the controller has no active controls so daily access is not necessary. The following table shows the size of our available units.

Number of Channels	Height	Width	Depth
10	15"	7"	3"
20	15"	11"	3"
30	15"	15"	3"
40	15"	19"	3"
50	15"	23"	3"

After you have a chosen a suitable location for the controller, securely mount the unit. Route the power supply conductors and connect to the proper terminals (DC negative and either 12VDC or 24VDC). You can connect as many test/mute switches as you want, each parallel to the others. The switches control three relays in the unit, so voltage loss must be considered for distance between the controller and the various switches.

Audio indicator(s) connect to the Horn+ and Horn terminals. Any number of devices can be used as long as the total load of all devices does not exceed 5 amps.

The visual indicators get their positive voltage from the "Lights+" terminal. For each visual indicator, make the negative connection to the "L" terminal of the alarm channel assigned to that function. You can use any number of visual indicators in parallel, as long as the total load of all indicators does not exceed 5 amps.

Connect all sensors to the most convenient source of a good ground (DC negative) and to the (S) terminal of the desired channel on the controller. There are no user serviceable parts or controls located in the controller box.

Operation

The M & I multi-channel alarm panel needs a power supply and very little else. Once the installation is complete, the only controls are the test/mute switch and the main circuit breaker supplying the current. When an alarm is processed, both the audio and visual alarm will come on. The audio alarm can be muted by depressing the test/mute switch. The visual indicator will remain lit until the abnormal condition is restored to normal.

Senders

Any normally open switch, sender, relay, or device can be used to trigger the system. Once you determine the operational parameters of a function, it can be wired into the system. A switch must conform to the parameters of the device and the device must be able to be mounted or fitted to the equipment being monitored. M & I, as well as most marine, auto, or electrical suppliers have devices that can be used as senders with this system. The following information may be helpful .

Engine Temperature
VDO	1/2" – 14NPT	203 degree make point	232 004
VDO	1/2" – 14NPT	221 degree make point	232 005
VDO	3/8" – 14NPT	203 degree make point	232 006
Engine Temperature
VDO	1/8" – 27NPTF	11.8# degree make point	360 025
VDO	1/8" – 27NPTF	6# degree make point	360 009
VDO	1/4" – 27NPTF	20.7# degree make point	360 026
VDO	1/4" – 27NPTF	8# degree make point	360 019

Bilge Flooding Alarm

The simplest and most readily available sensor for high water level is a flost switch. Sensors work well but they must be kept from fouling. Several electronic switches that solve fouling problems are on the market but most of these switches provide either a 12VDC or a 24VDC positive output. An auxiliary relay is needed to convert the positive output to a path to ground.

Fire Alarms

Most commercial and residential heat sensors can be used with the system. Generally these sensors come in two different temperature ranges—135 degrees for living spaces and 194 degrees for engine spaces. Both ranges are available in fixed temperature models as well as rate-of-rise models, which give an indication of rapidly rising temperature before the fixed point is reached. Installation of a fire alarm is critical to its proper performance. Be sure you carefully follow the instructions provided by the sensor's manufacturer.

Entry Alarm Sensors

A wide variety of burglar and fire alarm systems are available on the market and we recommend that one of these specialized systems be used. If for some reason you want to use the M & I Alarm system for these functions, most standard entry sensors can be used.

Mounting Sensors in Your Engine

Most engines have extra ports available that are initially plugged. Your engine manual may show the locations and sizes of these ports or your dealer can provide the information. If your engine does not have extra ports, a "T" method can be used to provide an extra port. Be sure to provide proper support in order to prevent future failure caused by vibration. Never use any type of sealant or sealant tape on the threads of any block-grounded sensor. The sealer will insulate the sender from the ground system and prevent the alarm from working reliably.

Wire Selection

The current draw of the M & I Alarm System is very low. For this reason, you can use small gauge conductors. The main power supply conductors should be sized to deliver 10 amps of power with less than a 3% loss, taking their length into account. The test/mute conductors should be sized to deliver .5 amp at 12VDC with less than 3% loss. The audio and visual alarm conductors should be able to supply 5 amps with less than 10% loss. The sensor conductors will work electrically with wire as small as 22 gauge, but for durability, they should be at least 18 gauge and probably 16 gauge. All wire must be marine grade, tinned, stranded, 105 degree wire and installed in accordance with approved marine practices.

Multi-Channel Alarm System Details