- Annunciator -

The annunciator panel is a representation of a traditional alarm annunciator. It consists of a matrix of engraved alarm panes which light up and flash if an alarm condition is detected.

The annunciator panel is normally hidden. When an alarm condition occurs the annunciator will pop up and expand into the centre of the screen to immediately warn the operator of a problem. (if previously setup to do so).

For computers fitted with sound capability the annunciator will also play one of a selectable range of alarm sirens. It may also be programmed to switch on a relay in the control panel for a flashing beacon.

When a new alarm occurs the panel will pop up and the siren will sound until the acknowledge button is pressed. This stops the flashing and the siren. The panel may then be hidden by pressing the Hide or minimise button.

There are two types of alarm which may be displayed on the annunciator.

• Alarms
  This is the most severe type of alarm. When its condition becomes true it causes the annunciator panel to pop up and the siren to sound. The alarm pane will also flash until acknowledged by the operator. The annunciator may not be hidden until these types of alarm are acknowledged.

• Indicators
  Indicator panes are for operator information only. They do not flash or cause the siren to sound.

Almost every aspect of the annunciator function may be changed on line by a user with security level 3 (Manager) or higher.

Acknowledge Button
Press this button to acknowledge any flashing alarm panes and to silence the siren. Panes can also be acknowledged one at a time by single clicking them with the left mouse button.

Hide Button
Press this button to hide (minimise) the annunciator. This cannot be done unless all alarms are first acknowledged.

Setup Button
Press this button to edit the annunciator setup.

Save Button
Press this button to save your changes to the annunciator setup.

Annunciator Set-up

This box is used to set up aspects of the annunciator as a whole.

Annunciator Size
Select the number of rows and columns required in the annunciator. This setting will not take effect until the next time the manager is started.

Pane Size
Enter the size of each pane required in pixels. This setting will not take effect until the next time the manager is started.

Alarm Siren
Shows the current sound file which will be played when an alarm becomes true. Press the Sound button to select a different sound. This may be any .wav file.

Alarm Action
This group specifies the action to be performed when a new alarm becomes true. It may be used for example to turn on a relay in the control panel to turn on a flashing beacon.

• Tag box
  Select the tag which is to be used for the alarm action. If no alarm action is required, leave this box blank.

• Operator box
  Select the binary operator to be used with the following constant.

• Constant box
  Enter the constant to be combined with the given tag.

Acknowledge Action
This group specifies the action to be performed when the alarm is acknowledged. It may be used for example to turn off a relay in the control panel controlling a flashing beacon.

• Tag box
  Select the tag which is to be used for the acknowledge action. If no action is required, leave this box blank.

• Operator box
  Select the binary operator to be used with the following constant.

• Constant box
  Enter the constant to be combined with the given tag.

Pager Notification
If the system is fitted with a modem the manager may be set to automatically send messages to pagers or digital mobile telephones. Messages will be sent when the annunciator detects a new alarm and that alarm remains unacknowledged for a period of time. The system uses the SMS (Short Message Service) which is part of the GSM and PCN telephone standard available to users of digital mobile phones. This service allows messages of up to 160 characters to be sent.

• Enable
  Check this box to enable the paging facility.

• Acknowledge TimeOut
  Enter the time in minutes which will be allowed to elapse after a new alarm, before the pager is activated. This is to allow time for a local operator to deal with the alarm. If the alarm remains unacknowledged then a pager notification is sent and the alarm is automatically acknowledged.

• Contact Name
  Enter the name of the person to be contacted in the event of an alarm. This should be a single word name which has previously been entered into the pager program database. Do not enter spaces into this field. If a name is entered in this field then the following field (contact number) should be left blank.

• Contact Number
  Enter the mobile phone or pager number to be contacted. Enter the full STD code and phone number. Do not enter spaces or dashes. This number is only used if the contact name field above is left blank.

• Message Header
  Enter a short message which uniquely identifies this machine eg Autoclave 1. This identifier will preceed the actual alarm log in the sent message. The alarm log message is set in the Pane Setup Dialog Box

  For example, using the above header, the following message could be sent.

  Autoclave 1. Over Temperature

• Command Line
  Shows the path and filename of the SMS server program.

Alarm Set-up

This box is used to set up the function of an individual annunciator pane.

Alarm Type buttons
Use these buttons to select the type of alarm required.

• Alarm
  Use this type of alarm for critical conditions that require immediate attention from the operator. When this alarm type becomes true the annunciator panel will pop up on screen , the alarm pane will flash on and off, and the siren will sound until the alarm is acknowledged.

• Indicator
  Use this type of alarm to indicate a non-critical condition. These alarms do not flash or sound the siren when they become true.
   
  

• Font
  Press this button to display the font selection dialog. The font chosen here will be the one used to display the message in the selected pane.
   
  
• Text Colour
  Press this button to display the colour selection dialog. The colour chosen here is the one used for the panes message font.

Legends Group
Use these boxes to set up the appearance of the annunciator pane.

• Lens Colour buttons
  Press these buttons to change the colour of the lens or text in each of the three alarm states.

• Legend boxes
  Enter the text that is required to show on the annunciator pane. You may enter one or two lines of text.

• Sample boxes
  These boxes show what the pane will look like in each of its three possible states.

Alarm/Indicator Condition Group
Use these boxes to enter the condition test for the alarm pane.

• Alarm IF box
  Select the tag name which is to be tested in the alarm condition.

• Operator box
  Select the type of test required.

• Alarm THAN box
  Select what the IF tag is to be tested against. This may be a constant or another tag. For a constant, press the Const button and fill in the adjacent box. For a tag, press the Tag button and select the tag name from the adjacent combo box.

• Test Condition every box
  Enter how often the alarm condition is to be tested in seconds.

Event Log Message
Enter the message which will be recorded in the event log should the alarm condition become true. The user can add the value of any tag to the message by entering the tag name preceded by the @ symbol. A space must be added after the tag name.

E.g. If the log message is entered as :-

Over Temperature @AIRTEMP °C

and the value of the tag AIRTEMP is 1002 when the air is tripped, the annunciator will log the message :-

Over Temperature 1002 °C

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