Biosystems
FXC
4-Channel
Controller
Reference
Manual
Sperian Instrumentation
651 South Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
800-711-6776
860-344-1079
Fax 860-344-1068
Part Number 13-358
Version 1.00
10MAY2010
http://www.biosystems.com
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THE BIOSYSTEMS FXC CONTROLLER HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS
PART OF A SYSTEM FOR THE DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT
OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS.
IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT THE USER IS PROPERLY WARNED
OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS, IT
IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS REFERENCE
MANUAL BE READ, FULLY UNDERSTOOD, AND FOLLOWED.
Biosystems FXC
Reference Manual
Sperian Instrumentation Part Number 13-358
Version 1.00
Copyright 2010
by
Sperian Protection Instrumentation, LLC
Middletown, Connecticut 06457
All rights reserved.
No page or part of this operation manual may be reproduced in any form without
written permission of the copyright owner shown above.
Sperian reserves the right to correct typographical errors.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
Product Overview .................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction............................................................................................................................ 2
Complete System Diagrams .................................................................................................. 2
3.1.
Front Panel.................................................................................................................... 2
3.2.
Control Board ................................................................................................................ 3
3.3.
Terminal Board.............................................................................................................. 3
4. Wiring Configurations ............................................................................................................ 4
4.1.
AC Power Connections ................................................................................................. 4
4.2.
DC Power Connections ................................................................................................. 4
4.3.
DC Relay Contacts........................................................................................................ 5
4.3.1.
Connecting Low Alarm Relays (DC Contact) ........................................................ 5
4.3.2.
Connecting High Alarm Relays (DC Contact)........................................................ 5
4.4.
Aux Alarm Relay Contacts ............................................................................................ 5
4.4.1.
Connecting Aux Alarm Relays............................................................................... 6
4.5.
FAULT Alarm Output..................................................................................................... 6
4.6.
4-20 mA Sensor Connection ......................................................................................... 6
4.6.1.
Selecting Sensor Ranges ...................................................................................... 7
4.7.
4-20 mA Outputs ........................................................................................................... 7
5. Power On............................................................................................................................... 7
5.1.
Fault Modes................................................................................................................... 8
6. Channel Setup....................................................................................................................... 9
6.1.
Entering Setup Mode..................................................................................................... 9
6.2.
Channel Selection and On/Off....................................................................................... 9
6.3.
Low and High Alarm Setting (DC outputs) .................................................................. 10
6.4.
Low and High AUX Setting.......................................................................................... 10
6.5.
Latching Alarm Setting ................................................................................................ 10
6.6.
Display Scale Setting .................................................................................................. 11
7. Front Panel LEDs ................................................................................................................ 12
8. High Alarm Deactivate Mode ............................................................................................... 12
9. Alarm Inhibit Mode............................................................................................................... 12
10. Channel Hold....................................................................................................................... 13
11. Relay Test ........................................................................................................................... 13
12. Biosystems FXC Controller Specifications .......................................................................... 14
13. Warranty Information ........................................................................................................... 14
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1. Product Overview
The Biosystems FXC is a four-channel gas detection controller. The FXC displays toxic,
combustible and oxygen gas levels received from up to four wired sensor assemblies through
industry standard 4-20 mA current loop signals.
Spare channels that are not used for gas detection can be used with other 4-20 mA output
devices, as long as the following conditions are met:

The device’s output range matches one of the FXC’s pre-programmed ranges

The device can act as a 4-20 mA source
See section 4.6.1 for an explanation of how to select sensor ranges for connected sensors.
The FXC features a 4-digit display and is equipped with four independent alarm relays that
are full-scale adjustable: two DC-output relays and two dry contact relays.
The FXC operates on either 15-24 Volts DC or 115 Volts AC power.
The ability to display data and activate alarms in relation to transmissions sent from on-site
sensors make the FXC a versatile and powerful product in the safety realm of the gas industry.
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2. Introduction
This document is an Operation Manual containing diagrams and step-by-step instruction for
proper operation of the Biosystems FXC Controller. This document should be read and
understood before initial use of the product.
Should a question arise during the use of the product, this document will serve as a first
reference for consultation. If further questions arise, or if the device is not working properly,
please contact the Sperian Instrumentation Customer Service Department.
3. Complete System Diagrams
The following diagrams should be consulted for identification of panels, boards, and any
other system part that may be referred to in this Operation Manual.
3.1.
Front Panel
2
3.2.
Control Board
3.3.
Terminal Board
3
4. Wiring Configurations
The following Wiring Configurations must be completed before initial operation of the
product. Depending on the specific use, AC and DC power generally will not both be needed.
When both are connected, however, the power source with the highest DC output voltage will
be the one used. When powered by the AC line, the power supply will provide an output of
approximately 18 VDC.
There are six weather-tight cord grips on the bottom of the FXC that are intended to be used
for wiring AC or DC power, sensor connections and relay output signals. To use a cord grip,
loosen the external nut and push the sealing plug out of the grip. Pass the cable through the
grip, make the connections, and tighten the external nut to securely grip the cable.
4.1.
AC Power Connections
The Biosystems FXC controller runs on 115 VAC. In most cases the controller will
come from the factory with a line cord meant to be plugged into a 115-volt AC outlet. If the
controller is to be wired directly to the AC line, follow the instructions below.
WARNING: Always make sure that all AC power is disconnected before working
with any wiring connections inside the FXC controller.
AC Wiring Standard Colors
HOT (LINE)
NEUTRAL
GROUND
North America
Black
White
Green
International
Brown
Blue
Green/Yellow
1. Locate the AC power terminal block on the lower left corner of the Terminal Board. It is
marked “GND NEUTRAL HOT”.
2. Connect the green (green/yellow) wire to the terminal marked “GND”.
3. Connect the white (blue) wire to the terminal marked “NEUTRAL”.
4. Connect the black (brown) wire to the terminal marked “HOT”.
4.2.
DC Power Connections
1. Locate the DC power-in terminal block near the upper left corner of the Terminal
Board. It is marked “+ + DC in - -”.
2. Connect the DC power-in positive wire to the terminal marked “++”.
3. Connect the DC power-in negative wire to the terminal marked “- -”.
Note: When running on DC power, if the battery or other power source falls below about
11.5 volts, a low battery (Lo:bA) indication will appear on the display between
readings. This indicates that the battery needs to be charged or the power source
increased in order to maintain accurate function of the FXC controller.
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WARNING: The FXC controller should never be operated below its minimum
specified input voltage. Allowing the voltage to fall below this level could
cause the unit to display incorrect readings, and cause connected sensors
and audible and visual alarms to fail to operate correctly.
4.3.
DC Relay Contacts
Note: In order to prevent unnecessary alarms, it may be desirable to set up channel
parameters and alarm levels for each channel before connecting any alarms or
other devices to the DC relay contacts. See section 6 for setup instructions.
The Biosystems FXC is equipped with two DC-output relays for driving DC-powered
devices, such as strobe lights, audible alarms, etc. The output current capacity of these
relays is 2.5 amps each.
When the FXC is running on AC power, the output voltage will be approximately 17-18
VDC. When the controller is running on DC power, the output voltage will be slightly less
than the power supply voltage. It is therefore necessary to ensure that any devices
connected to these relay contacts are rated to run at these particular voltages.
Before making any connections to the DC relay contacts, turn off the power switch and
disconnect AC power from the FXC.
4.3.1. Connecting Low Alarm Relays (DC Contact)
1. Locate the terminal marked “LOW” near the bottom right corner of the Terminal
Board.
2. Connect the positive wire of a DC-powered device to the terminal marked “++ LO”.
3. Connect the negative wire of a DC-powered device to the terminal marked “- - LO”.
4.3.2. Connecting High Alarm Relays (DC Contact)
1. Locate the terminal marked “HI” near the bottom right corner of the Terminal
Board.
2. Connect the positive wire of a DC-powered device to the terminal marked “++ HI”.
3. Connect the negative wire of a DC-powered device to the terminal marked “- - HI”.
4.4.
Aux Alarm Relay Contacts
Note: In order to prevent unnecessary alarms, it may be desirable to set up channel
parameters and alarm levels for each channel before connecting any alarms or
other devices to the AUX relay contacts. See section 6 for setup instructions.
The Biosystems FXC controller is equipped with two AUX alarm relays with both
normally-open (NO) and normally-closed (NC) contacts. When no alarm condition exists,
the COM contact of each relay is connected to the NC contact. In the event of an alarm
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condition, the COM contact is disconnected from the NC contact and connected to the NO
contact.
The Aux alarm relays are “dry contact” relays, which means that they act as switch
closures only, and provide no power to the connected devices. Power must be provided
from an external source or the AC line. The COM terminals of the Aux alarm relays are
fused at 6.3 amps. The maximum voltage is 125 VAC.
DC power for the AUX relays can be obtained by connecting the relay’s COM contact
to the Fault ++ contact on the terminal board. In this case, the maximum current draw is
2.5 amps total between the two relays. The voltage will be the same as listed in section
4.3 for the DC Relay Outputs.
4.4.1. Connecting Aux Alarm Relays
1. Turn off the power switch and disconnect AC power from the FXC.
2. Connect the AUX Low Alarm device to the terminals marked “COM” and either “NO”
or “NC” on the “AUX 1” relay terminal block.
3. Connect the AUX High Alarm device to the terminals marked “COM” and either “NO”
or “NC” on the “AUX 2” relay terminal block.
4.5.
FAULT Alarm Output
The FAULT alarm output, located at the top of the terminal board next to the ribbon
cable connector, becomes active during any fault condition (see section 5.1). The power
supply voltage appears on the “++” connection, and the “- -” connection is pulled low when
active.
A DC-powered alarm device can be connected to this output to warn the user of a fault
condition with the controller or one of the input devices. Connect the positive side of the
device to “++” and the negative side to “- -”. The maximum load current is 2.5 amps. If this
output is being used to supply power to the AUX alarm relays, as described in section 4.4,
this must be taken into account when calculating the total current.
4.6.
4-20 mA Sensor Connection
The Biosystems FXC can support up to four sensor transmitters with 4-20 mA current
loop outputs. The transmitters must be able to act as the source for the loop current, as
the FXC always acts as the sink.
When the FXC is running on AC power, the output voltage available to the transmitters
will be approximately 17-18 VDC. When the controller is running on DC power, the output
voltage can be 1 to 2 volts less than the input voltage, depending on the load. It is
therefore necessary to ensure that any transmitters connected to the sensor channels are
rated to run at that particular voltage.
Designate a channel for each transmitter to be used and complete the following steps
individually for each one:
1. Locate the Channel # terminal blocks on the right side of the Terminal Board.
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2. Connect the positive wire of a transmitter to the terminal marked “RED ++”.
3. Connect the signal wire of a transmitter to the SIG contact.
4. Connect the negative wire of a transmitter to the terminal marked “BLK - -”.
4.6.1. Selecting Sensor Ranges
The Biosystems FXC controller has a set of display ranges programmed into it (see
section 6.6). The range for each channel should be selected to match the range of the
sensor connected to it.
In the event that it is necessary to use a sensor that has a range that is not included
in the FXC, it may still be possible to obtain useable readings. For example:
A sensor works over a range of 0 – 5, in whatever units it uses. The FXC does not
have a 0 – 5 range. It does, however have ranges of 0 – 50 and 0 – 500. Selecting one
of these ranges will display useable readings, as long as the user understands that there
is an implied decimal point in the reading.
For instance, if the 0 – 50 range were selected, a reading of 10 would indicate a
reading of 1.0 from the sensor. A reading of 25 would indicate 2.5 at the sensor, etc.
Important: It must be remembered that if this technique is used, the controller’s
alarms must be set accordingly. If the low and high alarms are intended to indicate
readings of 1.0 and 2.5 at the sensor, they must be set to 10 and 25 at the controller.
If it is necessary to use the controller in this manner and this technique is not fully
understood, please contact Sperian Instrumentation Customer Service for help setting
up the display range and alarms.
4.7.
4-20 mA Outputs
The Biosystems FXC has 4-20 mA current outputs that mirror the current in each loop
connected to a sensor. These outputs can be found at the top edge of the terminal board,
and are labeled “4-20mA Out”. There is an output for each channel, along with a common
ground connection.
These outputs can be connected to devices with 4-20 mA inputs, such as chart
recorders, analog PC inputs, PLCs, etc. to provide a method of recording the activities of
each channel over a period of time.
5. Power On
Follow these steps to power on the Biosystems FXC controller:
1. Open the enclosure box.
2. Unscrew the two thumbscrews on the right side of the front panel.
3. Open the front panel so that the Terminal Board is exposed.
4. Verify that the device is wired according to the Wiring Configuration instructions in
section 4 of this manual.
5. Locate the On/Off switch on the left side of the Terminal Board.
6. Flip the switch to the “ON” position (to the left).
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7. Close the front panel and check that the FXC controller displays the following:



Firmware revision number (r 1.5 or similar)
DC power supply level (b17.6 or similar)
Address code (A.08 or similar)
8. The display will then count up to 30, and then begin to display readings from the
connected sensors, scrolling through all enabled channels. The green LED will
illuminate as each enabled channel is displayed.
9. Reattach the front panel thumbscrews.
10. Close the enclosure box.
11. The FXC controller is now in normal operating mode.
5.1.
Fault Modes
The FXC controller can display different fault levels due to problems with the system.
If the display shows a Fault 1 indication (FAU1) for a channel while that channel’s LED
is illuminated, it means that the loop current has dropped below 3 mA. This generally
indicates that the sensor connected to that channel is experiencing an internal fault, and
has lowered the loop current to alert the controller of a problem. Check the sensor for
proper operation.
Note: Some sensors use a loop current of 3 mA or less to indicate to the controller that
they are currently in a special mode, such as Calibration mode.
If the display shows a Fault 2 indication (FAU2) for a channel while that channel’s LED
is illuminated, it means that the FXC is not detecting any loop current on that channel.
Possible causes are that the circuit has been broken somewhere in the loop or that the
sensor has lost power. Check for correct wiring and proper operation of the sensor.
If the display shows a fault indication (FAU), but not for a particular channel, this could
be an indication of insufficient power to the controller.
Any of these fault modes will trigger the FAULT alarm output, described in section 4.5.
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6. Channel Setup
This feature is used to set up Channel On/Off, alarm relay settings, AUX relay settings,
and channel display scale for each of the four channels. Each channel must be set up
individually, so the following procedure must be completed for each channel that is to be
monitored.
6.1.
Entering Setup Mode
1. Open the enclosure box.
2. Unscrew the two thumbscrews on the right side of the front panel.
3. Open the front panel so that the Control Board is exposed (reverse of Front Panel).
4. Press the MENU button to enter Setup Mode.
6.2.
Channel Selection and On/Off
5. Once in Setup Mode, view the Front Panel LEDs and press the SELECT / HOLD
button on the Front Panel to select the desired channel. The green LED for the
selected channel will flash.
6. The display will show “On” or “OFF”. Use the ADD or SUB button to change this
setting. If the particular channel will not be used, set to “OFF” and continue to the
next channel.
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6.3.
Low and High Alarm Setting (DC outputs)
In the following steps, the ADD and SUB buttons are used to set the alarms levels.
Pressing the ADD or SUB button will increase or decrease the alarm level by 0.1 for
display scales that show a decimal point, or by 1 for display scales with no decimal point.
Holding the SUB button pressed while pressing and releasing the ADD button will
cause the alarm level to be increased by 2.5 for display scales that show a decimal point,
or by 25 for display scales with no decimal point.
Holding the ADD button pressed while pressing and releasing the SUB button will
cause the alarm level to be decreased by the same amounts as listed above.
7. Press the MENU button to proceed to the DC Low Alarm setting.
8. Use the ADD (increase) and SUB (decrease) buttons to set the alarm level.
9. Press the MENU button to proceed to the DC High Alarm setting.
10. Use the ADD (increase) and SUB (decrease) buttons to set the alarm level.
6.4.
Low and High AUX Setting
11. Press the MENU button to proceed to the AUX Low Alarm setting.
12. Use the ADD (increase) and SUB (decrease) buttons to set the alarm level.
13. Press the MENU button to proceed to the High AUX setting.
14. Use the ADD (increase) and SUB (decrease) buttons to set the alarm level.
Note: The Low and High AUX alarm levels are normally set equal to the Low and High DC
alarm levels; however, they can be set to other levels if desired.
6.5.
Latching Alarm Setting
Alarms can be individually set to be Latching or Non-Latching. A Non-Latching alarm
will reset itself after the alarm condition is no longer present (gas concentration has fallen
below the alarm level). A Latching alarm will remain active even after the alarm condition
is no longer present, until the RESET switch is pressed to acknowledge the alarm.
In the following steps, the display will show the name of the particular alarm, followed
by either “:LA” for Latching or “:Un” for Non-Latching”. Each alarm can be set
independently of the others.
15. Press the MENU button to proceed to the DC Low Alarm latch setting mode. The
display will show “LO:Un” or “LO:LA”. Use the ADD or SUB button to select the
desired mode.
16. Press the MENU button to proceed to the DC High Alarm latch setting mode. The
display will show “HI:Un” or “HI:LA”. Use the ADD or SUB button to select the
desired mode.
17. Press the MENU button to proceed to the AUX Low Alarm latch setting mode. The
display will show “AL:Un” or “AL:LA”. Use the ADD or SUB button to select the
desired mode.
18. Press the MENU button to proceed to the AUX High Alarm latch setting mode. The
display will show “AH:Un” or “AH:LA”. Use the ADD or SUB button to select the
desired mode.
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6.6.
Display Scale Setting
19. Press the MENU button to proceed to the Display Scale Setting mode. Use the ADD
or SUB button to set the full-scale range for the selected channel. The following
ranges are available (in the order shown):
20.0, 1.00, 10.0, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 9999, O:2 (for oxygen sensors, 0-25.0%)
Repeat the above steps, starting at step 5, for each channel to be monitored. When all
channels have been configured, press the RESET button on the Front Panel. This will
place the FXC in operating mode. Close the Front Panel and tighten the thumbscrews,
then close the enclosure cover.
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7. Front Panel LEDs
There are three sets of four LEDs on the front panel beneath the display. Their
functions are as follows:
Channel Scan LEDs (green): These LEDs indicate which channel is currently being
monitored or accessed in the setup menu.
DC Alarm LEDs (red): If a hazard corresponding to a currently set DC alarm level is
reached, the DC alarm LED for that channel will be illuminated. Once the hazard has been
cleared, the LEDs can be de-activated by pressing the RESET button.
AUX Alarm LEDs (red): If a hazard corresponding to a currently set AUX alarm level is
reached, the AUX alarm LED for that channel will begin to blink. Once the hazard has
been cleared, the LEDs can be de-activated by pressing the RESET button.
The alarm LEDs are always latched, meaning that they will remain active after the
hazard has been cleared, until they are de-activated with the RESET button. This is
independent of the latch settings of the DC and AUX alarm relays.
8. High Alarm Deactivate Mode
This feature is used to temporarily deactivate the high alarm outputs.
When a high alarm level is reached, the corresponding high alarm output relay will be
activated. Pressing the RESET button will deactivate the output relay. The low alarm
output will remain active. Pressing RESET again will reactivate the high alarm output if the
hazard is still present.
High alarm outputs will be automatically reactivated after 20 minutes if the hazard is
still present.
9. Alarm Inhibit Mode
This feature is used to inhibit alarms while calibrating remote sensors or performing
current loop tests.
Note: During calibration, Biosystems EXP and NXP gas detectors automatically set
the loop current to a nominal value that will not cause alarms, so this mode will normally
only be needed if a loop current test is necessary, or if other types of devices are
connected to the Biosystems FXC controller’s input channels.
In Alarm Inhibit mode, the controller will display the current gas concentration, but will
not activate any alarms or relays.
WARNING: This mode inhibits alarms from being activated, and should only be
used when calibrating remote sensors or running loop current tests. The FXC
should be returned to normal operation by pressing the RESET button as soon as
these procedures are completed.
1. Open the enclosure box.
2. Locate the SELECT / HOLD button to the left of the display on the Front Panel.
3. Press and hold the SELECT / HOLD button for four seconds to enter Inhibit Mode.
The display will alternate between “CAL” (to indicate the Inhibit Mode) and the gas
concentration.
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4. Calibrate each sensor head or run loop tests as necessary.
5. Once calibration or loop testing is complete, press RESET to return to Normal
Operating Mode.
6. Close the enclosure box.
10. Channel Hold
This feature can be used to have the Biosystems FXC display readings from a specific
channel, rather than scanning through all installed channels while in normal operating
mode. In this mode, all channels are still being monitored, and all alarms can still be
activated.
1. Open the enclosure box.
2. Press the SELECT / HOLD button on the Front Panel. This will freeze the channel
scanning sequence at the currently selected channel.
3. Press SELECT / HOLD as many times as necessary to advance to the desired
channel.
4. Press RESET to return to normal operating mode. The FXC will automatically return
to normal operating mode after 4 minutes of inactivity.
5. Close the enclosure cover.
11. Relay Test
A relay test can be run to check the operation of the alarm outputs.
Note: Any alarms or other devices connected to the DC outputs or AUX relays
will be activated during this test.
To run the test, press and hold the RESET button at any time while the controller is
powered up. At approximately 4-second intervals, the alarm relays will be activated in the
following order:
DC Output LO
DC Output HI
AUX 1
AUX 2
Once all relays are activated the RESET button can be released. Relays will remain
activated until the end of the test. The test will automatically end in two minutes, or it can
be ended at any time by pressing the RESET button.
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12. Biosystems FXC Controller Specifications
Size:
11.5” H x 10” W x 7” D
Power Requirements:
15-24 VDC, 115 VAC
Operating Temperature Range:
0 °F to +167 °F (-17.5 °C to +75 °C)
Channels:
4
Sensor Connections:
4-20 mA Current Loop
Display:
4-digit LCD
LEDs for Channel display, DC and AUX alarms
Relay Outputs:
15-24 VDC (Low and High alarms)
Dry Contact (AUX Low and AUX High alarms)
Optional Alarms:
Red and/or Amber Strobe Light
High-intensity audible alarm
13. Warranty Information
LIMITED WARRANTY:
Except for any warranty for a particular product or part specifically stated in our
product literature, we warrant all goods sole under this agreement against defects in
materials and workmanship for one year from shipment. In the event of such defects we
will, at our sole option and as your exclusive remedy, repair or replace the defective
product without charge, or refund the price you have paid. In order for this warranty to be
effective, you must notify us within 15 days of discovery of the defect. You must return the
defective product to us within the warranty period, properly packaged and with insurance
and transportation costs prepaid. We will reship the product to you at our expense in the
United States.
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