Electronic
Te s t P e r f o r m a n c e
The state-of-the-art
microprocessor technology
used by the WatchGuard EMS
(Electronic Monitoring System)
Self-Diagnostics Option enables
it to offer a variety of unique and
useful features, plus unsurpassed
programming flexibility to suit
any application. The use of
surface mounted components
minimizes PC board size allowing
the option to be added within the
standard housing of Sure-Lites
units and exits; this makes
specification easier and avoids
attracting unwanted attention
to the fixtures from mischievous
persons. Voltage and load sensing
resolution of ±0.1% insures
maximum accuracy and reliability.
The tricolor LED diagnostic
indicator (see chart on back)
pinpoints detected failures to
the component level and
continuously displays the status
of the charger (float or high
charge modes) during normal
operation. In addition, fixtures
with the WatchGuard EMS
Option have all of the standard
electronic features which are
found on all Sure-Lites selfpowered fixtures such as dual
voltage input, AC Line-latching,
solid-state charging, solid-state
switching (no mechanical
transfer relays), brownout
detection, and short
circuit/overload protection.
A programmable Time Delay
feature is standard with all
WatchGuard EMS Options;
designed for use especially in
HID environments, the Time
Delay feature causes the
emergency lighting heads
(lamps) to remain on for 15
minutes (programmable to 0,
20 or 30 minutes) after
resumption of AC power
following a power outage or
brownout condition.
The WatchGuard EMS is a
continuous monitoring system.
Input transformer status, battery
charger function, and battery
voltage are monitored at all times.
The WatchGuard EMS is also an
automatic test system. Once per
day, the emergency and exit lamps
are briefly tested (less than 1
second) to insure that they will
be operational in the event of an
emergency. The emergency and
exit lamps are also continuously
monitored in the emergency
operating mode. Every 30 days, the
entire system is subjected to a 1minute confidence test. This
monthly confidence check verifies
lamp operation, battery integrity,
battery connections, battery
charging function, and transfer
circuitry per the requirements of
the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.
Every 6 months, a semi-annual full
battery capacity test is conducted to
verify all of the above plus test
the capacity of the battery to
operate the connected lamp load
for the required emergency mode
time frame (90 or 120 minutes).
This battery capacity test, which is
also required by the NFPA 101 Life
Safety Code, can be field
programmed for durations of 30
minutes, 90 minutes (default), or
120 minutes (default for Chicago
Approved fixtures); a battery
capacity test will only be initiated
if the system detects that the
battery is fully charged, thus,
avoiding false failure indications.
The monthly and semi-annual
tests can also be field disabled,
if desired.
In addition to continuous
monitoring and automatic testing,
various manual tests are also
available. Pressing the test switch
for one beep will initiate a 5minute confidence test; pressing
the test switch for two beeps will
initiate a full battery capacity test.
All automatic tests can be
conveniently delayed for 36
hours and manual tests can be
aborted simply by pressing the
test switch for one beep after the
test has begun.
The STAR (System Test Abuse
Restriction) feature is an essential
component to the WatchGuard
EMS Option. STAR limits the
maximum number of manual tests
which can be performed in a 24hour period. This protects the
diagnostic system (especially
batteries and lamps) from excessive
testing by mischievous persons
and insures that the exit/unit will
be ready to respond in the event of
a real emergency. The STAR feature
limits the 5-minute confidence
test to 4 per day and the full battery
capacity test to 1 per day.
Te s t S w i t c h / D i a g n o s t i c
Indicator
The test switch provides the field
programming interface for the
WatchGuard EMS Option.
Programmable parameters
such as test durations, Time
Delay feature durations, and
audible diagnostic indicator
operation can be changed by
simply pressing the test switch
in the proper sequence as
outlined in the installation
instructions (and pocket
reference card). The test switch
can also be used to initiate a
“read back” of the factory
programmed settings for
battery voltage, battery type,
Flasher Option status, and
Buzzer Option status making it
easy to confirm the electronic
configuration of a fixture with
the WatchGuard EMS Option at
any time. Temporarily silencing
the audible diagnostic indicator
(for 7 days) is also accomplished
by pressing the test switch
following detection of a failure.
The diagnostic indicator provides
the visual diagnostic interface
for the WatchGuard EMS
Option. A red/yellow/green
tricolor LED diagnostic indicator
visually annunciates all of the
diagnostic conditions by
adjusting its color and flash
sequence per the failure
detected (see chart on back). It
also indicates float charge
mode (steady green) and high
charge mode (pulsing green) at
all times during standby mode
operation. Being a single
indicator, without any external
module or other unusual
construction, the tricolor LED
minimizes unwanted attention
and inherently protects the
system from mischief. In
addition to the tricolor LED
diagnostic indicator, an audible
indicator provides further
indication of a detected failure
condition. It has been designed
to output a noticeable (but not
obnoxious) “beep” in the event
of a failure; this “beep” can be
programmed to sound
continuously or pulse (default).
If desired, the audible indicator
can be permanently disabled in
the field.
Installation
Fixtures with the WatchGuard
EMS Option are very simple to
install because they do not
require any special actions or
provisions when compared to
standard Sure-Lites fixtures.
Most importantly and unlike
competitive self-diagnostic
systems, the WatchGuard EMS
Option automatically selfcalibrates the emergency
and/or exit lamp loads. There
are no time consuming
adjustments to potentiometers
and no difficult-to-move PC
board jumpers like on most
competitive products. Each
lamp circuit measures its
respective lamp load at start-up
and stores that data in the
microprocessor memory. Any
time a change in lamp load is
detected, a failure diagnostic
will appear. The change could
be caused by a failed lamp,
removed lamp, or even an
incorrectly replaced (wrong
wattage) lamp. If lamp loads
need to change later, simply
disconnect AC power and the
battery to reinitiate a system
calibration routine. Installation
is also made simple by the
unique design of the PC board
and test switch/diagnostic
indicator which does not add
any additional wires that
require field connection. Any
programming required at
installation is quickly and easily
performed via the test switch.
Of course, any optional settings
can also be preprogrammed
during factory assembly when
specified at the time of order.