PEMTECH PT750 Series W

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Overview

Function Description
Usage Features
Display and Monitoring
System Configuration
Alarm Management
Maintenance Features
Installation and Setup
Configuration for Operation
Diagnostic Indicators

The PEMTECH PT750 Series Wireless Annunciator is a sophisticated gas detection system designed to monitor both fixed and wireless gas detection control panels. It serves as a central display unit, providing continuous gas readings and diagnostic messages from various detectors across a main rig and a rig camp. This system is engineered for ease of installation and operation, offering a comprehensive overview of gas levels and alarm conditions in critical industrial environments.

Function Description

The primary function of the PT750 Series Wireless Annunciator is to act as a remote monitoring and control interface for gas detection systems. It communicates wirelessly with both the PT920 series Fixed control panel and the PT2008 Wireless Controller, consolidating data from multiple gas detectors into a single, user-friendly display. This allows rig managers and other personnel to quickly assess gas levels, identify potential hazards, and respond to alarms from a centralized location, typically the rig manager's office.

The system utilizes RS-485 wireless transmitters to establish communication between the annunciator and the control panels. These transmitters are installed on both the fixed and wireless control panels, converting their data into a wireless signal that the annunciator can receive. The annunciator itself features a wireless radio module housed within its enclosure, enabling seamless wireless communication.

A key aspect of its functionality is the ability to display real-time gas readings from all connected detectors. The data on the screen is updated frequently, typically every 2 to 3 seconds, ensuring that users have the most current information available. Each data block for a sensor provides not only the gas reading but also any relevant diagnostic or trouble messages, offering a complete picture of the detector's status.

The PT750 also incorporates alarm management features. When a sensor detects gas levels exceeding predefined thresholds, the system triggers an alarm condition. This is visually indicated by the sensor data reading flashing in red on the display, and bold alarm messages flashing on a status bar at the bottom of the screen. This immediate visual feedback ensures that personnel are alerted to hazardous conditions promptly.

Furthermore, the system includes an alarm test feature, which is crucial for functional testing and emergency preparedness drills. This allows users to simulate alarm conditions for H2S and LEL, enabling them to check the readiness of personnel and the system's response mechanisms. The alarm test can be activated for both low and high alarm levels, providing a thorough testing capability.

The annunciator also offers an alarm reset function. When the RESET button is pressed, the annunciator sends a command to the control panels to deactivate the alarms. If the gas condition has cleared, this action will also clear any flashing sensor location tags, indicating that the system has returned to a normal state. However, if high gas conditions persist, the control panel will reactivate the alarms, ensuring continuous safety monitoring.

Another important feature is the alarm bypass function. Pressing the Alarm Bypass button sends a command to the control panel to enter a bypass mode. For the fixed control panel, this is a soft bypass that lasts for 30 minutes, after which all control modules on the fixed system and wireless controller automatically return to normal mode. This feature can be useful for maintenance or specific operational procedures where temporary alarm suppression is required without compromising overall safety for extended periods.

Usage Features

The PT750 Series Wireless Annunciator is designed with user convenience in mind, featuring a color touch screen display that provides an intuitive interface for monitoring and configuration.

Display and Monitoring:

The annunciator's touch screen displays continuous gas readings from all connected detectors. For standard units, up to 16 detectors can be displayed on a 4.5-inch screen, while larger screens are available for systems with more than 16 channels. This allows for a comprehensive overview of gas levels across the entire monitored area. The normal operation screen presents data in an organized manner, with each detector having its own data block. These blocks show the gas type (e.g., H2S, LEL) and the current reading. In alarm conditions, the display provides clear visual cues. Sensor data readings flash in red, and a prominent alarm message flashes on the status bar, ensuring immediate attention from operators. The system also displays various diagnostic and trouble messages, such as "FAULT," "Calib Mode," "Comm Err," and "Low Battery Signal" (for battery-operated wireless gas detectors), providing detailed insights into the status and health of individual detectors and communication links.

System Configuration:

The annunciator offers a straightforward system configuration process, primarily focused on assigning sensor location tags and enabling/disabling channels. Upon power-up, a system information screen is displayed for a few seconds, showing details like the product number and firmware revision, before transitioning to the normal data screen. Accessing the configuration menu is done by pressing the "MENU" button on the lower left corner of the display. From this menu, users can:

Location Name: Edit the overall location name (e.g., "Rig GSF-1") using an on-screen keypad. This helps in identifying the specific site being monitored.
Edit Sensor Location Tags: This feature allows users to assign descriptive location tags to each detector (e.g., "Drill Floor," "Shale Shaker," "Security Gate"). These tags are crucial for easy identification of the source of gas readings or alarms. Location tags are entered separately for fixed and wireless detectors.
Sensor Enable or Disable: Users can enable or disable individual channels. This is important to prevent the annunciator from collecting data or generating false alarms for modules or detectors that are not installed or active. For instance, if a wireless control panel is equipped with only 7 wireless detectors, channel 8 would be disabled on the annunciator to avoid error messages.

Alarm Management:

Alarm Test: The "Alarm Test" feature, accessible from the system configuration menu, allows for functional testing of alarms. Users can activate low and high alarms for H2S and LEL by pressing red "mushroom" buttons on the screen. There's also an option to disable the Rig Camp Alarm Test if alarms are not required on the Rig Camp site during the test.
Reset Alarms: The "Reset Alarms" button on the status bar sends a command to control panels to deactivate alarms. It also clears flashing sensor location tags once the gas condition has cleared, indicating that the detector that previously alarmed has returned to normal.
Bypass Alarms: The "Bypass Alarms" button initiates a temporary bypass mode for the control panels, useful for maintenance or specific operations.

Maintenance Features

The PT750 Series Wireless Annunciator is designed with considerations for straightforward installation and minimal maintenance requirements, primarily focusing on ensuring reliable communication and accurate data display.

Installation and Setup:

Wall-Mount Design: The annunciator is housed in a wall-mount fiberglass unit, making its physical installation simple. It is intended for indoor installation.
Power Connection: The primary power requirement for the annunciator is a simple AC power connection.
Antenna Installation: The unit comes with a wireless radio module and requires the installation of a dipole antenna. If the line of sight to the RS-485 transmitters is obstructed, an external antenna with a low-loss coax cable can be installed at an appropriate height to ensure robust wireless communication.
RS-485 Transmitter Installation: RS-485 wireless transmitters (black boxes) are installed on both the PT920 main control panel and the PT2008 wireless controller. These transmitters require a 24VDC power connection, which can be sourced from one of the sensor power connections. Crucially, the RS-485 connection from the control panel must be directly wired to the transmitter's +T and –T wires, bypassing any marshalling box terminals to ensure reliable data transmission.
CPU/Display Board Replacement: For the PT2008 wireless controller, a new Main CPU/Display board assembly is required. This replacement is necessary to enable dual communication channels for wireless sensors and to facilitate communication with the wireless annunciator. The process involves simply removing the old board and installing the new one.
PT2008 Repeater Panel Compatibility: The PT2008 Repeater panel does not require any upgrade or change, as it is compatible with the new system design.

Configuration for Operation:

Sensor Location Tags: While not strictly a maintenance feature, the ability to assign and edit sensor location tags is crucial for operational clarity and efficient troubleshooting. Properly labeled detectors allow maintenance personnel to quickly identify the source of any issues or alarms.
Channel Enable/Disable: The configuration option to enable or disable channels is vital for system integrity. Disabling channels for uninstalled or inactive modules prevents the annunciator from attempting to collect data from non-existent sensors, thereby avoiding false communication error messages and streamlining system diagnostics. This ensures that the annunciator only monitors active and relevant detectors, simplifying troubleshooting when issues arise.

Diagnostic Indicators:

Transmitter LEDs: The RS485 Transmitter/Receiver units feature LED indicators for Power, TxD (Transmit Data), and RxD (Receive Data). These LEDs provide immediate visual feedback on the operational status of the wireless communication link, aiding in quick diagnosis of connectivity issues. A green Power LED indicates the unit is powered, while flashing TxD and RxD LEDs suggest active data transmission and reception, respectively.
On-Screen Messages: The annunciator's display provides various diagnostic messages such as "FAULT," "Comm Err," and "Low Battery Signal." These messages directly inform maintenance personnel about specific problems with detectors or communication links, guiding them to the exact point of failure for efficient repair. For example, "Comm Err" indicates a communication failure with a control module, prompting investigation of the RS-485 wiring or transmitter.

Overall, the PT750 Series Wireless Annunciator is designed to be a robust and user-friendly system, providing essential gas detection monitoring with features that support both operational efficiency and maintenance effectiveness in challenging industrial environments.