Support

Gentex has become known for its quick order response and short lead times, with 98 percent of our products arriving on the promised delivery date, which is critical in keeping construction projects on schedule.

We are also recognized for our engineering expertise. We can be your resource for technical support on everything from simple issues, such as how to wire smoke alarms in tandem, 
to more complex issues, such as proper strobe coverage or smoke detectors wired for elevator recall.

Have questions?
Contact fp_rma@gentex.com

For information on discontinued products:
Contact fpcontact@gentex.com

Maintenance

Gentex products are also designed to help reduce installation, maintenance, and operating costs. Quick-disconnect harnesses and standard electrical box configurations eliminate the need for special adapters. Gentex alarms allow quick and easy testing without the need for smoke generators. In addition, EasyWash smoke alarms and detectors are completely immersible in water for washing away dirt.

Warranty

All Gentex fire protection products are covered 
by an extensive warranty. View Warranty

In the unlikely event that a product must be returned, please call for a return material authorization number or e-mail fp_rma@gentex.com.

FAQs

Wire in through the S+ and S- and place switch 1 and 2 in the OFF position. This will isolate the horn and strobe.

Example: using a 3 amp circuit (3.00 which Gentex synchronization module is rated for) and unit that draws 87mA: 3/0.087 = 34.48 or 34 units. If a NAC panel is being used, figure the calculations with a 2 amp circuit.

ADA requires a minimum of 177 candela in a sleeping area when mounted less than 24" from the ceiling (110 cd more than 24" from ceiling).

It is determined by the panel manufacturer.

It means a room with walls that completely reflect sound. It is often used to provide standardized measurement conditions for audio devices. A restroom with hard tiles and surfaces approaches this condition. The room is often referred to as "live".

It means a room with walls that completely absorb sound. It is often used to provide standardized measurement conditions for audio devices. A bedroom with a lot of drapes and soft furnishings approaches this condition. The room is often referred to as "dead".

Power supply is resetting. It takes 2 seconds once power is applied for the strobes to flash and the power supply is resetting before the 2 seconds. To troubleshoot: cut loop in half or take all the units off and start adding one back on at a time until the problem starts again.

No, contact Commercial Products at 1-800-521-8219.

No.

75cd as measured by UL1638 on-axis and 15cd as measured by ANSI/UL1971 where specific candela is required by each viewing angle.

Check the input voltage. If input voltage is pulsing, the strobe will not work. The strobe needs a steady power source or power from fire alarm control panel that includes the Gentex synchronization protocol. No Gentex Fire Protection Products will work on a pulsing or coded circuit.

A steady DC power is to be applied, without any other protocol (including temporal 3).

Go from your NAC circuit on the panel to H+ H- on the module and remove the jumper. This will be your silencing circuit.

Go from the master module positive output 1 and negative 1 to the sync positive and negative on the slave modules (reference drawing 6B on the AVS Data Sheet).

No, The module is designed to go between the power supply and signals.

Yes.

No, our module works only with our devices.

There is no limitation to how many modules you wire together.

Two class B circuits or one class A circuit.

Gentex products are in compliance with NFPA codes. Per NFPA 72, 2016 Chapter 29.8.1.4(5)(b), "Smoke alarms installed in one and two family dwellings shall not remain in service longer than 10 years from the date of manufacture."

No, the UL approved battery for Gentex Series smoke alarms with battery back-up is the Duracell MN 1604 battery.

Yes. Per ANSI/UL 217, all single/multiple station smoke alarms are to be non-latching (self-restoring) devices.

Yes.

Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors are photoelectric type and do not contain any radioactive materials. The smoke alarms and smoke detectors should be recycled if facilities are available in your area.

Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors are assembled in Zeeland, Michigan, USA.

30' X 30' space. Refer to NFPA 72-2016, Section 17.7.3.2.3.1.

The red light will be pulsing on the smoke alarm that initially went into alarm.

The round 9123/9223 Series alarms are made of flame resistant PVC. The square 7139CS/7139LS Series are made of flame resistant Noryl. The S1209/CO1209/GN-503 Series are made of flame resistant ABS.

The piezo is 3100Hz.

Use a hair dryer or a soldering iron.

No. Contact Voice Products at 1-216-360-0433.

No, Gentex does not manufacture a trouble contact.

Recommended replacement of the 9V battery once a year; or when the unit chirps.

Both contacts are dry contacts and have no voltage.

Yes, will need to run a 24VDC power supply to the relay contact.

Yes.

When activated 9.5 volts and no voltage in the standby mode.

No.

Integral thermal (T) = the detector itself will go into alarm when it reaches determined heat. On the (TF) models, when thermal is activated it will activate the sounder and the relay contacts. The integral heat sensor activates the smoke alarm and cannot connect into a panel or annunciator.

Isolated thermal (H) = two wires directly in back of unit that you connect into a panel or annunciator and when heat temperature is met it will set the panel or annunciator into alarm. On the (HF) models, the heat thermal will activate whatever is wired to it. Isolated thermal/sensor is isolated from the smoke alarm, therefore horn will not sound.

No. If power is lost, the relays will not transfer. Relays will only transfer if detector goes into alarm.

  • S1209 and S1209F 
  • CO1209 and CO1209F 
  • GN-503 and GN-503F 

The GN-503FF is only capable of tandem interconnect with the GN-503FF, GN-503, GN-503F, CO1209, CO1209F, S1209 and S1209F. The GN-503FF is not able to tandem interconnect to any other Gentex products other than what is listed above.

  • 9123 Series
  • 9223 Series
  • 7139CS Series
  • HD135/HD135-220 Series

Gentex Dualink® feature allows full tandem capabilities with all Gentex tandem interconnect capable smoke alarms, CO alarms, and combination smoke/CO alarms (reference Dualink information).

Per NFPA 72, 2010 Edition, Chapter 29.8.2.2(2), the interconnection of smoke alarms or heat alarms shall comply with the following: In no case shall more than 18 initiating devices be interconnected (of which 12 can be smoke alarms) where the interconnecting means is not supervised.

Up to 12 Dualink® Gentex smoke alarms with or without relay contacts can be tandem interconnected. Due to technology advancements of the Dualink® Gentex smoke alarms, the voltage drop in the tandem line can hold the additional smoke alarms with relay contacts.

Up to 12 legacy Gentex smoke alarms without relay contacts can be tandem interconnected and up to 6 legacy Gentex smoke alarms with relay contacts can be interconnected. Legacy smoke alarms with and without relay contacts may also be interconnected (example: 12 legacy smoke alarms without contacts may be interconnected with up to 3 legacy smoke alarms with contacts). The reason for the limitation of 6 legacy Gentex smoke alarms with contacts is due to the voltage drop in the tandem line; the contacts pull the voltage.

Gentex products are in compliance with NFPA codes. Per NFPA 72, 2016 Chapter 29.8.1.4(5)(b) "Smoke alarms installed in one and two family dwellings shall not remain in service longer than 10 years from the date of manufacture."

Yes.

Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors are photoelectric type and do not contain any radioactive materials. The smoke alarms and smoke detectors should be recycled if facilities are available in your area.

Gentex smoke alarms and smoke detectors are assembled in Zeeland, Michigan, USA.

This information needs to come from the panel manufacturer.

Both contacts are dry contacts and have no voltage.

Yes, the form C accessory contact.

A four-wire smoke detector uses two of the four wires for power and the other two wires for the alarm. A two-wire smoke detector uses the same two wires that power them to detect an alarm.

The Gentex 8000/8003 Series are four-wire smoke detectors.

Yes because the 8000 series is a 4 wire detector and does not receive its power from an initiating circuit.

You will use a normally closed contact, the orange and yellow wire.

You will use a normally open contact, violet and violet/black or the blue and orange wire.

Piezo will alarm locally, reverse voltage at the control panel to sound all horns on the circuit.

Only if it is on a supervised loop.  

The only way to reset the latching detectors is to physically drop power to unit.

8243 Series with P option does not have tandem capabilities, however if the panel has a reverse polarity feature then all of the smoke detectors will sound. Reference

8000 series is not classified as a stand alone unit. The unit will need to hook into a panel or a power supply. When using the system detectors for releasing services, the unit does not have to hook up to a panel (Ex. Elevator recall and door holders).