Connecting to External Alarm-Reporting Devices

To connect the TX Matrix platform to external alarm-reporting devices, attach wires to the RED ALARM and YELLOW ALARM relay contacts on a TX-CIP. A system condition that triggers the red or yellow alarm LED on the craft interface also activates the corresponding alarm relay contact.

The terminal blocks that plug into the alarm relay contacts are supplied with the TX Matrix platform. They accept wire of any gauge between 28-AWG and 14-AWG (0.08 and 2.08 mm²), which is not provided. Use the gauge of wire appropriate for the external device you are connecting.

The alarms on TX-CIP-0 and TX-CIP-1 correspond to the Routing Engines in slots RE0 and RE1.

Note: If you are connecting to reporting devices and your TX Matrix platform contains two host subsystems, we recommend you connect each relay contact on each TX-CIP to a separate reporting device (for a total of either two or four devices).

To connect an external device to an alarm relay contact for each TX-CIP (see Figure 63):

1. Attach an electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding strap to your bare wrist and connect the strap to one of the ESD points on the chassis. For more information about ESD, see Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage.
2. Prepare the required length of wire with gauge between 28-AWG and 14-AWG (0.08 and 2.08 mm²).
3. While the terminal block is not plugged into the relay contact, use a 2.5-mm flat-blade screwdriver to loosen the small screws on its side. With the small screws on its side facing left, insert wires into the slots in the front of the block based on the wiring for the external device. The top, middle, and bottom slots correspond to NO (normally open), C (common), and NC (normally closed). Tighten the screws to secure the wire.
4. Plug the terminal block into the relay contact and use a 2.5-mm flat-blade screwdriver to tighten the screws on the face of the block.
5. Attach the other end of the wires to the external device.

To attach a reporting device for the other kind of alarm, repeat the procedure.