Rubicon.

No, it is wrong to say: «The Rubicon has been crossed.» The correct answer is: «The Rubicon has been crossed.» The Rubicon system has crossed the line after which it has become not just an addressable fire alarm, but a full-scale addressable security system. The range has exceeded critical mass. Fire extinguishing and access control, various security detectors and alarms. Over several years, sufficient installation experience has been accumulated to be confident in the reliability of modern products. Childhood illnesses have been overcome, significant shortcomings have been corrected. Although the list of what still wants to be done is for some reason much longer and for some reason grows faster than the list of what has already been done.

The system was developed relatively recently. You will say, why do we need another system, there are already many of them, they have been developed for a long time… That's right. Most of the systems have been developed for a long time. Electronics is moving forward by leaps and bounds. Powerful microprocessors are getting cheaper at an incredible rate. Ingenious design solutions that allowed us to get out of the situation ten years ago and implement at least some control with the help of improvised means now only cause a condescending grin in any student. As an artistic comparison, we can say that a sextant and an astrolabe are amazing instruments, but a GPS receiver is more convenient, more reliable, more accurate and cheaper.
So, we present to you Rubicon. The Rubicon addressable security system (ASS). Addressable – because it is built mainly on a two-wire addressable loop. Almost all devices can be connected directly to this loop without additional power supply. The system grew out of a fire alarm, so the addressable loop was initially designed for long cables, for a large number of detectors, for economical consumption in standby mode and at the same time for providing energy-intensive consumers in alarm mode. On the other hand, our system is not limited to just a fire subsystem, which significantly expands its applicability.

The range of addressable products of fire automatics is small, but quite sufficient: smoke fire alarm, addressable tag for connecting third-party heat alarms, manual call point, relay module for any automation and fire extinguishing control module, it can control dry contacts, and most importantly — it has 9 outputs for controlling signs, pyropatrons and solenoids, and low-current powder modules can be ignited even without additional power supply, power from the addressable loop is sufficient (of course, ignition pulses will be supplied alternately). Finally, an addressable alarm. Light and sound, although it is called light only because according to domestic GOSTs there are no objective criteria for a light alarm. But as a sound alarm it is at the level of the best samples, the volume is about 100 dB, despite the fact that it is powered exclusively from the addressable loop.For security alarms, in addition to the same addressable expanders, there is a choice of two types of IR passive motion sensors and an acoustic glass break sensor. One of the types of addressable expanders allows you to connect third-party detectors powered by a loop, as well as connect a Touch Memory contactor and implement local setting of individual areas (sections) for protection.
The access controller for two doors allows connection of 4 readers (two double-sided doors), but it can be switched to the «turnstile» or «gateway» mode. The controller can give permission for passage both on command from the main device and autonomously.
The main component of the system, which powers and controls the addressable loop, is the Rubicon control panel. This is a compact remote control with a built-in addressable loop controller. In fact, it contains two addressable loop controllers, so they can be used to connect two loops of 255 devices each, or to increase reliability, connect one ring loop. In the ring mode, the control panel powers the loop only through one pair of terminals, which reduces the impact of interference (the ring loop is a huge loop antenna), constantly monitors the integrity of the loop and short circuits in it, and, if necessary, switches to the «broken loop» mode. However, if the number of detectors is more important to you than the length of the loop (you are not bothered by interference), it is quite acceptable to connect two rings, and in general, loops can be of any topology.
The control panel is very simple and cheap, but nevertheless has many small parts made for the user and facilitating his work. So, in addition to the addressable loop directly on board the control panel there is one relay, two current outputs with load control (for connecting alarms) and two galvanically isolated contacts for transmitting signals to the central control station. Therefore, in the minimum version it is enough to install only the control panel, connect the power supply directly to it, and you have all the necessary inputs and outputs.

The control panel has a graphic display, sometimes showing large inscriptions such as «fire» or «alarm», sometimes — lists of equipment or areas, accompanied by compact icons. On request, long menu lists are displayed in small text or the event log is scrolled. In addition to the usual menu, there are four direct context menu buttons (the tips for them on the screen change depending on the situation). These direct buttons significantly speed up and facilitate the control of the system. The usual menu with a choice from a long list turned out to be much more compact and convenient.
In addition, for authorization in the control panel, in addition to the usual digital password, contactless cards can be used (there is a built-in proxy reader).
The price of the product was under control during the entire development period. Therefore, the basic configuration has only the minimum necessary memory capacity for the event log and the access control system database. However, it is enough to insert a microSD flash card, and the memory capacity will expand many times over (install as many gigabytes as you need). The same flash card is intended for backing up the device configuration and updating the firmware. Please note: by default, the configuration of each device is stored in a separate directory, so if you are a technical support engineer, you can store the configurations of hundreds of objects on one card. They take up very little space, so you can actively use this card in your phone, and it will always be at hand. If necessary, the configuration files can be edited using a program on a computer. Or connect the computer directly to the control panel and immediately set the configuration. This is convenient if you intend to constantly keep the computer connected for monitoring. At the same time, the computer is not an essential element of the system at all — it is just a beautiful and convenient control panel with graphic plans of the object and other «frills and bows». However, the reliability of the system does not depend at all on viruses or even more harmful toys getting on it.
Not only the price was constantly under close scrutiny. The energy efficiency of the device is also very high. To power a system of up to 300-400 detectors, a power supply with one (!) battery with a capacity of 7 Ah is enough. This is enough for the required 24-hour operation in standby mode and 3 hours in alarm mode.
Maybe you thought that this is a very small system? The control panel and one or two addressable loops support «only» 510 addressable detectors. But, of course, there is a traditional RS485 interface, additional addressable loop controllers and additional control panels can be connected to the control panel. And, of course, many previously developed products of Sigma-IS can be connected. The total size of the system based on one control panel is 4000 detectors directly controlled by the control panel. And this is not the limit.