Installation and Initial Commissioning of the ZUP-230V-BM Fire Safety Power Supply
09/07/2026
Author: Andrzej Orzeł
Installation Standards for Fire Protection Systems
Proper installation and configuration of devices operating with external floating-operation power supplies are crucial to the correct operation and reliability of safety systems during a fire alarm. If errors are made during installation and the system is not implemented in accordance with the prepared project guidelines, the power supply may not operate correctly and, as a result, may fail to supply power to the actuating devices for the specified and required period.
This article describes the power supply installation procedure, DIP switch configuration, and critical installation pitfalls. Avoiding these issues is essential for reliable system operation and successful technical acceptance of the facility by the State Fire Service.
Causes of Power Supply Damage and Configuration Errors
During work at industrial facilities, such as logistics halls and warehouses, fire protection system installers may make installation errors. These faults most often become apparent only during system commissioning or periodic inspections.
What installation problems occur most frequently?
Problem Description
Connecting the battery terminals with reversed polarity creates a risk of permanent and irreversible damage to the power supply’s electronic modules.
Problem Description
Insufficient tightening of the battery terminals increases the connection resistance. The power supply’s measurement system interprets this condition as a battery fault or degradation.
Problem Description
Leaving the factory settings unchanged may not be suitable for the specific installation or the characteristics of the connected gate drive.
Problem Description
Incorrect interface configuration results in errors in the control logic and a lack of communication between the system’s cooperating components.
Problem Description
Incorrect connection of the power supply conductors contrary to the L (live), N (neutral), and PE (protective) markings.
Problem Description
Failure to properly route rigid, fire-resistant fire alarm cables inside the power supply enclosure may cause mechanical stress and damage to connectors on the electronic boards.
Problem Description
Connecting loads with excessive power or inductive characteristics without accounting for the high inrush current of motors may cause the output fuse to blow or prevent the inverter from starting correctly.
Problem Description
Failure to provide at least 10 cm of clearance on both sides of the device restricts heat dissipation and may cause the power supply to overheat.
How to Properly Install and Connect the ZUP-230V-BM Floating-Operation Power Supply
- The power supply should be permanently mounted to the wall using metal mounting anchors. The use of PVC expansion plugs is incorrect in fire protection installations.
- The ZUP-230V-BM floating-operation power supply does not have its own mains switch. The installer is required to install an external circuit breaker (recommended type: S301 C16A) and clearly label it.
- Cable selection should be carried out in accordance with the project documentation, fire protection installation requirements, and applicable technical and construction regulations; in practice, cables with an appropriate fire-resistance rating, such as HDGs-type cables, are used where required by the project.
- A minimum clearance of 10 cm must be provided on both sides of the power supply to ensure proper convection cooling.
- The 230 V AC input and output power cables must be connected to the dedicated reinforced screw terminals located on the rear panel of the enclosure.
- All control signals from the control panel (inputs) should be connected directly to the electronic board. Signal outputs are located on the rear panel.
- A label showing the wiring diagram and power supply configuration instructions for the most common gate controllers is located on the inside of the power supply door.
How to Avoid Errors When Installing Batteries?
The batteries must be placed in the enclosure and connected to the power supply before the mains supply is switched on. The batteries must be connected in series and connected to the appropriate power supply terminals with the correct polarity. It is essential to properly tighten the terminal screws and position the temperature compensation probe directly between the battery blocks.
Careless battery connection is one of the most common causes of failure. Incorrect polarity leads to immediate damage to the electronics, which is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
To maintain the correct polarity when connecting the batteries, strictly follow the sequence below:
Switching off the W-BAT disconnect switch and removing the fuse.
Connecting the RED cable to the (+) terminal of the first battery.
Connecting the BLACK cable to the (−) terminal of the second battery.
Installing the Series Link Between the Batteries.
Installing the Temperature Probe Between the Batteries.
Verification, followed by inserting the fuse and switching on W-BAT.
Control Inputs
The CIE, DO, and EPO markings on the control board of the ZUP-230V-BM fire safety power supply identify key control inputs whose functions vary depending on the selected operating mode (FACP or UPS).
CIE (Control and Indicating Equipment)
This input is dedicated to interfacing with the Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) or its line module.
- Function: It is used to receive a fire alarm signal. When activated in FACP mode, it starts the inverter and triggers the opening of the smoke ventilation gate via the CSO output.
- Characteristics: It can operate as a standard two-state input (closed/open) or as a supervised line using 1 kΩ and 10 kΩ resistors (installed at the beginning of the line on the control panel side).
- Important: For the signal to be recognized as a valid alarm and “latched” in the power supply memory, it must remain active for at least 2 seconds. In UPS mode, this input is completely inactive.
DO (Door Open)
This is a control input that performs different functions depending on the power supply configuration.
- In FACP (fire) mode: It is used for manual, local opening of the gate via a push button. Functionally, it operates in the same way as the CIE input, but it is not supervised (it responds only to a short circuit between the terminals). This button should be treated as a fire control element and protected against accidental activation to prevent battery discharge during standby.
- In UPS mode: It is used by the user to remotely switch the inverter on and off, allowing control over the presence of 230 V at the output during battery operation.
EPO (Emergency Power Off)
This is a safety input used to completely and immediately shut down the power supply.
- Function: Activation of the EPO signal disconnects the 230 V output, disconnects the mains supply line L, and disconnects the internal inverter from the battery pack. In this state, only the controller and status indication remain active.
- Limitations: The EPO switch may only be used in UPS mode. Its use in FACP (fire) mode is prohibited. The power supply must ensure continuous operation of the equipment without the risk of accidental disconnection.
- Reset: Restarting the device after EPO activation requires the signal to be deactivated and the power supply to be manually reset using the RUN button. If the input is not used, it must be factory-shorted with a jumper.
SETTINGS Switch Configuration
The electronics assembly features a block of 12 configuration switches (DIP switches). The table below shows their functions and factory settings:
| Switch Number | Function Description | OFF Position | ON Position |
| 1 | Power Supply Operating Mode Selection | Industrial UPS Mode | FACP Fire Mode – operating mode intended for use in fire protection systems. |
| 2 | Switching Delay Time (T_DLY) | Minimum (approx. 25 ms) | Extended to 2 s (controller freeze protection) |
| 3 | CIE Input Signal Polarity | Active Low (Short Circuit / 1 kΩ) | Active High (Open Circuit / 10 kΩ) |
| 4 | CIE / DO Input Configuration | In FACP mode: Line supervision disabled. In UPS mode: DO signal – switching operation. | In FACP mode: Line supervision enabled (1 kΩ and 10 kΩ resistors). In UPS mode: DO signal – static operation. |
| 5/6 | Battery Capacity Selection | Battery capacity setting selection. Detailed information is provided in the operating manual. | Battery capacity setting selection. Detailed information is provided in the operating manual. |
| 7 | Fire output delay (T_CSO) | 2 s delay | 12 s delay (time required for the self-test and gate controller startup) |
| 8 | CSO relay output function | Gate opening control (CSP) / Low battery level (UPS) | General mains power failure indication |
| 9 / E | EPO safety input polarity | Active low state by short-circuiting the terminals | Active high state by opening the terminals (jumper installed) |
| 10 / H | Voltage hold after an alarm | Output voltage disconnects after time TA (9 min) following alarm clearance. | Output voltage remains present at the output (reset using the RUN button is required) |
| 11 / P | Operating mode of the CSO fire output | Continuous operation mode | Cyclic operation mode (5 s pulse / 5 s pause) |
| 12 / B | AC mains power returns during an alarm | Immediate switchover to mains power (momentary interruption at the output) | Operation from the inverter until the end of time TA (uninterrupted power supply) |
Note: Changing the configuration of the switches marked with square brackets in the technical documentation requires a full restart of the device by completely disconnecting both the mains and battery power.
Power supply selection based on starting parameters
ZUP-230V-BM is a single-phase device designed to supply single-phase motors with rated power ranging from 400 W to 1500 W.
When selecting a model, do not consider only the geometric dimensions of the gate. The motor’s rated power and starting current must also be taken into account. Induction motors draw a current several times higher than their rated current during startup. In practice, drives with a rated power of around 300–400 W may often require a higher-power power supply, such as a 700 W unit, to provide sufficient margin for the starting current. The final selection should be based on the parameters of the specific drive.
Initial commissioning and on-site testing
- Verify that the connections and battery polarity are correct.
- Switch on the mains power – the green ON LED should remain continuously lit (regardless of the current power source).
- The power supply will perform an automatic LED test.
- Correct fire monitoring mode is indicated by short, cyclic flashes of the CIE LED.
To verify inverter operation in the absence of mains power (“cold start”), press and hold the RUN button for more than 2 seconds. The device will start the inverter and provide 230 V AC at the output, powered directly by the energy stored in the batteries.
Important advice for installers
The following tips are based on the most common errors encountered during the installation and commissioning of power supplies and help avoid problems during system acceptance and operation.
Local test switch (orange jumper)
For the installer’s convenience, a connector equipped with a knife switch is installed on the rear panel of the power supply enclosure, in the mains power connection section. It allows the power supply to be locally disconnected from the mains, enabling tests and service work to be performed safely and conveniently without disconnecting the power supply wires.
Input line monitoring (CIE)
The signal line from the fire alarm control panel (CSP) is monitored. End-of-line resistors are supplied with the power supply. If the fire alarm control panel does not monitor this line, the power supply takes over the monitoring function. In this case, the resistors must be installed at the beginning of the line (viewed from the control panel side, i.e. at the CSP control module), not at the power supply terminals.
EPO and DO input configuration in CSP mode
In CSP mode, the EPO input is not used and should remain shorted with a jumper, as specified in the operating manual. It should not be connected as an emergency power-off function, because in fire mode the power supply should ensure uninterrupted power to the actuators. The DO input is used for manual, local gate opening. If it is not used, it should remain unconnected; it should not be treated in the same way as the EPO input.
CSO output configuration (pulse operation)
If the gate controller does not have a dedicated latching fire input (RWA), and the CSO output of the power supply is connected to a standard wall-mounted push button (“up” command), the DIP switches should be configured for pulse operation. The output will then automatically repeat the opening pulse every few seconds. This ensures that even if a user attempts to close the gate manually during a fire, the power supply’s control system will immediately trigger it to open again.
Time settings modification
The hold times (9 minutes as standard) can be ordered with different durations, but this change must be specified during production at MERAWEX. The installer cannot reprogram the duration of these time intervals on site.
Summary
The reliability of fire protection systems depends on strict compliance with installation procedures and the equipment manufacturer’s guidelines. The proper operation of devices powered by external power supplies is affected by many interrelated factors – from the precise selection of the floating-operation power supply itself, through correct wiring, to the final configuration of the system. Failure to follow these recommendations may result in system failure or improper operation during on-site acceptance tests.
We encourage you to read the other articles in our series dedicated to the ZUP-230V-BM series.
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