Adding an EPC-1 Controller (RS-485 Support)

Controllers may be added to Symphony AC using the Auto-Scan feature. This feature searches the LAN (Local Area Network) and locates any controllers that match the driver type installed. For example, if a Aero SCP / EPC driver has been installed, the Auto-Scan process will only search for Aero SCP / EPC controllers. Once the controller has been found, the operator can choose to add one (1) or more controllers at a time. When the controller is added, the software will automatically add the associated hardware points and default industry standard configuration. This allows the operator to bring the hardware online quickly; the operator can then go back and fine tune the configuration at a later time if necessary. The EPC-1 hardware platform provides an IP centric solution allowing the operator to use Ethernet connectivity (POE) for both data and power. The EPC-1 solution provides a single door solution or allows the operator to use one set of common locking hardware with two (2) readers (entry / exit). This hardware platform also allows for expansion from a single door controller to eight (8) downstream SIOs or 16 SCP-MR-51es, with the sum total being 17, the EPC-1 onboard reader counts as 1. For example, a combination of hardware can be used such as 8 SCP-MR-52s and no SCP-MR-51es, or 8 SCP-MR-50s, and 8 SCP-MR-51e.

  • From the Hardware Manager click on the pad lock to unlock the Hardware module.
  • Highlight the driver from the hardware tree located in the left hand column.
  • Right mouse click on the driver and select Edit, Add Controller.
  • Click on the Auto-Setup button to perform an Auto-Scan of the Controller. If the device is located on a WAN (Wide Area Network), Auto-Setup will be unable to locate the device and the device must be added manually.
  • The controller(s) found will be listed by network IP address as well as the MAC address assigned to the device. To select one or more controller(s) click in the check box to the left of the controller(s) to be added to the system.
  • The controller(s) can be added to a Region from the Auto-Setup page by selecting a Region from the drop down pick list to the right of the Region tag. Please Note: If the operator signed into the Access Control Security Application has not been assigned access to the Region the controller(s) have been added to they will be unable to see / configure the controller(s).
  • Click the green check mark to save the selection.
  • A prompt will appear asking if the hardware is an EPC-1 device, click yes.
  • The controller(s) will appear in the hardware tree located in the column on the left under the Access Control Driver.
  • Once the controller(s) have been added to the hardware tree, stop and restart the Access Control Driver to start communications with the controller(s).
  • Highlight the on-board device from the Hardware tree.
  • From the on-board hardware properties check the box to the right of the Enable RS-485 tag setting the feature to a value of true.
  • Reset the Controller.
  • Highlight the controller from the hardware tree.
  • Right-mouse click on the controller and select Controller Commands, Reset Controller.

NOTE: When using the EPC-1s RS-485 port, read head one (1) is not enabled. Read head two (2) is used as the first reader device.

EPC Wiring for RS-485 Support

When using the EPC-1 device to add additional sub-controllers to expand the Access Control Security system, the EPC-1 can support up to eight (8) sub-controllers on the data bus. This can be any combination of MR-50s, MR-52s, SO-16s (output board) or SI-16s (input board). The addressing on the bus should not exceed address eight (8). The data bus will be wired from Terminal Block two (2), reader port one (1). TR+ on the sub-controller = Clock on the EPC-1 TR on the sub-controller = Data on the EPC-1