SOLVED - FedSig Valor / SSP300B Bench Testing Help

[TacoMonster]

Hoping for some help.

I purchased two complete Valor + SmartSiren + and Control Heads at auction from a local police department for a profanely low price. The PD says they were pulled from service 100% operational, and I have no reason to doubt them - they always have nice, expensive new toys (their new setup has loaded W Legacy Trios).

Anyway, when bench testing, and connecting the lightbar, siren, and control head to 12VDC, and connecting the lightbar and controller serial cables, the control and siren come to life, but the lightbar is not responsive. I reset the SS to factory defaults, but no change. Same result on both Valor bars (lightbar no go flashy-flashy), with both SSP300s and both control heads, even after swapping parts around. Am I missing a step?

 

[Menachem S]

Did you program the Platinum to what lightbar you have and select what patterns you want to come on with which buttons/slide switch

 

[StEaLtH2]

A possibility could be not enough amps to fire the bar... what power source are you using for bench testing?

 

[TacoMonster]

Did you program the Platinum to what lightbar you have and select what patterns you want to come on with which buttons/slide switch

Yes, I connected to the Platinum in the Convergence software and it's setup correctly.
I'm thinking I may have a serial cable issue between the control head and the Platinum. When I plug in the cable "SM PWR" and "Aux PWR" lightup, but there's no activity on the TX/RX lights. The siren functions also aren't working - so that might be the culprit. Thoughts? Does anyone have the pinout of the cable?

 

[TacoMonster]

A possibility could be not enough amps to fire the bar... what power source are you using for bench testing?

Good thought - but I hope it's not trying to draw THAT much... I'm using a 650CCA deep cycle RV/Marine battery with a good charge.

 

[Menachem S]

Yes, I connected to the Platinum in the Convergence software and it's setup correctly.
I'm thinking I may have a serial cable issue between the control head and the Platinum. When I plug in the cable "SM PWR" and "Aux PWR" lightup, but there's no activity on the TX/RX lights. The siren functions also aren't working - so that might be the culprit. Thoughts? Does anyone have the pinout of the cable?

Just btw you can plug the lightbar directly into the control head and bypass the amp to test it

 

[TacoMonster]

Just btw you can plug the lightbar directly into the control head and bypass the amp to test it

This was a huge help in troubleshooting. Thanks!

In the end - everything works except one control head. I'll try factory defaulting it, looking for cooked parts on the PCB, and telling it how special it is - or use this as an excuse to buy a 6-button control head that I really wanted anyway.

 

[Menachem S]

Just by the way as far as a 6 button control head they are super rare to find the ones that control platinum sirens

Also you can't play with programming on them they are locked however you get them from federal

 

[TacoMonster]

Update - the control head was still under FedSig's 5 years warranty - they repaired it in about one week and I was only out $8 in postage. Great customer service!

 

[Impala9C1]

Do you need a controller to bench test? I just got one and powered the red and grounded the black wires and get nothing. I powered it straight from the car battery.

 

[Menachem S]

You need either a controller or a serial interface module

 

[Impala9C1]

You need either a controller or a serial interface module

Any generic controller or a special one?

 

[Menachem S]

Federal signal Smart controller or Pathfinder

 

[Impala9C1]

Federal signal Smart controller or Pathfinder

I got a fs smart controller I can try. Anything I need to watch out for when I wire it? It has a lot of wires to tap into.

 

[TritonBoulder47]

For a Valor (Or any CN/Convergence Network Light) it HAS to be a Smart Siren Platinum KeyPad. A regular SS KeyPad will NOT run a Valor.

 

[Impala9C1]

For a Valor (Or any CN/Convergence Network Light) it HAS to be a Smart Siren Platinum KeyPad. A regular SS KeyPad will NOT run a Valor.

How can I tell the difference? Does it actually say platinum?

 

[TritonBoulder47]

How can I tell the difference? Does it actually say platinum?

The Sticker on the face of the keypad should say "Smart Siren Platinum Series" or "Smart Controller" Regular smart sirens only say "Smart Siren" or "Smart Siren SM"

 

[Impala9C1]

The Sticker on the face of the keypad should say "Smart Siren Platinum Series" or "Smart Controller" Regular smart sirens only say "Smart Siren" or "Smart Siren SM"

Darn, I got the SM version. Can it be rewired to work in a limited capacity at least?

 

[TritonBoulder47]

Darn, I got the SM version. Can it be rewired to work in a limited capacity at least?

I HIGHLY doubt it...