DOUGLAS RELAY PANEL
INSTALLATION

Douglas RELAY PANELS are designed to house Douglas relays and control components

Installation Basics

Relays and control components are installed in the relay panel. The load wire(s) are brought into the panel and then to the loads. Low voltage switches, sensors and network wires are also connected to the panel.

Douglas panels for 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 relay capacity are available. Size the panel to allow for future expansion. Install the required amount of relays and add relays when necessary.

The load (lighting or other) must be connected to the relay. Usually, it is practical to locate the relay panel adjacent to the circuit breaker panel. Although in some cases, there is less wiring if a small panel is located nearer to the load. This can occur where several rooms share the same circuit breaker. However, small panels installed in a ceiling space may be difficult to modify and service. In most cases, installation by the breaker panel is the best strategy.

Installation Process

The following sequence is recommended:

1. INSTALL ENCLOSURE
   Relay line voltage terminals are sized for 12/14 AWG wire. Recommended low voltage wiring for most applications is 18AWG. Refer to chart at left for wire length specifications. When data signals are used, use recommended (or equivalent) data signal wire.

2. PULL WIRING
   Mount the empty enclosure and pull the wires. Avoid installing the interior until all (or most) of the wires are pulled to prevent damage from the wire pulling operation.

3. INSTALL INTERIOR
   Once the wires have been pulled, install the interior and bolt it into place. Make line connections to relays according to the panel schedule provided. If no schedule is provided, identify and list circuits on a blank schedule. The schedule is the most critical piece of information for the system: accuracy is VERY important.
   
   NOTE: WEx Series panels do not have a removable interior. Pull wires first, then install the relays and controls.

4. TEST LINE CIRCUITS
   Use the relay's manual lever to switch the circuit. Verify that the schedule matches the lights operated by the relay.

5. CONNECT LOW VOLTAGE CONTROLS
   Once the line circuits are connected and verified, connect the low voltage controls. Low voltage controls can include:
   
   Switches and sensors. They connect directly to the relays they control.
   
   Group switches. They connect to group inputs and switch relays via relay scanners or output cards, depending on the type of controls installed.
   
   Panel control bus. It connects panels together so that what controls one panel can affect many.
   
   Peripheral controls. They interface in a variety of methods including telephone interface, direct interface with photocells, time clocks, etc. and computer interface.

6. PROGRAM AND TEST
   Power up the low voltage controls and test them. This may require setting which relays are controlled by a switch and/or a time clock channel. Additionally, time/photo controls will need to be programmed.

Product Details, Douglas Relay Panels: