Adding a New Controller

If you are setting up a new controller with no existing programming, you must start by adding a new controller record. As you create the record, you will be able to customize its settings and create records for the expander modules that are connected to that controller.

Protege X allows you to program all records without connecting any physical hardware, so you can easily program a controller in advance and simply pair the controller when the hardware is available.

If you are setting up a Protege WX controller with existing programming, you should import the database instead of adding a new controller record. For instructions, see Importing an Existing Controller.

To add a new controller:

  1. Navigate to Controller Records | Controllers and click Add.

  2. Select the Location that the controller will belong to.

    The location cannot be changed once the controller record has been created.

  3. Enter the controller Name, and if required update the Second Language and Panel Name fields.

  4. If you have the physical hardware available, enter the controller's Serial Number. This can be obtained from the System | Settings page of the built-in web interface, or the label on the side of the controller.

    If you do not yet have the physical controller, you can enter the serial number later.

  5. Click Next: Options and change any settings as required. For more information about these settings, see Controllers.

  6. Click Next: Time.

    • Select the Time Zone where the controller operates.

    • If the controller's region has daylight savings time, select the appropriate Daylight Savings record.

      You can select from the default daylight savings records or program one later if required (see Programming Daylight Savings).

  7. Click Next: Configuration. Update any required settings and set the Hardware Defaults.

    • The Controller Type will determine the type and number of downstream records to be auto-created.

    • The System Area To Apply defines the system area that trouble input records will be automatically assigned to when they are added.

      • Create New System Area (default): Protege X will automatically generate a new system area, using the naming convention <Controller Name> System Area. New trouble inputs will be assigned to this area.
      • If you click the link and select an existing area from the list, new trouble inputs will be assigned to the selected area.
      • If you select None, new trouble inputs will not be assigned to any area.

    • When the Create Expander Defaults option is enabled, downstream hardware records (inputs, outputs, trouble inputs) will be auto-generated for any expander modules created under this controller. This setting applies to the initial creation of the controller record and any expander records added to the controller in the future.

  8. Click Next: Expanders. Add and configure the expander modules that will be associated with this controller.

    This section provides the ability to add single or multiple keypads, analog expanders, input expanders, output expanders and reader expanders (along with auto-generation of their relevant downstream hardware records if the controller's Create Expander Defaults option is enabled).

    The controller's onboard reader is always automatically created as a reader expander record with Physical Address 1.

    • For each expander type, click Add to add a single record of the selected expander type, or click Bulk Add to simultaneously add multiple records of the same expander type.
    • The expander record Name is auto-assigned with default naming conventions, but can be edited.
    • The Physical Address of each expander is auto-assigned using the next available address, but can be edited.

    • The specific hardware Type needs to be selected from the list of available models. This determines the type and number of downstream records to be auto-created.

      Every expander in a single bulk add must have the same Type, but you can bulk add multiple times to add quantities of different models.

  9. Click Next: Custom Reader Format and define custom reader formats if required.

  10. Click Create. The controller record will be created. Its Status will be Offline - Not paired.

    If the serial number entered is invalid an error notification will be generated.

When the controller record is created the required number and configuration of inputs, outputs and trouble inputs will be auto-generated for the controller and any expander modules added, as appropriate for the capacity of each specific module model and in accordance with the controller's Hardware Defaults settings.

Next steps: Pairing the Controller