How Can I Tell if My Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F Supports EOLR Learning?

You can tell if your Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F supports EOLR learning by checking the Serial Number (SN) for the unit on the back of its enclosure. Any 16-F unit manufactured in the 40th week of 2019 or later can support the feature. The SN for the unit will tell you when it was manufactured.

Every Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F module must have an end of line resistor (EOLR) at each zone. This includes zones that have no sensors attached and are not actively being used. Originally, you could only use 4.7k resistors with the unit. But in week 40 of 2019, Qolsys updated the device to support end of line resistor learning for resistor values ranging from 1k to 10k. All units manufactured from that point onward support the feature.

The best way to determine whether your Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F module is an updated unit that supports EOLR learning, or an old unit that does not support the feature, is to check its Serial Number. You can find the SN on the back of the device's plastic enclosure. It may also be found on the product's packaging. And if you have a Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F with Large Enclosure, then it will also usually be found on the inside of the enclosure lid, though some very early large enclosure models may be lacking this interior SN. Regardless of where you find it, the SN code will tell you when the unit was manufactured.

The first four (4) characters in the SN are irrelevant for determining the date of manufacture. Those first four characters should all be letters. Rather than looking at these first four letters, you should instead look at the next four characters in the sequence. These should all be numbers. Of these four numbers, the first two (2) represent the year that the unit was built (e.g. 19 for 2019), while the second two (2) represent the numbered week in the calendar year (e.g. 43 for the 43rd week of the year).

You can see an example of a Serial Number indicating that the unit was manufactured in the 43rd week of 2019. Since this is after the 40th week of 2019, it can support EOLR learning.

Below is the SN of a Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F that cannot support EOLR learning. Note that the SN indicates that the unit was manufactured in week 9 of 2019. This is before week 40 of 2019 when Qolsys updated the product.

Most IQ Hardwire 16-F units that come with the large enclosure will have the SN printed on a sticker inside the enclosure lid. Very early large enclosure units might be missing the sticker. For these units, be sure to check the box the device came in. The Serial Number sticker will be located there. Below is an example of a Serial Number sticker on the enclosure lid. Note that the SN indicates that the unit was built in week 48 of 2019. This unit can support EOLR learning.

If you have a Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F that was manufactured in week 40 of 2019 or later, then you will be able to switch between Resistor Modes on the unit. The two Resistor Modes for the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F are UL Fire Mode and Legacy Mode. For more information on switching between Resistor Modes on a a compatible Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F, please see this FAQ.

Also note that Zone 16 must always use a 4.7k resistor, regardless of which Resistor Mode the unit is running. This is a special zone on the module that is capable of supporting up to ten (10) 2-wire smoke detectors. All versions of the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F, regardless of Revision, come with (16) 4.7k resistors so that you can properly configure the device.

Note: This Serial Number is not used for programming the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F into the panel.