Pertronic Manual Call Points

### Pertronic "SnapGlaze"

"SnapGlaze" is a design patented by Pertronic that replaces glass with a plastic system, which simply 'snaps' (hence the name) out of the frame. This is much safer than glass, as you cannot cut yourself on it. Also, SnapGlaze is reusable, as it can be re-set by 'snapping' the pushed out piece of plastic back in again. This is much better than glass, which you have to replace when it gets broken.

### Pertronic "Push Switch" with SnapGlaze

These are the MCPs that come standard with all new Pertronic systems. To operate these, the user must push in the SnapGlaze and then press the button in until it clicks. These are a more recent design, introduced to replace the "toggle-switch" MCPs they used to make (see below). These were designed to eliminate the need to unscrew & remove the front cover to test these MCPs on walk-tests. Instead, the engineer simply uses a plastic "key" that enters through a small slot on the bottom of the MCPs and uses that to operate the button. However, it is still necessary to remove the front to reset the MCP if the SnapGlaze has been push out.

There are both conventional and addressable variants of these.

### Pertronic "Push Switch" - Custom Branded

Many companies have had custom-made face plates for Pertronic Call Points with their own name on them. These usually have the company name at the bottom, with the top two Pertronic Logo's removed (except for Fire Security Services, who retain the two Pertronic logos)

Some companies, such as Argus or Alliance, do not use custom-made call points, but will instead add special stickers to them instead to make them look branded. Blank Call Points with stickers can be found above, branded ones with stickers added are found here.

Fire Security Services Branded, with Chubb sticker AddedFire Security Services Branded, with Chubb sticker AddedChubb-branded MCP with argus sticker added in 2020 (following change of maintainence contractor).NB: The wrong SnapGlaze has been fitted. This happens often.
### Pertronic "Switch Down" - Classic

These are Pertronic's older MCPs. These are very similar to those above, but instead of a push-button there is a simple toggle-switch (typical of many MCPs). These are the MCPs that Pertronic originally used, but they fell out of use when the new push-button design (see above) was introduced. Pertronic stopped making these in 2018.

There are both conventional and addressable variants of these.

### Pertronic "Switch Down" - Custom Branded

Many companies have had custom-made face plates for Pertronic Call Points with their own name on them. These usually have the company name at the bottom, with the top two Pertronic Logo's removed (except for Fire Security Services, who retain the two Pertronic logos)

Some companies, such as Argus or Alliance, do not use custom-made call points, but will instead add special stickers to them instead to make them look branded. Blank Call Points with stickers can be found above, branded ones with stickers added are found here.

Chubb Branded with Argus Sticker AddedGuardian Branded with Alliance sticker added.Goodness knows what Chubb has done to these....I found 5 of these blacked-out units in a block of flats.Goodness knows what Chubb has done to these....I found 5 of these blacked-out units in a block of flats.Goodness knows what Chubb has done to these....I found 5 of these blacked-out units in a block of flats.Goodness knows what Chubb has done to these....I found 5 of these blacked-out units in a block of flats.
### Pertronic "Switch Down" - Updated

This new updated version of the "switch down" call point was first released in 2017. The updated design uses a larger switch, and also has a slight modification to the SnapGlaze, placing the "Dial 111" bit on the outer frame, rather than on the detachable price. These are mostly installed as replacement for older Switch-Down units, or as additional MCPs to existing toggle-switch systems. Most new alarms systems use the push-button design below.

Unlike Pertronic's other MCPs, these are only available as Conventional devices. There is no Addressable variant.

This one has been installed with the internal switch part the wrong way up!This one has been installed with the internal switch part the wrong way up!
### Pertronic with "Break Glass"

Despite the invention of SnapGlaze, Pertronic does offer the option of the traditional "Break Glass" instead. These are actually very rare, and whenever they are used, it is usually because of low-budget reasons (the glass is cheaper than SnapGlaze). The only places I know of that has Break-Glass Pertronic MCP's are a couple of high schools (including my old one). Quite often is the case that the MCP had SnapGlaze when installed, but was replaced by glass either when the SnapGlaze eventually broke, or becuase the person resetting the call point was an idiot who didn't know it was reusable.

### Pertronic with Round SnapGlaze

Pertronic used to make their weather-proof outdoor MCP's with the SnapGlaze in a circle-shape, instead of the usual square. They have since discontinued this. They are incredibly rare, and so far I have only found a few. The last photo is of one which has sadly been modified with a regular square Snap-Glaze installed behind the hole for the round one.

This call point has had the snap-glaze replaced with a stanard one behind it. For some reason, the installer used Australian SnapGlaze, with the "777" phone number insetad of "111"
### SnapGlaze Prototype?

Whilst exploring in Wellington, I found what appears to be an early prototype version of Pertronic's SnapGlaze MCP. Note that the detachable piece lacks the rounded corners, and is differently designed. There was another of these elsehwere in this building too! Also take note of the red border on the actual switch itself. Since then, I have found another example of this type of SnapGlaze at the Wellington Cable Car Museum, however this one has just a usual white switch.

### Custom-designed MCP

Chubb installed these custom-designed MCPs for the historic Gear Homestead house in Aotea, Porirua....what I actually mean by "custom designed" is they painted them brown.....

## KAC

Pertronic offers KAC manual call-points on all of their Australian systems, but you almost never see them in NZ, despite them being offered as an option (they never come standard in NZ). I have, however found a couple of places in Auckland where just one or two KAC units have been used, likely in places where a full-size Pertronic MCP would've been too large for the space.

## Emergency Door Release

These White Pertronic MCPs are used as emergency door release switches.

## Panel Functions

These MCPs have been re-purposed to control functions on the alarm panel itself.

## Stop Buttons

These modified Pertronic MCP's are used as Emergency Stop Buttons.

## Fuel Pump Emergency Stop

This single Pertronic unit I found bolted to the side of a fuel pump for boats on Wellington Waterfront. It uses the same red button as other designs, but the unit itself is white instead of red. It feature clear SnapGlaze.

## Key Holder's

Sometimes, MCP's get modified to hold key's for certain things. This might be the key to panel, or maybe to a cupboard with the emergency supplies.

Note that in these photos, the outer frame has been screwed on upside-down by mistake.