Mystery nonfunctioning alarm

[Ouch77]

Amongst all the other suprises in our new house is a non-functional alarm system.

I'm not that familar with house alarms, but it looks quite swanky, though perhaps not too well installed, there's switches missing from vital locations, and some of the PIRs could be better placed.

The main pushbutton unit is marked ADT, but the control box isn't. Can anyone help identify it?

Pulling the covers off various devices have shown the prior occupants frustration with the system as some, if not all, wires have been disconnected.

Is it worth keeping the devices and re-doing the wiring? Or would it be better to start from scratch? If it's worth keeping/resurrecting, where can I get information on setting up and programming?

Cheers for any thoughts..

 

[joe-90]

The name's on the label. Here's a manual to read.

http://www.dvisystems.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/accord_programming_manual.pdf

 

[oasistechnical]

thanks for that Manual Joe, its one i dont have on file.

John

oh Ouch,
if the connections are still in place on the devices IE four connections (+12v 012v and tamper/alarm via two resistors),
then default panel and reprogramme the system.

we dont use the Accord, but it is an OK panel

John

 

[Ouch77]

Jo

Thanks for the manual - I'll read and take note.

I think all the connections to the main control panel have been cut/disconnected, as have connections to the internal sounder, likewise the battery pretty much fell on my lap when I opened the brain box up.

If popular opinion is that it's not a bad bit of kit, then I'll probably re-install it in a better location and re-locate and re-wire it's sensors and control panels.

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions, but first I have unrelated mains and plumbing headaches to solve.

Thanks!

 

[scott1980]

What you have here is a typical "dealership" installation.

A*T subbed out the installation side of these jobs to smaller, local approved companies who bought the equipment from A*T and were payed around £200 for fitting it. Typically, to make it pay, they were thrown in which is why your PIRs are in strange places and the general state of the install seems to leave a bit to be desired (check out the cable to the keypad, and the fact that there are 8 "devices" but only 5 x 8 core cables in the panel)

You will also find that the external bell is a decoy, relying on the internal sounder. Not ideal.

The XPC was a basic but reasonably trouble free panel, but a bit of a swine to program. From the date code, your particular panel is approaching 10 years old. I would recommend you rip it all out and start again. You can pick up a good panel with a proper LCD keypad and metal endstation for about £60 now.

The PIRs they used were actually not bad as far as false alarms are concearned, but they do go to "sleep" after no there has been no movement for a while.

 

[Ouch77]

Brill, this is just the sort of information I need. I'm new to the world of alarm fitting, but have got a basic handle on what they do (it's not rocket science).

Any recommendations on the sort of alarm needed for a 3bed semi with numerous outbuildings?

thanks!

What you have here is a typical "dealership" installation.

A*T subbed out the installation side of these jobs to smaller, local approved companies who bought the equipment from A*T and were payed around £200 for fitting it. Typically, to make it pay, they were thrown in which is why your PIRs are in strange places and the general state of the install seems to leave a bit to be desired (check out the cable to the keypad, and the fact that there are 8 "devices" but only 5 x 8 core cables in the panel)

You will also find that the external bell is a decoy, relying on the internal sounder. Not ideal.

The XPC was a basic but reasonably trouble free panel, but a bit of a swine to program. From the date code, your particular panel is approaching 10 years old. I would recommend you rip it all out and start again. You can pick up a good panel with a proper LCD keypad and metal endstation for about £60 now.

The PIRs they used were actually not bad as far as false alarms are concearned, but they do go to "sleep" after no there has been no movement for a while.

 

[scott1980]

No problem.

These outbuildings, do they require alarming too? If so, do you want to arm them seperately to the main house?

This will affect the choice of panel, as if you want them arming individually, you may have to look at a panel that has "area" setting.

 

[Ouch77]

Yep, I'd want to be able to set the alarm on the outbuildings independently - say sheds on one area, garage on another, etc.

Would it be a struggle to find an alarm panel that does more than 2 areas?

 

[RF Lighting]

Something like the texecom premier 48 would probably suit your needs by the sound of it.

It can have upto four seperate arming areas, so you could have say the house, garage and shed on an area each.

You should be able to pick up a panel and LCD keypad for about £110 + vat.

 

[scott1980]

There are panels out there that will do 32 areas, so you should'nt have any problems!

As above, the Texecom gear is OK.

If you wanted to put a keypad in each outbuilding, you could utilise the built in zones (each keypad has two zones available). That means you'd only have to run a single 8 core cable outside: from the panel to the shed keypad, then from the shed keypad to the garage keypad.

Providing these outbuildings are'nt too far away (if the cable run is too long, you'll have problems with voltage drop at the end), the above would work fine