Intruder Alarm Questions and Answers

altor

magicmac wrote: »

can any body help me??? i was doing a bit of decorating around the house, and i moved a PIR, but know when i go to set the alarm it comes up on the display "Call Alarm Co.86". as i cannot get in touch with the alarm co. i think another victim of the recession, could any body help me???

Sounds like your old company have a eng reset set up on the alarm. This means if a tamper condition appears on the system, e.g a lid is taken off a sensor the alarm needs the company to enter there eng code to reset the system. I would say the panel is eng locked aswell..

Jnealon

Any reputable company should be able to reset that for you even if it's eng locked

magicmac

thanks guys, had a feeling it was something like that, i live in dublin, any one fancy a nixer???? a quick fix for one of you alarm specialists????

altor

magicmac wrote: »

thanks guys, had a feeling it was something like that, i live in dublin, any one fancy a nixer???? a quick fix for one of you alarm specialists????

Send me your details by pm and i will get it going for you..

LeperKing

My folks got the house done up including a kitchen extension and are wondering how much the alarm setup would cost. Here's the details...

Current: Existing CS350 with the following setup

• Two keypad panels
• One wired smoke alarm
• Front door
• Office attic with 3 contact sensor windows
• Upstairs is approx 9 inertia sensor windows
• Downstairs is approx 9 inertia sensor windows
• PIR for conservatory
• 2 panic alarms

Proposed Setup: SigNET 220 (3725-220P)

• Two standard wired keypads - Replace existing with signet ones.
• One wired smoke fire alarm - No change
• Front door - No change
• Office attic with 3 contact sensor windows - No change
• Upstairs is approx 9 inertia sensor windows - There's 3 inertia sensors missing, but wiring is there
• Downstairs is approx 9 inertia sensor windows - 4 window and 1 backdoor sensors missing, but wiring is there

o There is an addition of 5 velux roof windows - 5 sensors needed, but wiring is there

• PIR for conservatory - No change
• 2 panic alarms - No change
• Addition of X10 control module

The main questions would be:
1) How much?
2) Is the footprint of the signet keypad the same as the aritech keypad?
2) Can a wireless smoke detector be added, as it was not considered during the first fix wiring.
3) Whats the pro/cons of picking contact/inertia sensors?

Thanks,
LK.

KoolKid

LeperKing wrote: »

My folks got the house done up including a kitchen extension and are wondering how much the alarm setup would cost. Here's the details...

Current: Existing CS350 with the following setup

• Two keypad panels
• One wired smoke alarm
• Front door
• Office attic with 3 contact sensor windows
• Upstairs is approx 9 inertia sensor windows
• Downstairs is approx 9 inertia sensor windows
• PIR for conservatory
• 2 panic alarms

Proposed Setup: SigNET 220 (3725-220P)

• Two standard wired keypads - Replace existing with signet ones.
• One wired smoke fire alarm - No change
• Front door - No change
• Office attic with 3 contact sensor windows - No change
• Upstairs is approx 9 inertia sensor windows - There's 3 inertia sensors missing, but wiring is there
• Downstairs is approx 9 inertia sensor windows - 4 window and 1 backdoor sensors missing, but wiring is there

o There is an addition of 5 velux roof windows - 5 sensors needed, but wiring is there

• PIR for conservatory - No change
• 2 panic alarms - No change
• Addition of X10 control module

The main questions would be:
1) How much?

About €900 professionally fitted. Excluding X10. Interface would be around €110 installed. Modules around €60-€80 each, Fitted

LeperKing wrote: »

2) Is the footprint of the signet keypad the same as the aritech keypad?

Signet keypad is smaller

LeperKing wrote: »

2) Can a wireless smoke detector be added, as it was not considered during the first fix wiring.

Yes!

LeperKing wrote: »

3) Whats the pro/cons of picking contact/inertia sensors?

On the skylights I would recommend just contacts.
Cons-- Using only contacts means any tampering with windows or doors (trying to remove or cut glass) will not be detected.
Without PiR back up in every room it leave you vunerable to smash & grab .

Pros--Contacts are 8 times cheaper than inertia sensors/contacts/
Less prone to false alarms.
Easier to fault find.

barryt

Have a problem with Kestral Merlin 150 Alarm, possibly due to lightening storm over the w'end. Keypad is not functioning anymore but LCD is flashing "n" ?? Checked for power in keypad unit and main unit and both seem ok ??

Any thoughts ??

KoolKid

Power the unit down totally. (Remove mains power & battery) & power back up.
Try code or factory code.
After that I'd recommend changing it. They are junk.

altor

barryt wrote: »

Have a problem with Kestral Merlin 150 Alarm, possibly due to lightening storm over the w'end. Keypad is not functioning anymore but LCD is flashing "n" ?? Checked for power in keypad unit and main unit and both seem ok ??

Any thoughts ??

If it was due to the lightning it is properly not worth your while trying to get someone to fix it as the board would of packed up. As koolkid said you could try power it down and power it back up but at the end of the day that system is well past its sell by date..

traveller

Hi guys

Hope this is the right place to post this.

I am looking to get an Aritech system anyone know where in the Dublin area I can do this and a rough idea of price

Many Thanks

altor

traveller wrote: »

Hi guys

Hope this is the right place to post this.

I am looking to get an Aritech system anyone know where in the Dublin area I can do this and a rough idea of price

Many Thanks

National Electric Wholesalers. D.15 01-8767500
Reliable Security Products. D.3 01-8372439

Cost to trade is cheaper so you would have to check price before you buy..

Dobedo

We got broken into last weekend (Dublin 7). I suppose its the time of year and the recession increasing house break ins. So we're now looking into getting our first house alarm, the house is not pre-wired.

We got two quotes so far for wireless systems. Anyone know if these are reasonable asking prices or should we be asking for serious discounts? Anyone have experience with either of these types of set ups, I’d be grateful for your input as we're novices at this.

ESP electronic security protection

ARITEC CS250
Hall door 1x contact
Front living room 1x sensor
Dinning room 1x sensor
TV room 1x sensor
Kitchen 1x motion detector beam
Garage 1x motion detector beam
Cost of equipment & installation 863.44 plus VAT

Voice text extra at €200
Or
Annual cost of monitoring extra at €250


Merrion Advanced Security Solutions

Front Door - Visonic Magnetic Reed Contact
Hallway – Visonic PIR movement detector
Landing – Visonic PIR movement detector
Kitchen – Visonic PIR movement detector
Dinning Room – Visonic PIR movement detector
Back door – Visonic inertia Shock sensor

Supply & installation €1025
Extra
Annual Maintenance fee € 150

Thanks!

altor

Dobedo wrote: »

We got broken into last weekend (Dublin 7). I suppose its the time of year and the recession increasing house break ins. So we're now looking into getting our first house alarm, the house is not pre-wired.

We got two quotes so far for wireless systems. Anyone know if these are reasonable asking prices or should we be asking for serious discounts? Anyone have experience with either of these types of set ups, I’d be grateful for your input as we're novices at this.

ESP electronic security protection

ARITEC CS250
Hall door 1x contact
Front living room 1x sensor
Dinning room 1x sensor
TV room 1x sensor
Kitchen 1x motion detector beam
Garage 1x motion detector beam
Cost of equipment & installation 863.44 plus VAT

Voice text extra at €200
Or
Annual cost of monitoring extra at €250


Merrion Advanced Security Solutions

Front Door - Visonic Magnetic Reed Contact
Hallway – Visonic PIR movement detector
Landing – Visonic PIR movement detector
Kitchen – Visonic PIR movement detector
Dinning Room – Visonic PIR movement detector
Back door – Visonic inertia Shock sensor

Supply & installation €1025
Extra
Annual Maintenance fee € 150

Thanks!

The CS250 uses 433 frequency. That frequency is used by most wire free gadgets e.g. wire free door bells, car remotes so i would stay away from that. If they put in the new ATS that uses the 868 frequency then that would be better for you.
The visonic is a good system, it also uses the 868 frequency. A power max by visonic is the system i would be getting them to install.
Another system is the signet, this also uses the 868 frequency and the visonic sensors.

Saab Ed

Help Please. I have a Secure Watch HKC alarm fitted in my house. The previous owner zoned out some windows so that when we arm the alarm now thoses windows are not protected. How do I re-arm thoses zones, I cant figure it out. The alarm box looks like this if it helps.....

altor

Saab Ed wrote: »

Help Please. I have a Secure Watch HKC alarm fitted in my house. The previous owner zoned out some windows so that when we arm the alarm now thoses windows are not protected. How do I re-arm thoses zones, I cant figure it out.

Do you know why he did this, where there faults on the system ? Basically you need to reconnect the cable for the sensors to the zone you want in the alarm. In the HKC it alarm then tamper on each zone depending on if the installer made them single EOL or dual EOL but hopefully for you they are just wired alarm,tamper.

Saab Ed

altor wrote: »

Do you know why he did this, where there faults on the system ? .

I have know idea why he did it but it might have been because he kept a dog in the kitchen and the window might have been left on the latch for this reason. All the sensors are wired up , it just seems that he turned off some windows at the control panel.

altor

Saab Ed wrote: »

I have know idea why he did it but it might have been because he kept a dog in the kitchen and the window might have been left on the latch for this reason. All the sensors are wired up , it just seems that he turned off some windows at the control panel.

He must have the eng code to do this. Have you got this code or can you get it to enable the zone again ?

Saab Ed

altor wrote: »

He must have the eng code to do this. Have you got this code or can you get it to enable the zone again ?

The only code I have is the usuall alarm set code. When I set the alarm these various widows around the house are un-armed.

altor

Saab Ed wrote: »

The only code I have is the usuall alarm set code. When I set the alarm these various widows around the house are un-armed.

If he has turned them off in the panel you will need the eng code to turn them back on. Any alarm company can get into these panels if you have no eng code.
If you can get this code i would be more than happy to talk you through getting the zone back working again.

Saab Ed

altor wrote: »

If he has turned them off in the panel you will need the eng code to turn them back on. Any alarm company can get into these panels if you have no eng code.
If you can get this code i would be more than happy to talk you through getting the zone back working again.

So its a call out from an alarm company I need then. Okay sure that will do. Where might I get this code, Is it written inside something or is it just givin to the original user?

altor

Saab Ed wrote: »

So its a call out from an alarm company I need then. Okay sure that will do. Where might I get this code, Is it written inside something or is it just givin to the original user?

The default code is 04567 but the original installer would of changed this code. You should ask the previous owner what he did with the alarm or if he has the eng code to make changes to the system. If this does not work you are looking at getting an alarm company out to default and reprogram the alarm. You should also get the alarm checked encase the previous owner did any other changes to the alarm. You can test the zones by entering 0#3 at your keypad. Then test each detector on the system. Enter your user code to stop the test when your finished.

KoolKid

Dobedo wrote: »

We got broken into last weekend (Dublin 7). I suppose its the time of year and the recession increasing house break ins. So we're now looking into getting our first house alarm, the house is not pre-wired.

We got two quotes so far for wireless systems. Anyone know if these are reasonable asking prices or should we be asking for serious discounts? Anyone have experience with either of these types of set ups, I’d be grateful for your input as we're novices at this.

ESP electronic security protection

ARITEC CS250
Hall door 1x contact
Front living room 1x sensor
Dinning room 1x sensor
TV room 1x sensor
Kitchen 1x motion detector beam
Garage 1x motion detector beam
Cost of equipment & installation 863.44 plus VAT

Voice text extra at €200
Or
Annual cost of monitoring extra at €250


Merrion Advanced Security Solutions

Front Door - Visonic Magnetic Reed Contact
Hallway – Visonic PIR movement detector
Landing – Visonic PIR movement detector
Kitchen – Visonic PIR movement detector
Dinning Room – Visonic PIR movement detector
Back door – Visonic inertia Shock sensor

Supply & installation €1025
Extra
Annual Maintenance fee € 150

Thanks!

On the first quote they are fitting a 16 way reciever which is free with 8 devices
but only giving you 6. With 2 of those being PiRs you are getting very little coverage. It seems like a bargain price but really you are getting vey little protection.
The secone one doesn't state which panel you are getting but the protection is also very poor. these prises are gimmicks & are in no way giving you the protection required.
At a vey minimum you need all downstairs & all accessible windows & doors covered + at least 1 PiR. Look for a 10-16 zone wireless system for betwween €1500-€2000 these quotes are just giving you a false sense of security.

Jnealon

The first quote seems reasonable but I would suggest getting a few more devices added so you have full perimeter protection and a couple of pirs.
I'm not too sure on the second one as they dont mention a panel but I'll stick my neck out and say that it's a powermax. If it is the powermax then it is on the expensive side

gmanutd

i have just replaced d battery in my astec alarm box and the following is coming up on my key pad "1 5ab fault" and engineer coming up on top right hand side of pad anybody out there with any info on rectifying this please my head is recked

altor

gmanutd wrote: »

i have just replaced d battery in my astec alarm box and the following is coming up on my key pad "1 5ab fault" and engineer coming up on top right hand side of pad anybody out there with any info on rectifying this please my head is recked

It is telling you it cant see the sab. You should check to see if you pulled the internal or external bell wire out of the panel when you replaced the battery. It is beside where the keypad is wired in..

Hope this helps..

fred funk }{

You could have damaged the panel while changing the battery. Did you power the panel down before changing it? it's fairly easy to short something at the back of the board. You could have also put the battery leads on the wrong way around.

altor

I dont think you have damaged the board as suggested, more than likely the cable has come loose. Try connecting the cable for the internal and external bell again, then power down the panel. Power it back up on the battery, then connect the mains power to the alarm. This will hopefully clear the fault for you..

cute_cow

Hiya,
have read some of the comments on here and have been very helpful, but am still lost!! We had an attemted break in just before christmas (D13), so we're getting an alarm. Have called some places for quotes etc.

But not sure which to go for, all are wireless, suits me fine. But some are syaing that infrared are the best, and then others are using sensors and contacts.

Which do people feel would be the best way to go, am a complete novice and have no idea about any of this!! I just want something solid, that works the best. Price not really a problem, want something very secure as we are not always here at weekends etc.

Any advice would be appriciated!!

fred funk }{

Do not settle for just infra-reds. The burglar has to be inside the house for them to activate. Make sure you get all accessible windows alarmed with both shock sensors and contacts. And install at least one infra-red normally in the hall but get some more if the budget allows. Make sure you get a working outside bell and not just a decoy box. And get some sort of monitoring, text, voice or central station.

altor

cute_cow wrote: »

Hiya,
have read some of the comments on here and have been very helpful, but am still lost!! We had an attemted break in just before christmas (D13), so we're getting an alarm. Have called some places for quotes etc.

But not sure which to go for, all are wireless, suits me fine. But some are syaing that infrared are the best, and then others are using sensors and contacts.

Which do people feel would be the best way to go, am a complete novice and have no idea about any of this!! I just want something solid, that works the best. Price not really a problem, want something very secure as we are not always here at weekends etc.

Any advice would be appriciated!!

Hi cute_cow,

Perimeter protection is best to go for if money is not an issue, e.g. inertia shock sensors on accessible windows, inertia/contacts on back door, french door, contact plus inertia shock on sliding door, contact on front door, a few motion detectors in the house for back up, plus a live external bell is a must to warn a robber you have an alarm.

The other type is the motion sensor trap pack. This pack works by means of if someone does break in a motion detector would pick them up and activate the alarm. This would put a contact on your front door, a contact for your back door, a motion in the hall, a motion in the kitchen, a motion in the dining room, a motion in the living room plus a motion on your landing, a live external bell. It is much cheaper than covering all your windows.

If your going to be away getting the alarm monitored by self monitoring or by a monitoring station is good to do also. If you have a house phone it can be connected to the alarm or if not a GSM can be installed to allow the alarm to communicate with you, family or the monitoring station. It uses a sim card like your mobile phone. The GSM can also give you remote access to your alarm to, set the alarm, check the status of the alarm when you are away.

The one thing i would say is make sure whoever you get to install the alarm is PSA registered and certified to install alarms and the system they install uses the 868 frequency. There are so many other devices that use the old frequency that can cause interference.

Hope this helps, any more questions just ask...