Repair Aritech alarm system or DIY wireless kit?

jon1981

Hi,

The mother is having problems with her old Aritech cs350 alarm. A callout service is 100e plus parts. I'm ensure at this point whether dropping 200-300e (assuming parts are needed) is worthwhile or purchase a good wireless kit that I could install myself.

Any recommendations for wireless kits ?

thanks
Jon

kub

You will get a pure Mickey Mouse system for that sort of money. Have you considered that perhaps your Mothers alarm complies with her insurers requirements and a self install won't?

Also what type of system does your mother have? Are the windows and doors alarmed or is it just a few beams?
What is currently the problem with the system?

jon1981

kub wrote: »

You will get a pure Mickey Mouse system for that sort of money. Have you considered that perhaps your Mothers alarm complies with her insurers requirements and a self install won't?

Also what type of system does your mother have? Are the windows and doors alarmed or is it just a few beams?
What is currently the problem with the system?

Hi,

I've not given the DIY option much thought...more an idea at this stage.

The alarm keeps going off so we have had to disconnect the battery, not sure what the problem actually is. I reckon the control box is fine (it's an Aritech cs350), there are contact sensors on all windows and doors and a beam in the living room. Perhaps it wont cost that much to resolve. Also I was hoping to get a GSM dialler installed.

Jon

kub

jon1981 wrote: »

Hi,

I've not given the DIY option much thought...more an idea at this stage.

The alarm keeps going off so we have had to disconnect the battery, not sure what the problem actually is. I reckon the control box is fine (it's an Aritech cs350), there are contact sensors on all windows and doors and a beam in the living room. Perhaps it wont cost that much to resolve. Also I was hoping to get a GSM dialler installed.

Jon

I am glad you didn't give that diy much thought, most of those systems selling in the likes of DIY stores have as much technology as a Fisher Price phone.......the ones we all had when we were 2.;)

Is the alarm only going off when it is set or is it going off only when it is turned on, also why did you disconnect the battery, did that help?

Just regarding the GSM, there is no GSM compatible with the CS350, does it have a digital communicator unit within it, or to put that another way, was it ever connected to a monitoring station?

jon1981

The battery needed to be replaced due to age, the control panel was displaying low battery warnings. To be honest I might be an simple resolution but I'm assuming the worst. I need to get up to the house to play around with it. I haven't had a chance yet so receiving all information second hand from the mother.

The CP was never connected to a monitoring station but I was hoping I could take a signal from it to an external GSM dialler ( if possible). If not I'll make do with the alarm as is.

kub

jon1981 wrote: »

The battery needed to be replaced due to age, the control panel was displaying low battery warnings. To be honest I might be an simple resolution but I'm assuming the worst. I need to get up to the house to play around with it. I haven't had a chance yet so receiving all information second hand from the mother.

The CP was never connected to a monitoring station but I was hoping I could take a signal from it to an external GSM dialler ( if possible). If not I'll make do with the alarm as is.

A low battery will not normally as such cause an activation, i note you mentioned needed to be replaced, has it been?
I am assuming the system must be over 10 years old, usually some inertia sensors or contacts would be giving up the ghost at that age. What happens here is the alarm activates for no apparent reason, is that was is happening?
Speak with your Mother on it and if you like please come back to us and one of us will certainly help you out as best as we can.

altor

jon1981 wrote: »

The battery needed to be replaced due to age, the control panel was displaying low battery warnings. To be honest I might be an simple resolution but I'm assuming the worst. I need to get up to the house to play around with it. I haven't had a chance yet so receiving all information second hand from the mother.

The CP was never connected to a monitoring station but I was hoping I could take a signal from it to an external GSM dialler ( if possible). If not I'll make do with the alarm as is.

There is more than likely a faulty device or devices on the system causing these alarm activation's. If you were to upgrade the systems control panel you would still have these issues if using the sensors involved. You need to get these tested to eliminate the false alarms before going any further with the system.

This explains how to do same, you will need a multimeter to do this.

Remove the resistor from the last device on the zone and connect the wires to the last device. 
Sometimes the resistor is in the control panel so just remove this and connect the cable ends from that zone to the multimeter.
Set the meter to 200 Ohms and take a note of the reading.
Each device you have on that zone you will need to tap 10-20 times plus open and close each contact one by one. If you do connect the meter in series with the last device then make sure you disconnect the zone in the control panel plus any resistors on the loop and join the cable together there.
After each one, check if the reading has changed. 
If it does not return to in or around the same value remove that device, join the cables from the alarm circuit together and move on to the next device.
After this you should have a circuit with a lower resistance value that remains the same after you tap or open any device.
Replace any faulty devices plus replace the EOL resistor and rewire the zone back into the panel.

You can also add a GSM or a voice dialer if you have a landline to this system if you want to monitor the system. It will be only basic as there is no pacific GSM for this system.