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al-yeti

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Posts posted by al-yeti

    What essential kit should fire alarm engineers should carry as standard?

    in General Fire Alarm Queries

    Posted

    1 hour ago, DiscountFireSupplies said:

    I'm putting together a resource about what essential kit fire alarm engineers should carry as standard and I'm interested to know what you think. Just test equipment? Keys for all panels/MCPs? Set of resistors/fuses? Range of devices? Laptop/leads?

    What about poles dude ? Head testing etc 

     

    First time I used I thought this is handy 

     

    Until you have to pay for them lol

    Discussing current smart(ish) alarm systems

    in !!..DIY Installers..!!

    Posted

    6 hours ago, jelockwood said:

    Whilst it is somewhat to be expected with the US being the source of much new technology that the US therefore would get access to newer/smarter products - specifically in this case security products before the UK/EU the sad reality is that even taking this in to account the UK/EU market is or has been woeful in comparison. This even applies when supposedly the same brand operates in both the US and the UK/EU e.g. Honeywell/Resideo and ADT.

     

    To some extent this difference is down to the UK insurance, security and alarm makers focussing totally on security and I am willing to accept being as a result better in this aspect than US products but they have in the UK not just treated features and easy of use as secondary but it seems have completely and utterly ignored this.

     

    As a result whilst touch screen panels are common in the US they are rare as hens teeth on UK systems, similarly integration with smart home systems is also far less common. Even newer so called smart alarm systems such as Verisure, Simplisafe, Boundary and Abode are in comparison relatively unfriendly and primitive systems compared to US offerings.

     

    (The fact that Verisure supports Arlo smart doorbells and cameras is not down to Verisure being suddenly open minded and collaborative and accepting the use of other brands of smart home products but is down to their buying the rights in Europe to the Arlo product range and hence even though it is the exact same product as before when it was treated by Verisure as a dangerous alien creature it is now treated as their best of friends.)

     

    I am aware that ADT US and ADT UK are in reality totally different companies and have in general totally different products although they do not make this obvious. I was therefore aware the ADT US had smart(er) offerings than ADT UK. However more recently I see that ADT UK have a new offering with a touch screen controller and do list support for some smart home products including Philips Hue, Nest Smart Thermostat, Danalock and what I can tell is a rebadged SkyBell Trim Plus smart doorbell. I can also tell that this ADT touch screen is actually a rebadged Quolsys IQ Panel 4. (Even though the ADT UK website incorrectly lists it as an IQ2.)

     

    This is therefore an interesting development. ADT UK are a well established brand with an installation and monitoring service. The Quolsys product range is also - at least in the US a well known brand with a lot of options and reasonable options for smart home integration.

     

    https://www.adt.co.uk/adt-smart-home-hub

     

    The ADT UK page does say it supports Zigbee and Zwave and as mentioned some well known smart home products. Knowing as I do that this is a rebadged Quolsys panel this suggests additional smart home possibilities maybe possible. However the ADT UK page is woefully lacking in details and the Quolsys UK page is not much better. Neither therefore make it clear which Zwave frequency the UK product uses. The list of Quolsys accessories on the UK site is also much smaller than the US site. This is not clear if this is down to technical issues although as Quolsys' own accessories would be presumed to use Quolsys' own 2G wireless technology and not Zwave or Zigbee I do not see why this should be so.

     

    Of a more particular interest one aspect of so called smart alarm systems is that they typically have only battery powered sensors and sirens. Whilst it is practical to swap batteries on indoor sensors as they can be easily reached, swapping the batteries on an external siren which is normally located high up a wall is definitely not, and of course if the battery dies no-one can hear it. (Even a Solar panel does not help as it is powering a battery which will eventually die.)

     

    Now, since I know that the ADT UK system is a rebadged Quolsys system, I also know that Quolsys have the option of a hybrid system with an accessory that allows connecting wired sensors and a wired siren! This accessory is not listed on the Quolsys UK page. ? I consider it a complete waste of time asking ADT UK. ? 

     

    Is anyone here at all familiar with ADT UK and Quolsys and able to comment at all?

     

    I want to see if this https://qolsys.com/iq-hardwire-16/ can be used with the ADT UK/Quolsys UK version and if it can be obtained in the UK. It would also be helpful to have confirmation that 'standard' UK wired sensors would be compatible with it.

     

    Note: Quolsys in the US use Alarm.com for monitoring and indeed if you don't sign up for this the panel cannot even be self remotely monitored as the mobile phone app requires an Alarm.com account. I would guess either ADT UK are providing their own compatible service or more likely reselling the Alarm.com service.

     

    Note: Touch screens make configuration easier and look nicer, they can include a camera to take pictures of whoever is turning on/off the alarm and can show video from cameras and smart doorbells. What they could do and is often shown in fictional Films or TV shows is a plan view of a building and highlighting on the 'map' the location of which sensor has triggered the alarm. Sadly none appear to do this in real life (yet) although this has been achieved by tech enthusiasts using Home Assistant.

    Basically you want to DIY it 

     

    Buy stuff from UK, then from us and hope it works together instead of going with adt and signing up

     

    If you meant something else in all of the long story , that's all I could figure from it.....

    • Upvote 1

    Scantronic 9800 Buzzer Sounding - no Fault Codes

    in !!..DIY Installers..!!

    Posted

    39 minutes ago, Netrix said:

    Thanks for the replies peeps - emergency call-out to stop the noise would have been £195 plus the vat or £55 plus vat if I take out a yearly maintenance plan with them for £120 plus vat. This company used to service the system for the previous owners so I opted for that route. They turned up and couldn't enter engineering mode (I was at work - the wife was in) so all they could do was power down the system to give us some peace.

    I'm not 100% happy with their diagnosis as they said that both the keypad and the control box had gone. I agree with their diagnosis that there was probably a surge when the power came back on (it may well have come on/off on/off) as it usually does when we have power cuts - so probably fried something in the control box, but the upshot is I am awaiting a quote for a replacement control box and jeypad.

     

    Any ball-park figures would be appreciated - I know you dont know which system they will quote for - but how much would the replacement kit be for a system with 2 x PIRs, one door contact, one external bell and an internal siren ??

     

    Cheers in advance

     

    Netrix

    Dude 

     

    Probably, failing , needs servicing

     

    Forget all that , this panel is known to lose its memory and lose the plot so it has failed and is faulty 

     

    As Pete said it's the panel not really the keypad 

     

    If your keys worked try keeping hold of the keypad it will sell on eBay for some change or more

     

    £500 is probably the cheaper end of the market but that's still with some kind of contract 

     

    £650 with a WiFi connection might be better to do , so pay a little more and get it over and done with

     

    What Happened To Regalsafe?

    in Members Lounge (Public)

    Posted · Edited by al-yeti

    7 hours ago, Alan Moody said:

     

     

    i admit they were awkward to programme m but they separated real Engineers  from the pretenders .

     

    #Regalsafe #rip 

    Rubbish , just poor investment into software and like many other devices manuals  programming written by the one who thinks it will be understood by everyone 

     

    No offence dude , doesn't seperate engineers and pretenders at all 

    All’s well except the buzzy transformer

    in Introduce Yourself

    Posted

    31 minutes ago, Clairol said:

    Scantronic9800 full working order but

    the transformer makes an intermittent buzzing that is driving me mad at night.

    tried reseating & packing but little improvement.

    The metal alarm box/cover seems to amplify the noise too.

    any thoughts on a fix much appreciated 

     

    Ebay have used ones cheap enough to try 

     

    I assume you made this post at the local library if your not upgrading your tech much , good to repair I guess 

    Pyronix Euro 46 v10 - engineer code

    in Control Panels (Public)

    Posted

    1 hour ago, planetf1 said:

    Ok thanks.. understand re codes. Agree about the bell. I presume it's internal batteries are flat (the system has not been maintained) in addition to the internal panel battery which I know has gone. The system is ~4 years old, and probably never been maintained.i

    Option d 

    Is probably better for you , your going to end up paying something even as diyer

     

    However is the cost of paying someone when you want to diy ,cheaper than buying just the panel new?

    Scantronic 500R+ low battery

    in General Security & Fire Queries

    Posted · Edited by al-yeti

    1 hour ago, ijustwantsleep said:

    I found that pressing 0 makes it sleep for half an hour but then goes back on and it hasn't stopped any longer than that since. Anyone have any idea please before I end up ripping it out and throwing it into the road?((: The manual is completely useless.

    Change battery?

     

    Rip off wall about 10am, let bell ring and then smash bell off after, thats Incase it triggers at nite for reasons only affecting u lol

    Wired Texecom PIR for Scantronic I-ON40H

    in !!..DIY Installers..!!

    Posted

    1 hour ago, rpatel2 said:

    Hi all

     

    I've recently purchased a new build home and unfortunately, the developer didn't offer the option to lay alarm cable for a wired installation.

     

    Due to financial constraints, i wanted to fit a predominately wireless system myself. I purchased a I-on40H kit with 3 x wireless PIRs, 1 x wireless door contact and 1 x wireless keypad. I also separately purchased one wired sounder. 

    I wanted to fit one additional wired PIR and i have a spare texecom wired PIR from my parents alarm system. Can i use this in my system? This PIR will involve an extremely short cable run from the panel, probably less than 1.5m. Please note, my alarm system isn't live yet as I'm waiting for an electrician to fit a spur which can power the controller, but i've been reading up on the manuals.

     

    I wasn't planning on using any wired PIRs, but i thought since I have this spare one, perhaps it might be useful and much cheaper than getting another wireless one. I'm getting a bit confused regarding the resistors, however, i know this texecom PIR has a built-in resistor (if required - using jumper settings)

    I have 6 core alarm cable, and i was going to use all 6 cores in my wiring. There are no other wired PIRs or wired door contacts, this one texecom PIR will be the only wired detector in my whole system. 

     

    I'm not quite sure if I need a resistor or where it goes, at present i've assumed I don't need it and the texecom PIR jumper setting is left open.

    833278244_texcomPIRwiring.thumb.png.ca50ba1a9f47d65a8fdee10d2f237678.png

    image.png.cd3ab51fec31b9fe65b48c96396729bb.png

     

    There is already a 2k2 resistor inserted between AUX and TAMP, i would remove this. 

    Can some please validate attached my wiring diagram, assuming texecom wired PIR would work.

     

     

    Many thanks for your help in advance,

    You don't need that aux tamper 

     

    Just set the pir resistor jumpers according to the panel resistor settings 

     

    And then you only need to connect the zone from the panel to the pir outer terminals one alarm one tamper one wire to each , other two terminals then stay unconnected 

    Looking for a replacement alarm

    in !!..DIY Installers..!!

    Posted · Edited by al-yeti

    8 minutes ago, dazza10 said:

    I've got an really old Optima MX6 system in my house, its a rental so over the years someone has been snip happy and cut wires away from the siren/speaker etc. I thought i'd give it a go and enable it again after finding out how to reset the codes. However the keypad isn't functioning and looking at it closer the tracks are burnt out and diagnosing it with a multimeter continuity isn't there either so the tracks are worn to the point i cba repairing them. However all the wiring and voltages test good for the rest of the system. 

     

    So onto my main question

     

    I'm looking to replace the panel with something a bit more in with todays standards but reuse the wiring and replace PIRs if needed. Ideal if it could have some smart function so i could arm/disarm away from home and a wireless keypad?

    Any thoughts?

     

    Thanks.

    Diy

     

    Scantronics ion 40 

     

    Still has free app connection 

     

    However it will take some time to set it up and depending on your ability complete it by yourself 

     

    Bonus is if any wires damaged else where you can still go wireless 

     

    Worth looking at cost and time and hassle and see if a local installer will do it for you

    Ring Cameras

    in Members Lounge (Public)

    Posted

    1 hour ago, PeterJames said:

    Mostly locksmiths and photo copiers shops installing it round these parts. I understand why people would use their local locksmith to install alarm tat, but photocopying shops selling alarms and CCTV on the side just seems bizarre 

    Extra money spinner

     

    I see fire companies using it for key holder call outs 

     

     

    Just now, al-yeti said:

    Extra money spinner

     

    I see fire companies using it for key holder call outs 

     

     

    They add a dualcom or something else to it tho lol

    Ring Cameras

    in Members Lounge (Public)

    Posted

    55 minutes ago, MrHappy said:

    I thought they renamed it Cif ?

    Suprised many are using it though 

     

    However ajax? If only they knew it was a cleaning product back in the day 

     

    Kit isn't bad  though as some have said  , I think they might be ahead of the game compared to orisec aswell , although orisec have more en stuff ?...

    Dimension 264 strange issue..

    in General Security & Fire Queries

    Posted

    41 minutes ago, martinhendo said:

    First ever post on here..

    Been in and around  the F&S installation  game for a few years now but have never come across this, maybe one of you guys could shine some light on it. 

    New installation of a 264, Line 1 has 2 x C072's and 1 x P026, no RKP or other modules on the bus, everything is programmed and tested on this line. 

    Line 2 has 5 x C072's and 2 x P026's, along with 1 CP037 RKP and MX4 Prox.

    Rio's are addressed from 201 > 207, all devices on Rios 201 > 206 have been tested with no issues, RKP and Prox reader function as expected 

    On to the issue, Rio 207 (Furthest away from main panel, power sourced from Rio 205, 23m distance, 680 resistor fitted and link removed in panel) 13.8 v @ Rio 207.

    On carrying out a walk test on each zone individually, Z2073 a DT along with Z2077 a DC gave no response to the walk test. 

    The other 6 zones had no issues. 

    The zone resistances of Z2073/Z2077 via option 21, 1K ohms when closed, and when resistance rises to 1K9 (roughly) the panel still returns a closed message, all zones are set to default EOL. 

    Replaced DT and DC, and tested cables from them @ the Rio, 1k closed, 1K9 Open (roughly) on each. Tested the cable from the detection end while connected to Rio, shows S/C on panel around 12 Ohms resistance. 

    Swapped the Rio for another that's known to work and the same issue remained.. 

    Honeywell may be getting a call when I am back @ site.. 

    Your input would be appreciated.. 

     

     

    What happens if you add another Rio on the end ? Programme it in 

     

     

    Sounds like job for jw or gg or some dude in err can't remember rich? 

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