bruceyc

Well - will report back as will be spending tomorrow trying to fix this

I'm not missing a really obvious bit of progarmming at start up or something am I? Or programming in another way than the default Programme 1? I checked the setting on each zone and it was definitely 1 timed, 2 inhibit, 3-8 immediate.

The only thing I can think to do is simulate a system using wire loops and test it that way. If opening zone 2 triggers the other zones I know it's panel or programming. But having 2 dodgy panels is almost impossible I think. I'm stuck

yep - becasue they are all visible and I removed the trunking covers to check - totally separate. Just a cable to door 1, one to door 2, one to PIR and one to bell box. No joints. I even went to the extent of pulling the back door one right out becasue it was the only one I couldn't full see. It was fine, no joints and just using one pair as you'd expect. All in tact and tested with a circuit tester.

They are completely separate wires and also I eliminated that issue by removing the door switch wiring and putting a staple in. The door switch wiring wasn't connected in any way to the alarm and it did the eact same thing. 5 hours I spent replacing a flippin' panel ARGHH!! The problem occurs when I have Zone 1 on just a pair to the switch and the PIR wired in as normal as an inhibited zone. Evrey single time the PIR triggers, it triggers the other zone in use - even with a staple in and no wiring anywhere near the PIR circuit. Its got me compleetly baffled.

Will try it - thanks. So you're thinking there's a nipped / shorted cable in there somewhere? I checked the resistance on both door switches and they are fine. The only issue could be with the PIR wiring then??

But I can't have. That wouldn't contunually trigger another used circuit whenever zone 2 was triggered would it?? Zone 2 is just a PIR. Zone 1 is just a magnetic door switch. Zone 3 had a staple in it. Zone 2 triggering made zone 3 look open on walk testing. That's just plain weird. The only possible answers to me are the programming (like the other forum issue) or a bell box compatability issue - though I struggle to see how a bell box would cause the symptoms with the zones unless I am missing something.

I agree - and thought the same thing, but I am pretty handy and convinced it's wired right. After all it's hard to wire a staple, a door sensor and a PIR wrongly! I also find the other forum link very interesting - it's EXACTLY the same issue. Also - it works fine using just 2 zones and the door sensors in series as the entry which tells me that everything is working ok. It's bizarre. ANy chance you could check with Honeywell and see what they say?

No problem with wiring - it couldn't be more simple. I also eliminated the bulk of the wiring by using a staple. I even changed the PIR out for a new one. Exact same thing. Here's a link to a foprum where the exact same problem is described: http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/electrical-forum-general-electrical-forum/39716-ade-optima-compact.html

Like you would swear they were wired together (maybe a second delay)

PS - the panel came from you I removed the wiring to the door switch, yes. I just put a staple in zone 3. So basically I tried zone 8 for example. Enabled zones 1,2 and 8 with a link in 8. On entering the alarm went off almost immediately. Looking on walk test, zome 2 triggering was setting off zone 8 too, even with a staple in it.

Not sure about that and don;t knwo enough about alarms to know if that could cause this? It was an existing bell box as this was a replacement panel job where the keypad was a bit dicky but otherwise working ok. I have solved it by putting both doors in series as a times entry zone 1, and disabling 3-8 It seems like a bit of a compromise but I had to get it working. So you reckong trying a new bell box might be worth it? It's very strange - I just don;t undersatnd why every time Z2 triggered, Z3 did too - even when very clearly closed. I even tried moving it around to otehr zones and it did the same thing, Zone triggers immediately followed the PIR sensor triggering.

Thansk for the quick reply - do you mean all the wiring to the bellbox?

Hi all New to the forum, but have a query about the Optima Compact I have installed today. I have installed a few alarms - usually pain free but this one has me really confused. I am using 3 zones. 1= door sensor on entry 2= PIR in entry room 3= back door sensor I am using programme 1, with Z1 as entry (timed), Z2 set as inhibited and Z3 set as immediate as it's never used as an entry. Zones 4-8 disabled in programming. All wiring checked, double checked and triple cheked. Now - what happens is that when the PIR is triggered after the entry zone is triggered, zone 3 also triggers and it goes into full alarm. This happened repeatedly and also on walk test - if I open the entry door, Zone 1 lights, then if I trigger the PIR Zone 2 lights and about a second later Zone 3 lights. I checked all wiring again, defaulted the panel and started a fresh. Same thing again. So to make things clearer I put a link in zone 3 so I could be sure there was no issue with door circuit. Same again - basically every single time the PIR which is inhibited is triggered it triggers the other zone evern though it's a closed loop. I read somewhere that Optimas can have a problem with the programming out of zones and that putting physical links in 4-8 might be worth trying. Incidentally - I happened to have another panel so I tried another Compact instead - it does EXACTLY the same thing. SO very unlikely to be duff panels. Anyone come across this and know what I am missing from the programming to make this work? Thanks in advance.