I've noticed only recently that following a power failure my Gardtec 370 alarm would sound - displaying the "Fb" message on the keypad. Thought i'd need to just change the battery until I came to the control panel (plastic cabinet type) to find it faintly humming. Looking closely at the door of the cabinet I noticed a small burn mark which felt quite hot to touch. I opened the control box to find one of the components on the circuit board half burnt out. I'm no expert but it looks like some sort of "metal film" resistor. Anyway not sure what caused this - I've had the house from new and the systems about 6.5 years old - so perhaps age? I've got myself an new metal type cabinet Gardtec 370 - hoping to keep my job as simple as possible...i.e. a straight switch from the old - (well sort of anyway - the circuit board looks the same... ). I believe i need to start at the bell box and switch the jumper in there? This I presume will enable me to get on with the job without the sounder draining the bell battery?....oh as well as disturbing the peace... Are my assumptions right or is there an easier option without having to get the ladders out?

as above,

if you battery decides to dry and short out the plates then the PSU has to supply more current. this may not exceed the full current available or fuse rating, but will cause additionjal heating of the components, and failure over time.

if your going to open the external siren please be aware of very high voltages possble around the strobe pcb, or the siren may start sounding very loudly. not enough to kill on most accidental contacts or hearing it, but the sudden jigging about on the ladder from the shock and causing a subsequent and surprise contact with terra firmer is another matter.

in short be very careful both when working with electrical equipment and access equipment, or get in a competant and properly equiped person is the best advice.

regs

alan

Fb is the fuse blown, easy ehh. As for the bell i`m afraid you will need the ladders unless you can swap over a pcb very fast. Just remember to keep the zones the same and you wont need to change a lot of the programming, just make sure you drop the bell timers to 15 mins as your new panel wont be within the scope of the new regulations i believe (someone correct me if i`m wrong pls).

15mins is the new bell max ring time

10 points to OH

15mins is the new bell max ring time

10 points to OH

Derrrrr i meant the panel not meeting regs we all know the bell ring timers.

lol oh! but i bet your wrong some wouldnt

Thanks Guys. Managed to swap it over without too many probs. Couldn't be bothered with the ladders though... so let it ring out for 20mins. Snapped off the connectors from the old circuit board and fed them through back of new box to make the wire swap over easier. As advised also reduced ring time to 15mins. Just need to sort out an annual maintenance agreement now!

Many thanks to you all again...

Lish

Thanks Guys. Managed to swap it over without too many probs. Couldn't be bothered with the ladders though... so let it ring out for 20mins. Snapped off the connectors from the old circuit board and fed them through back of new box to make the wire swap over easier. As advised also reduced ring time to 15mins. Just need to sort out an annual maintenance agreement now!

Many thanks to you all again...

Lish

Glad we could help, thanks for the update.