A simple trick i use

so you have global tampers, keeps triggering, these days rare for lace wiring etc. so unless cable damage its likely going o be a lid contact.

1st record each individual s/p loop resistance, look for any obviously high or greatly different resistances, now stick the pair in series with the sab hold off

you can now hear exactly when and if the loop is affected as tamper contacts 'pop' when you lift lids, and know when they remake, and not cluttered by your meter, you have both hands free.

now re-check the loops and look for any changes against earlier measurements.

if you have an open loop but unmarked cables and zones, connect the open pair between negative and bell ring, once you close the loop the siren will sound.

Edited May 22, 201312 yr by arfur mo

Get a meters with the bell function!

fairly useful arf.

Never thought of the hold off thing I must admit.

Have used the act checkmate in a similar way but the hold off will have a slight delay which may mask some faults

fairly useful arf.

Never thought of the hold off thing I must admit.

Have used the act checkmate in a similar way but the hold off will have a slight delay which may mask some faults

But think if the fun you could have, especially if using master blasters.

I'm sure that the client would understand using a meter would simply be not so much fun.

Plus messing about with another aspect of the system that WAS working before you played with it.

 

No ta, use a decent meter.

 

Hey, how about a battery, a bulb and a buzzer????

But think if the fun you could have, especially if using master blasters.

I'm sure that the client would understand using a meter would simply be not so much fun.

i'd think a certain amount discretion is called for lol!

fairly useful arf.

Never thought of the hold off thing I must admit.

Have used the act checkmate in a similar way but the hold off will have a slight delay which may mask some faults

the meter before and after comparison test is for tracing intermittent's, sometimes micro switches click but don't make, or at least decent electrical contact, perhaps get knocked. this us just a fast method if finding it without opening j/b's

tamper micro's are rarely moved to clean the contacts inside, so one that is h/r will often alter resistance considerably either up or down having been operated.

Plus messing about with another aspect of the system that WAS working before you played with it.

 

No ta, use a decent meter.

 

Hey, how about a battery, a bulb and a buzzer????

do you think after 45 years i can!t break and make competent sound connections every single time - are you having a laugh?

Go and pick up the toys.

good tip that.

 

Went to an old keyswitch bently the other week, second visit, my first time on site. Since the first visit it had dropped tampers a few times again

 

So did the basics, bell tamp good return, spilt the tampers had a reasonable range when split for a 20 year old system. So banged them back together, dug out the crock clips for the meter, then traced the cables. Found few jb's along the way, good tap, still buzzing, then found one on top of a kitchen unit.(lol) Tap, Bingo! Quite like old school faulting, nice satisfaction when you find it

 

I'll remember that SAB trick, gets a bit tricky to hear the meter on a big site!

Id agree, as arf knows i disagree with a lot he says but i like the man behind the handle. Id say the sab hold off thing could be useful. I'm also going to add it to our training manual for working on legacy stuff