Tommygunn Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 (edited) Things came to a head this morning when we lost power three or four times and each time one of my two bell boxes, at least I think it was just one, was activated. However, several problems, historical and new, are occurring with the boxes. 1) For a while now when I set the alarm one of the bell boxes makes a random alarm type tweet(or not) once it sets. Sometimes it might not make a sound, sometimes a full blip and other times a blip of random, truncated length, as if when you set the alarm your catching the circuitry doing some sort of count. 2) So, this morning, for every time that we had a power cut one of the bell boxes would activate but the LCD keypad showed no alarm condition. I could not deactivate the bell box from the LCD keypad during the outage even though everything was powered up by the main panel battery. When mains power was restored the piezo/bell box would stop, by itself. I've have done several things so far: a) LED's on main panel, LCD keypad and both bell boxes are all functioning. b) Battery for main panel at 13.30V, bell box that activated 6.93V and other bell box at 7.23V. c) I've done a complete test (with piezo buzzers disconnected, I fitted each piezo with a jumper connector for maintenance/testing/neighbours reasons) and the main panel worked perfectly, activated the telephone dialler and my phone rang - so no problem there. 3) The strobes on each bell box are not working. I observed each strobe during the full test and during a manual, strobe only test and they weren't functioning. What I did notice was that when I did a manual, strobe only test the LCD keypad lighting actually dimmed. This does not happen during any other function of the LCD keypad. I fitted the system back in September 2012 and the batteries are unchanged. Even though they are holding a Voltage could it be that the capacity is knackered? Anyone have a clearer idea on what is causing these problems? Cheers, Tom. Edited October 17, 2016 by Tommygunn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.wilson Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 I dont think that any of those are issues with yourbell. DO you have another power supply etc? Quote securitywarehouse Security Supplies from Security Warehouse Trade Members please contact us for your TSI vetted trade discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygunn Posted October 17, 2016 Author Share Posted October 17, 2016 (edited) I've just scrolled through the event log on the keypad and it says that it recorded 'Mains failure' at the corresponding times. Tom. Edited October 17, 2016 by Tommygunn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.wilson Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 It may do but the power from that bell is either coming from somewhere other than the main panel or it is wired of another output. What panel is it? Quote securitywarehouse Security Supplies from Security Warehouse Trade Members please contact us for your TSI vetted trade discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygunn Posted October 17, 2016 Author Share Posted October 17, 2016 The panel is a Honeywell Accenta G4 with both mains and a lead acid as backup. Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrHappy Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Your battery's knacked & I'd assume your panel is overloaded by the current requirements of 2 bell c/w strobes Quote Mr Veritas God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygunn Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 I think what I'll do is desolder the 6V button packs from the bell boxes and solder in some 5 cell AA packs of much higher capacity. Concerning the Lead Acid, I'm currently doing a discharge/charge test to try and ascertain its health. Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.wilson Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 I wouldn't do that. I can't see how it can be the bell box. Can you post photos of how they are wired? Quote securitywarehouse Security Supplies from Security Warehouse Trade Members please contact us for your TSI vetted trade discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygunn Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 I have the two boxes wired up as per the instructions, see below. For ages they were working just fine, then in the past six months, or so, the momentary beep noise started on setting the alarm and then the other day the second problem occurred on the loss of mains power. Prior to this we've had plenty of power cuts and nothing happened. Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Water ingress , show us picture of exactly how it's mounted and picture of wiring please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.wilson Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 I really cant see that can be happening on ac fail if its wired like that Can you replicate it? Quote securitywarehouse Security Supplies from Security Warehouse Trade Members please contact us for your TSI vetted trade discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygunn Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Al-yeti, I'll get some photos of the circuit boards and terminals as soon as. I know there has been water ingress on the bell box that I don't think activated as I've drilled some drain holes in the outer casing. However, it never reached the pcb only the status LED and corroded the legs, but it still functions. James, Yes, I want to do a full replication/full test as soon as, only one problem - the piezos. Is there a way to muffle them? I've tried stuffing cotton wool into the cones and taping over holes but it has little effect on the sound level. Is it feasible to attach LEDs in their place to act as activation indicators? Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.wilson Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 no the piezos run at high voltage. what happens if you disconnect the battery on the sab that is misbehaving? Quote securitywarehouse Security Supplies from Security Warehouse Trade Members please contact us for your TSI vetted trade discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 34 minutes ago, Tommygunn said: Al-yeti, I'll get some photos of the circuit boards and terminals as soon as. I know there has been water ingress on the bell box that I don't think activated as I've drilled some drain holes in the outer casing. However, it never reached the pcb only the status LED and corroded the legs, but it still functions. James, Yes, I want to do a full replication/full test as soon as, only one problem - the piezos. Is there a way to muffle them? I've tried stuffing cotton wool into the cones and taping over holes but it has little effect on the sound level. Is it feasible to attach LEDs in their place to act as activation indicators? Tom. How do you know it didn't dry off on the PCB , was enough to short it , I have seen it on these bells before because of how cable is taken in and where rain has hit got behind it Maybe yours survived but symptoms were similar and you confirm now water got in PS if it's quiet you could disconnect them, make terminal on them, and you will here oscillation when activated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aissecur Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 I've had a about three Honeywell bells randomly chirp then go off for no apparent reason in the past (usually when just out of warranty) - everything checked out ok with the rest of the alarm when tested (No sign of any water ingress either) Swapped them out for texecom bells & not had any issues since from those systems.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 1 hour ago, aissecur said: I've had a about three Honeywell bells randomly chirp then go off for no apparent reason in the past (usually when just out of warranty) - everything checked out ok with the rest of the alarm when tested (No sign of any water ingress either) Swapped them out for texecom bells & not had any issues since from those systems.. Water ingress dodgy fitting or other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygunn Posted October 20, 2016 Author Share Posted October 20, 2016 Gents, Thanks for the input so far. I'll have to back to this at the weekend as things are a little busy at the mo to go scrambling around on the roof and what not. Cheers, Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aissecur Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 I would say other, no sign of any water ingress, cable was not installed in such a way so water would track through to the bell. I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygunn Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) Ok, I've taken some photos and done some tests and below is what I've observed. First, I conducted a manual test of the bell boxes, via the LCD keypad option, and both piezos sounded at the same time with the correct high/low siren. I then did a full alarm activation and everything worked as it should except that the 'rear' bell box just gave out regular high pitched beeps while the 'front' bell box gave out the correct high/low siren signature. Also, of course, no strobes for either bell box. I also replicated AC power loss but to no avail, none of the bell boxes sounded. Front bell box: Fully functioning piezo, non functioning strobe and no water damage. Rear bell box: Partially functioning piezo, not during full alarm, non functioning strobe and water damage. Tom. Edited October 22, 2016 by Tommygunn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datadiffusion Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) Bottom two pictures definately have issues with water damage. Bin. Personally I would buy quality sirens like Texecom. Elmdene etc... where the electronics are enclosed. Edited October 22, 2016 by datadiffusion Quote So, I've decided to take my work back underground.... to stop it falling into the wrong hands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Ag6 don't like being out in the open with cable installed in certain ways , seen it plenty As above buy another make , even the delta is cabled entry to side of electronics so better and as said enclosed better Although those who don't want to pay much get an ag6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datadiffusion Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) Is that why you've always got at least 4 in the shed for rush jobs? Edited October 22, 2016 by datadiffusion Quote So, I've decided to take my work back underground.... to stop it falling into the wrong hands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 The soldering and that transistor bodged on the back screams quality... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datadiffusion Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Just now, sixwheeledbeast said: that transistor bodged on the back Yeah, that's what you call a 'post design modification', oh dear Honeywell, ffs! Quote So, I've decided to take my work back underground.... to stop it falling into the wrong hands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygunn Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) What I'll do for now is disconnect the damaged bell box and rewire it for a single bell use, easy enough. Does anyone have any recommendations for an compatible, alternative model that is comparable, in terms of price and features, to the AG6? Cheers, Tom. Edited October 22, 2016 by Tommygunn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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