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Best way to disable and remove an old alarm system?

Featured Replies

The house I live in has an old alarm system installed. Some years ago it started to produce false alarms and since then I have never enabled it. It just sits there unused. The external SAAB panel has a flashing blue light. I do have the code to enable the system and also the code to put it into service mode. I want to remove the whole system from my house. I am afraid that if I just cut all the wires, the external alarm will sound. I understand it has a battery so will sound even if the power is removed from the control panel. Also, the SAAB leaflet talks about 220 volts in the panel area (not sure how 220v gets there but it makes me wary). I would appreciate advice on how to go about removing the whole system without sounding the external alarm. For example, if the system is in service mode, will the SAAB sound if I remove its cover and disconnect the battery? Or if I turn off mains power to the control panel, will the SAAB still alarm if I remove its cover. The few manuals I have say the system is HKC. I understand electrics OK but not alarm panels.

Help please.

Do you want try and fix it ? Maybe some pictures will help 

 

On another point do you think it's reasonable to ask on a forum how to disable an alarm system , even if its simple in some ways....... 

 

 

A SAAB is a car, did you mean SAB ?

Do you know where the panel is ? The false alarm will be caused by the system not being serviced, knackered batteries etc. If you down power the system and the external sounder doesnt sound you're in luck otherwise you will have to get up to that and disconnect it first

  • Author

Thanks for your interest.

No, I don't want it fixed. And I don't have the knowledge to even attempt it.

The wiring to the various sensors is in really poor state and ugly. Several of the tamper contacts are shorted out. I just want rid of the lot.

I am hoping to get a wireless system installed in the future.

Yes, I am conscious that I shouldn't ask here about disabling an alarm system, nor indeed expect advice on how to so do.

But I had hoped that a total removal would be OK to ask about.

I could just power it off and rip out all the wiring. But that would I assume trigger the external alarm and annoy the neighbours for as long as the battery lasts.

Or until I get a ladder and open the external box.

Still hoping for some advice.

Mrala.

 

  • Author

Thank you Peter James.

My typo - external box is SABB!! 😀

If I do get up on the ladder to the box and take the cover off, will it alarm if the panel is in service mode?

The SABB manual shows it has a tamper switch.

Mrala

1 hour ago, mrala said:

Thanks for your interest.

No, I don't want it fixed. And I don't have the knowledge to even attempt it.

The wiring to the various sensors is in really poor state and ugly. Several of the tamper contacts are shorted out. I just want rid of the lot.

I am hoping to get a wireless system installed in the future.

Yes, I am conscious that I shouldn't ask here about disabling an alarm system, nor indeed expect advice on how to so do.

But I had hoped that a total removal would be OK to ask about.

I could just power it off and rip out all the wiring. But that would I assume trigger the external alarm and annoy the neighbours for as long as the battery lasts.

Or until I get a ladder and open the external box.

Still hoping for some advice.

Mrala.

 

Ok usually the hkc is already wireless capable 

 

Yes you will trigger the bell, if setup correctly it will ring and cut off after 20mins , and you don't disabled it permanently it may randomly trigger 

 

If not set up correctly it will ring for longer maybe hours days until you disable it 

Battery

Mains

External bell sab

Internal bell sometimes sab 

 

All need disconnecting, 

 

 

Don't do it at night lol 

3 hours ago, mrala said:

But that would I assume trigger the external alarm and annoy the neighbours for as long as the battery lasts.

Or until I get a ladder and open the external box.

Still hoping for some advice.

Mrala.

 

Thats how we would have to do it, there is no magic solution. You may find if it hasnt been serviced for a long time that the battery in the box is dead in which case you want need to annoy the neighbors

I would use the existing wiring as a base for a hybrid system myself. 

Too many times have I seen old systems ripped out and junk replacing it.

Yes some of the tatty wiring maybe removed but if the system was in good order at some point it may reduce installation or service costs to reuse some of it.

 

For the more direct questions, yes the alarm is likely to sound if you tamper with it. There is no guarantee that any service/engineer modes would work so expect it to rattle your ears.

They're designed to be hard to disable and bring attention to the fact someone is tampering with it, if installed and serviced correctly.  

 

  • Author

Thank you for all those various comments.

Looks like the best procedure for me is to power off the control panel.

Then remove the screws holding the cover on the SABB unit, while holding the cover in place.

Then remove the cover and very quickly pull the cable connector from the battery to the pcb.

Or maybe just snip the wires to the siren. Minimum squawk from the siren!!

Research on the SABB unit confirms that there is no high voltage present - just a small lithium battery.

Mrala.

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