Upgraded Panel - Pir Walk Test Not Successful

[jgrant]

Hi,

When I moved into my house there was an old Abacus 8P panel installed which seemed to be working fine, however recently it has activated of it's own accord on a couple of occasions - so I decided to swap it out (the warranty expired in 1996!!).

I have replaced it with an Accenta Gen4 with Remote LCD Keypad which I am very happy with, after some scratching of head and looking at various diagrams I got the bell box wired and working correctly - however when I do a walk test none of the Sensors will record an activation - the old system had been used in 2 wire mode with both EOL and Shunt resistors installed in the PIR's which are of the N/C type.

When I bypass the resistors and just connect the two wires to the Alarm circuit in the PIR everything is fine - except for the fact that you can take te covers off the PIR's and no Tamper is generated .

My question is - are the resistors required for and Accenta Gen4 Panel different values to those for an Abacus 8p, does the Gen4 even support this configuration - and if it does would anyone be able to let me know what resistor values I need.

Thanks in advance for your support

Jason

[kka]

how many wire do you have going to each pir?

[jgrant]

how many wire do you have going to each pir?

Each PIR has 4 wires +'ve and -'ve power - and the two Alarm Cables, the Tamper circuit has not been run back to the Panel. From what I read I think this means the PIR's are running in 2 Wire mode which requires the use of resistors to protect both the activation and tamper circuits - although I am more than happy to be corrected on this.

[kka]

accenta gen4 panel does not support EOL (ie two wire) just checked with honeywell tech..

so you have two choices

1 replace the 4 core with 6 core . which will give you two supply two alarm and two tamp.

2 use the 4 core and forget about the tamp circuit , not best practise, but is done...

you no longer need the resistors

[jgrant]

Thank you for the prompt response - unfortunately the wiring was installed when the house was refurbished - so not too easy to get to, looks like I will have to live without the Tamper circuit for now.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Regards

Jason

[kka]

okay use one pair for power and the second pair for n/c alarm circuit, come back if you have any more queries....

[billythebellbox]

When I moved into my house there was an old Abacus 8P panel installed which seemed to be working fine, however recently it has activated of it's own accord on a couple of occasions - so I decided to swap it out (the warranty expired in 1996!!).

chances are failing detection rather than failing controls

[arfur mo]

Thank you for the prompt response - unfortunately the wiring was installed when the house was refurbished - so not too easy to get to, looks like I will have to live without the Tamper circuit for now.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Regards

Jason

you can wire the tamper contact in series with the alarm terminals, that way if a detector lid is accidentally knocked off you can't set that zone.

tbh having anti-tamper in your personal situation is not so important, initially it was brought about to stop anyone opening a detector or panel in order to bypass it, and then on higher security systems. over the years it got adopted to the point of becoming standard.

anti tamper helps the alarm companies labour resources, clients phone in when the tamper activates not waiting till closing time to find they can't set because the window cleaner dislodged a break glass detector, and only skeleton staff are on duty running their tales off.

EOL monitors the cable even when the alarm is not set, if a cable gets damaged by carpet fitter you know straight away and they can't deny it. so you have in effectively gone backwards technology wise with your shinny new but more basic panel.

no problem with this, just as long as you are aware

regs

alan

[jgrant]

Thanks again for the followup -

@billythebellbox - I believe it was caused by a failing backup battery - popping my meter over the terminals I could see the voltage dropping by the second !! So rightly or wrongly I decided to go for a new panel rather than just replace the battery - I guess I was just looking for an excuse to replace a 14 year old panel I think the detectors are ok - I have cleaned them all out and they all perform a perfect walk test - additionally I have had no False Alarms since replacing the panel

@arfur mo Thanks for the advice - I guess I feel the same - if someone actually get's to tamper with the PIR's in my domestic residence then I probably have bigger problems. I guess the step backwards is a small price to pay for having a Panel which I fitted and know the details of, have installed myself and can regularly service - rather than something I inherited - had no manual for and no indcation of servicing for the past x years (I guess that's obvious from the failure of the backup battery). Plus the wiring was put in place when the house was refurbed and seems to be well protected - hopefully I shouldn't have issues with carpet fitters etc. Good point about the tamper contact wired in series - I think I will do that.

Thanks again for all the advice - this is a great forum and one I preiodically visit just for advice which is always readily available.

Keep up the good work.

P.S. - just out of interest what panel whould you guys have gone for ?