Bell Box Isolating Switch.

[allenjames]

so entering the engineer code disables the bell ?

if it does then happy days, im installing this weekend.

[topalarms]

so entering the engineer code disables the bell ?

Engineer code will not defeat the bell tamper activation unless the bellbox is designed to do that.

[camerabloke]

why wouldnt it be a good idea ?

1, the bellbox would work as it should when the switches are on. (which is a good idea)exactly, what if the switch is left off and you get done over

2, when i need to access the bellbox I can enter my loft to where I located the switches and turn them off.

this would stop the bellbox screaming in my face while up a ladder. (which is another good idea)

I guess the theory of the bad idea is that an intruder could switch off the bell box ? After breaking in, triggering the alarm, opening my shed to remove my ladders to access the loft (unless he brings his own) rooting around in the loft to locate the switches to turn it off - its never gonna happen.

[lawandorder]

Engineer code will not defeat the bell tamper activation unless the bellbox is designed to do that.

One of the reasons that the outside box has a battery in it is so if the cable that runs from the panel to the external box gets damaged (either accidentally or deliberately) the alarm will activate.

Your proposal will work but if the cable gets damaged in the attic - and I have lost count of the ammount of times I have repaired cables damaged by mice, rats, squirrels etc - your external sounder will not activate.

Having said all that it's your house and the risk is fairly minimal but frankly I wouldn't bother. Just get yourself some ear defenders for the odd occasion you will have to go up to the box.

They will also come in handy for when the wife moans at you.

[satsuma01]

One of the reasons that the outside box has a battery in it is so if the cable that runs from the panel to the external box gets damaged (either accidentally or deliberately) the alarm will activate.

Your proposal will work but if the cable gets damaged in the attic - and I have lost count of the ammount of times I have repaired cables damaged by mice, rats, squirrels etc - your external sounder will not activate.

Having said all that it's your house and the risk is fairly minimal but frankly I wouldn't bother. Just get yourself some ear defenders for the odd occasion you will have to go up to the box.

They will also come in handy for when the wife moans at you.

[magpye]

All you have to do is to make what you want to do 'fail safe' -

when your box is isolated by your switch, also

put a fault on the panel so you can't set the system without turning it back on - one switch does both jobs,

you'll have to work that one out yourself I'm afraid, simple, given a little thought

Does that help?

[Chorlton]

Will you PLEASE take the hint and start using some words ???

[satsuma01]

Will you PLEASE take the hint and start using some words ???

smilies are much more fun though...

[arfur mo]

Hello.

Is it possible to add an isolating switch to a bell box so I can switch the thing off when needed ?

My box wiring will go into the loft and across to the contol panel. can i add a switch somewhere along this wire run to disable it ? I realise I will need to switch the bell box backup battery too.

I just dont like the idea of it screaming its nuts off when i need to remove the cover.

my questions - when will you need to do so, are you going to interfere with the bell run on a regular basis? or move the control panel about to satisfy the all wifes need for moving furniture - for no practical reason?

decorating? just use engineer code and leave it in engineer mode.

i atually think you are more worried the system will act up after installation, this is a concern of user even with pro comapnies installing as we often get asked what to do if they can't stop the bells.

so if your really desperate then discover which wire in the panel is used to 'ring' the external siren when it go's into alarm - and break it through a d/p keyswitch, one pole for breaking this wire the other in a zone so you can't set if lock is in wrong position. as for wiring to the battery or bringing it into the loft why bother? forget it all you need is the hold of voltage to be maintained to it, no decorating will disturb that now surely - will it? are you walpapering the loft space?

but imo with respects due, a naff and totally not needed idea all round, lets face it, if it was a good one then we would all be doing it

regs

alan

[lawandorder]

my questions - when will you need to do so, are you going to interfere with the bell run on a regular basis? or move the control panel about to satisfy the all wifes need for moving furniture - for no practical reason?

decorating? just use engineer code and leave it in engineer mode.

i atually think you are more worried the system will act up after installation, this is a concern of user even with pro comapnies installing as we often get asked what to do if they can't stop the bells.

so if your really desperate then discover which wire in the panel is used to 'ring' the external siren when it go's into alarm - and break it through a d/p keyswitch, one pole for breaking this wire the other in a zone so you can't set if lock is in wrong position. as for wiring to the battery or bringing it into the loft why bother? forget it all you need is the hold of voltage to be maintained to it, no decorating will disturb that now surely - will it? are you walpapering the loft space?

but imo with respects due, a naff and totally not needed idea all round, lets face it, if it was a good one then we would all be doing it

regs

alan

As an aside to this there used to be a large national company who used cold call hard sell tacticts to sell domestic hard wired systems in the late 80s. Obviously I can't name names but they specialised in Home Security.

They used to fit a key switch (often in the bedroom) to isolate the bell in the event that the customer could not switch the systme off.

This was in the days before bell boxes had integral timers as standard.

As a matter of interest I can't actually think that it breached BS4737 but it's been a while since I looked!