Sonade 2000 And Ade Optima Compact

[systemax]

Hi All

First time here. So go easy on me.

I have a ADE Optima compact with a Sonade 2000 siren/strobe box. At the weekend I thought i would do the alarm tests routine every thing tested okay except for the strobe light (not strobing).Looking at the instrutions it seems that the strobe part of the Sonade is connected to the panel. I put the panel into engineers mode and remove the panel and put a multi-meter on the strobe terminals. I ran the strobe test and staight away my meter was registering 12.6 volts so I know it is sending power from the panel. I got a 12 volt battery and put the wires that go to the strobe on it and could not see no strobing. So i am pretty sure that the strobe bulb has blown or damage cabling. I doubt it is damage cabling as the siren part is fine and the cable that goes to the box is a 8 core alarm cable.

Questions

Is it possible to change the bulb in this box or would I have to change the entire box? If I have to change it what is the direct replacement that would be compatible with the alarm panel.

How easy is it to change the bulb or the box as I am a elctronics engineer by trade.

Thanks in Advance

[arfur mo]

messing about with the strobe section, a fragile xenon tube and the the very high voltages it's associated components generate into the thousands of volts, is never a good idea at the best of times, and can be a worse one when up a ladder, the stobe may not kill you, but the sudden contact with the ground is not so fussy.

you just might just have cable damage, so you need check this out first. that means a trip up to the siren at a sensible conciderate time of day in good lighting, and proper safe use of access equipment.,

remove lid (obviously panel in engineers mode) and simply link the negative hold off supply to the strobe trigger input, i generally use my meter leads with the red (+) lead in the high amps socket, so meter presents a short , and i don't get any Hi Voltage shocks.

if the strobe is duff its your choice, you could fit a low prifile strobe drilling th case, or live with it as it is. given its age i'd replace the complete unit and suggest to use an A&G AG6 available from security warehouse,

cheap as chips at the moment, but don't be put off as i've used hundreds of them, and a very good reliable siren it is to.

you could change the xenon tube, only to find the pcb components are at fault, and tbh changing that tube is a bit specialised to do succesfully let alone safely.

Arfur

[systemax]

Thanks for info. I think your right i will replace it with a AG6. are the connections like for like. Trying to find a wiring diagram on the net.

Regards

[james.wilson]

The connections will be like for like. Ag6 or 8 are a good unit imo

[arfur mo]

connections might be listed in the controls engineer manual somewhere, but if not just look for the same description on pin outs for another siren make.

i think the siren comes with a connection chart to, never read the instructiohns my self - thats a 'for the girls' thing

Arfur

[kfpel]

Does the strobe work when you do the bell test? It wouldn't be unheard of for someone to have got confused wiring up the SAB, and used the bell trigger to activate both the bell and the strobe.

[systemax]

no it does not work when you bell test or even when you arm the system and set it off. just the siren goes off. It worked last year when i done a system test.

Regards